 This category might seem a
little out of place. But it's something I've seen be a little (or a
lot) off in so many fics that I thought it was worth a section here.
So if you plan to have your spies partake in a tasty beverage of the
rotten grape variety, read on.
geography 101
One of the biggest mistakes I see made with wine references is of
the geography versus varietal type.
American wines are almost always classified by their varietal, or
the type of grapes that went into them. Cabernet Sauvignon,
Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and
Sauvignon Blanc are examples, but there are many more varieties.
Wines classified as a certain varietal cannot have more than a very
small amount of any other varietal in them. The best (read: most
expensive) American wines typically come from California. That's
where your $500 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon come from, although
the whole coast (including Oregon and, increasingly, Washington)
produces some good wines.
Of the California wines, Cabernet is the one that garners the big
prices per bottle. But the Zinfandel grape is probably its signature
grape, sort of the one that put California on the wine map, way back
when. The same Zinfandel grapes go into both Red and White Zinfandel
(no skins in the white, which is what makes it white...although it's
closer to pink). I like Red Zinfandel, myself. White Zinfandel is,
um, how should I put this, not generally considered a wine for
serious wine drinkers (might have something to do with it being
pink).
French wines, on the other hand, are classified by geography.
This is why you'll rarely hear of a French Cabernet. Instead, it's a
Bordeaux, or a Burgundy. Many pricey French wines are actually a
blend of varietals, often Cabernet grapes mixed with others. This is
because the French believe that it's the terrain, or terroir, that
makes a wine. French restrictions on labeling wine reflect this —
the label will tell you not only what general region the wine came
from (such as Bordeaux), but also more detailed information on
specific locations. Regulations on labeling and
location are to the point where grapes grown on opposite sides of a
hill cannot be bottled together unless the wine gives up the
prestige of its specific location and gives a more general location.
California and French wines are probably the most likely wines to
go in your fic. But there are many other wine-producing countries
throughout the world. Australia is a big one, and growing bigger. A
number of other European countries produce wine, including Spain,
Italy and Germany (although their locations aren't quite as prime for
production as is so much of France). Many South American countries
have made major strides in wine production.
Basically, grapes for wine need a long growing season in a
temperate climate. This means that locations near large bodies of
water are often prime for growing wine grapes; the water keeps the
climate warmer longer, lengthening the growing season. This is why
you'll even see wineries in colder areas of the United States, such
as around the Great Lakes. These wineries generally cannot
successfully grow the more well-known varietals, which tend to be
weaker and need a warmer climate. Instead, they'll grow tougher
varietals, such as Catawba and Concord, or graft the warmer climate
grapes onto the tougher stems.
A lot to take in, I know, especially if Syd and Vaughn just
wanted a glass of wine with dinner. My advice? They live in
California. You probably won't go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon or Red
Zinfandel for reds, and Chardonnay for whites (red versus white is a
whole other issue, and it deals with food pairings...some links
where you can learn more about those are located below).
Syrah/Shiraz and Pinot Grigio are two up-and-comers in varietals, as
well. Just not White Zinfandel, please!
more on wine varietals, terroir and food pairings
CNN's wine varietals: This site gives a nice brief but
comprehensive rundown of the varietals out there. It also has links
to other wine information on the CNN site.
Supermarket
Guru Wine Info Toolbox: This site has varietal coverage as well
as a well-rounded set of resources to help you pick a wine. Includes
basic information on wine-food pairings — another thing to keep in
mind when you're writing (most people don't tend to have champagne
with steak, for example).
Novus Vinum Varietals: This site has great varietal coverage,
and really pretty much great everythiing coverage. You can learn how
wines are made, bottle sizes, food pairings, you name it.
Terroir de France:
If you're interested in French wines, this is the place to go.
Resources include the regions of France, but there's plenty more,
including winemaking, tasting and the "French Paradox" (aka why wine
might in fact be good for you).
but how does it taste?
So your spies ordered their wine. They drank their wine. Do they
have to describe it? Describing wine can be great fun — descriptors
range from "melon" to "oaky" to "wet dog." Yep, wet dog. I kid you
not.
Recognose
Resources: Contains wine scorecards and other resources for
judging a wine. If you're looking for quick hit descriptors, check
out the mouth-feel wheel, which has some interesting terms for
texture.
Vinsouth
Wine Aroma and Flavor Descriptors: Because a large part of wine
taste is actually scent (you can smell many more flavors than your
mouth can decipher, which is why you'll see people smell wine before
they sip). This site breaks down potential descriptors by
varietal, which is helpful if you're not a big wine drinker but you
want to sound like one.
Robin Garr's
Wine Lovers' Page, Wine Lexicon: A glossary that encompasses
descriptors, regions and varietals (with pronunciations!).
basic tasting
Taking your spies through the whole tasting procedure is probably
a bit too detailed, I would think. But if you're interested for your
own personal edification, here are a few sites.
Atime4wine.com
Wine Tasting Notes: A brief rundown of the basic steps in wine
tasting.
Wine Conexion How to Taste a Wine: Another brief rundown, but
this one covers why you swirl the glass (legs!).
final thoughts
The most important thing with wine, if you don't know much about
it, is to be aware that you don't know much about it. If you're
sending your spies to a specific country or region, and want to have
them drink something local, just
google it. "Argentinian wines," or "Argentina wine," for
example. A little background reading will get you up to speed.
My last few little wine rants? For the most part, you chill
whites (and some not very much), not reds. Don't fill a wineglass to
the brim (or even close) — you want room to be able to smell it,
swirl it, etc. Hold the stem where it meets the glass, not the glass
itself (this is so your hand doesn't affect the temperature of the
wine).
Now go buy yourself a bottle (if you're old enough) and do a
little research!
(Lara is by no means an expert in wine, but she did take wine
tasting in undergrad, and she maintains a nine-bottle rack, so she
figures she knows something) |
