Wine recipes
Keeping it Natural With Organic Wines
With the growing interest in organic food, it is no surprise there is also a growing demand for organic wine. Generally organic wines cost more as there is limited production and there are lower yields in the organic vineyards than in vineyards maintained with non-organic pesticides and fertilizers.
What is the exact definition of an organic wine? An organic wine is defined in most countries as a wine produced from grapes grown organically and that has no, or a limited amount of, sulphites. Many people prefer to buy organic wine because they are interested in reducing their carbon footprint, appreciate the flavour of organically produced wine and are seeking the health benefits of organic produce.
Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown organically and is then produced in a process that does not use preservatives or uses the absolute minimum required to protect the wine quality. The process begins with the farming techniques used to produce the high quality grapes and ends with the method used for fermentation.
A Light Carbon Footstep in the Vineyard
Making Wine is Part Science and Art
There are plenty of vintners in Australia making some of the finest wine in the world as evidenced by the increasing numbers of mainland sales and worldwide exports. Australian wine producers are making over a billion litres of wine every year in all six states. The various vineyards in the different states produce wines with interesting and unique qualities which are determined by climate, soil type and the wine making process itself.
Making wine is part science and part art. Anyone can grow grapes, but knowing when to pick them and how to convert them into a high quality wine requires experience, judgment and finesse. The commercial wine making process is complex for this reason even though the steps themselves may seem simple.
Variety is the Wine Spice of Life
Australian wines are produced using a variety of grapes to create everything from Chardonnay to Merlot. Australia’s Shiraz wine has achieved global recognition and accolades for possessing unique and interesting qualities.
Awarding Wines…Encore! Encore!
Vintners often submit their wines to judging in competitions held in Australia and around the world. Judges consider the various qualities of the types of wines when making their decisions. They consider the appearance, aroma, flavour and body of the wine. When you consider that wine exports of Australian made wine is a multi-billion dollar business, you can get a better understanding of how seriously wine competitions are taken by vintners.
Wine competitions are held in cities, at regional levels, nationally and internationally. There are many different kinds of wine categories including, but not limited to, the following most popular Australian wine types.
- Shiraz
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Riesling
- Rosé wines
- Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris
- Grenache
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sparking wines
- Fortified wines such as Muscat and Tawny
This is not intended to be a complete list, but only to give you an idea of the interesting and complete selection of Australian wines presented at competitions around the world. Australian wines only continue to grow in popularity and winemakers have earned many awards in recognition of their talents.
How to Judge High Quality Wine…A Sensory Experience
There is wine….and then there is good wine. Everyone has heard the jokes about drinking “cheap wine”, but what they don’t realize is that cheap wine can be cheap in a lot more ways than just price.
Wine has many different characteristics and there are a number of excellent medium quality wines which make ideal wines for daily use; quaffers! These wines have excellent flavours and aromas that heighten the wine drinking experience. You don’t have to buy bad wine when so many wonderful, good quality wines are available here in Australia.
Of course there are also high quality wines and that is where you can truly enjoy a sensory experience. High quality does not necessarily mean high price though you can literally pay as much as you want for a bottle of wine. Private stock wine possessing unique qualities, properly stored, available only in limited quantities can command thousands of dollars.
Australian Quality Around the World
Perfect Pairings… How to Match Wine to any Meal or Occasion
In Australia and in countries all around the world, wine is an integral component of many dining experiences. Wine sales in Australia have grown steadily over the last 10 years with over 430 million litres consumed in a typical year. When dining, don’t reach for just any wine and hope it fits the meal, as wine is like food in this manner…particular choices go better together when it comes down to taste or blending flavours.
Wine is a drink that is meant to complement a meal which means it should complete it. You don’t want to savour the flavours of your food and then overwhelm the experience with the wrong wine choice. Equally, you don’t want to mix flavours that are confusing to the palate. For example, a sweet dessert wine would not be served with a steak or pasta.
Blending Individual Tastes With Wine
Of course, every one has preferences so the traditional wine and food pairings are not etched in stone. However, there are certain guidelines you should learn before you begin to experiment while seeking your own serving style.