Wines

Whether you’re a budding sommelier or someone looking for a decent bottle to take to a party allow us to guide you through the decision-making process. This alcoholic beverage is made from fermented grapes, using yeast to consume the sugar in the grapes.

Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeast are what produce the difference styles of wine. There are 18 different grape varieties, which between them can produce anything from a light, sweet white wine like Riesling, through to a deep, dark red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon. When describing wine, you may often hear experts talk of tannins – this simply refers to a textural element of the wine and the way it leaves your mouth feeling dry. This is not to be confused with a dry white wine , which simply means that there is no residual sugar in the wine.

The aroma of a wine doesn’t refer to its scent but rather underlying flavours such as fruity, sweet, spicy, herbal, woody, nutty, mineral or floral. Different wines should be served at different temperatures to get the most out of them.

Red wine is best served up at room temperature, while pink or rose wine will be at its best when slightly chilled. White wine and sparkling wine should both be kept in the fridge before serving. Old World Wines reference the regions that have a long history of wine making such as Europe and parts of the Mediterranean.

New World refers to newer wine producing regions like the US, Australia and Chile. Fortified wines are also shaking off their stuffy image and gaining popularity. These wines have been stabilised by distilled spirits, such as brandy, during the wine making process. This helps to increase the alcohol content and halt fermentation, which leaves the resulting wine with a residual sweetness. Port , sherry and Marsala are all good examples of fortified wine.