Much Ado about Wine

Feb 19, 2021
By Linika Kumar
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Wine tasting at GD Vajra, Piedmonte: Picture courtesy V Sanjay Kumar

Have you been in the company of wine lovers and been stumped by terminology? Have you wondered whether all the time they spend in deciphering the “nose” and deciphering the “finish” was worth anything, whether their discussions on “old world vs new world” were overrated? Until recently, I was of the same view. It took a wedding of a niece to an Italian gentleman and a trip to Tuscany that opened my mind, my taste buds and my view of wine. Today I am less judgmental of people who have animated conversation on wine, to my surprise I find myself entering their world. Done mindfully, wine can be a rewarding journey – one that not only opens up the taste buds but makes you metaphorically travel the globe, connecting with the terroir and passion of wine makers. And wine tasters.

Below are a few preliminary terms that are bandied about while discussing wine and, which, until quite recently, had me flummoxed. By no means detailed, this is my step on the first rung of the ladder to the vast and fascinating world of wine.

Grape: Grapes used for making wine are different from the ones we eat which are table grapes. Wine grapes have thicker skin, are smaller, sweeter and contain a seed. A mind boggling 1,300 varieties to choose from, there are only three types of wine that emerge from them – red, rose or white!

Colour: You feast with your eyes first goes the old adage and wine is no different. This first impression can range from pale straw to a deep gold in the case of white wine, and from a light pink, to ruby, to a garnet and finally, an intense purple for red wine.

Nose: This is a mixture of Aroma (which comes from the grape) and Bouquet (that comes from the wine making process). Other than the colour, the nose is the first impression of the wine and can reveal a great deal to a discerning taster. For those who have attended a wine tasting session or seen the movie Sideways, go on and put your nose deep into the glass and get the nose!

Terroir: Commonly understood as terrain or earth, in wine terms this is a complex relationship of not the just soil and its properties but also the temperature, rainfall and sunshine that a particular region receives. A terroir expressive grape variety can pick up more of the characteristics mentioned above compared with others. This means that it could end up tasting completely different depending upon where it is grown.

Tannin: This comes from the seed, skin and stem of the grape and refers to the time the pulp has stayed in contact with them. Wines made from a late harvest grape, the Nebbiolo for example, will be more tannic than those with a shorter harvest.

Acidity: This comes from the fruit pulp. A combination of malic and tartaric acid, the more saliva you need to interact with a liquid, more sour it would taste. Acidity, simply put, means more sourness or tartness in taste.

Complexity: This merely refers to the combination of flavours and aromas that may evolve in a wine during the course of tasting.

Body: Wines could be referred to as full, medium or light. This is a complex function of grape, variety, alcohol, tannin and sugar. Wines usually have an alcohol content of 11 to 14.5 percent. A full-bodied wine will typically have an alcohol content of 13.5 percent or more.

Vintage: This refers to the year in which the grape was harvested. In that sense, every wine has a vintage and by no means refers to old or aged wine.

Decanting: Exposure to air helps a wine to develop its character. Decanting may vary from less than 30 minutes to over 2 hours. This process also allows for residue to settle in the case of aged wines. White wines do not need to be decanted.

New World vs Old World: Old world refers to regions where the grapes originated from and were grown traditionally. This typically refers to wine making regions in western and central Europe – Italy, France, Spain, Germany and others. Enterprising wine makers have taken these grapes to other continents, regions and countries like South America, Australia, California and South Africa. Wines from these regions would be termed New World. And yes, India would be New World!

Finally, the Finish: Described as long or short, this refers to how long and deep the taste lingers in the mouth.

Below is the picture of a wine label and how to decipher the information. There is a great deal that a label can reveal about the wine.