Wine: Editor Selected ResultsAbout Wine


		Wine Fact: Grapevines have been cultivated in the Alsace region of France for more than 2,000 years.
Wine

Did You Mean "Wine" as in...
	Wine Terms and Dictionaries
	Wine Varietals
	Wine Tasting
	Wine and Food Pairing
	Home Winemaking
	Wine Education: Certificate and Degree Programs

"Wine Terms and Dictionaries"

Wine Dictionary - With Audio - Simply click on the audio icon next to many of the terms and hear them clearly pronounced. The wine-related words and phrases include wine grapes, regions, and tasting terms. Start with “accessible” and end with “zingy” for clear, informative definitions.

Glossary of Wine Tasting - Terminology is limited to wine tasting terms from acetic to yeasty. Navigation is by letter and after the last term in a letter section, navigation is provided making it easy to jump to another section of the glossary. Definitions are well written and helpful.

Wine Terms - About 1100 defined terms and close to 700 “live” pronunciations span Abruzzo to zotzenberg. Underlined words have an audio file for pronunciation, although not all terms are as easy to hear as a few other sites with audio files.

Wine Grape Dictionary - Updated glossary focuses on wine grapes to provide informative descriptions of the fruit that becomes our favorite wines. There is an index listing of the grapes and within the descriptions, there are additional internal links for more specific information on the terms used.

Multi-Language Wine Terms - Fogwell’s wine glossary includes a broad range of words from technical terms like specific gravity, wine tasting terms like structure, to terms for styles of wines, wine grapes, and wine making. Besides English, terms in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Hungarian, German, and Italian are defined.

"Wine Varietals"

Varietal Profiles - Choose from a list of over three dozen annotated varietal profiles. The detailed descriptions of grape varieties are accompanied by pictures. Also included are two proprietary names, such as meritage. That section explains the Alsatian wine “Gentil” as well as the Meritage Association.

Varietal Information - An introduction about varietals is then followed by an alphabetical listing with pronunciation guides. Almost three dozen varietals are listed, with specifics about origins, uses, popularity, or characteristics. Some varietals like chardonnay have longer descriptions.

Varietals - Eastern Europe - This helpful list for Eastern Europe includes a dozen red and almost two dozen white varietal wines grown in Slovenia. Detailed descriptions have pictures or botanical drawings of the grapes, internal links, and the international conflict over the Tokaj name.

Varietals - In Pictures - If you want to see a good picture of marsanne or tempranillo grapes, try this site. It has photos of grapes, from Afus ali to zenit, arranged alphabetically. The Grape Guru link doesn’t get to that page, but the Grape Seek link sends you to a grape growers page.

"Wine Tasting"

How to Taste Wine - The Wine Doctor discusses appearance, smell, and taste. He provides a nice discussion of wine color, with illustrations of red and white wines, including how color changes with age. Good but brief discussion of aroma and flavor.

How to Taste a Bordeaux - The tasting guidelines start with uncorking the wine and end with serving temperatures and decanting wines. Inbetween are some bulleted points that alert you to some flaws as well as list the basics of tasting. One point briefly mentions wine tasting in a restaurant.

Wine Tasting "Course" - This company site takes you through an informative "course" on wine tasting. Topics covered are visual assessment, scale of wine colors (too bad the good descriptions aren't accompanied by "color swatches"), smelling the wine, families of aromas (well done!), tasting, and major wine faults.

"Wine and Food Pairing"

Wine and Food Pairing Information - Basic wine and food tastes are discussed, with comments about a wine’s style for pairing with food. Tastes like sweet, sour, bitter, salt, and umami (a taste found in Asian cuisine and other foods) are explained as well as astringency in wine.

Wine and Food Selections - An interactive wine and food pairing guide is on the right side of the page. Select a food category or sauces and flavors. You then may be prompted to select a dish. Several wine choices are presented, with specific comments related to your food or flavors.

Pairing Wine with Food - Based on advice from a master sommelier, start with your wine or your food. If you begin with wine, then you can choose wines from white, red, blush and bubbly, and dessert categories. Then with your chosen wine, you can select from a list of food categories, including appetizers and ethnic foods.

"Home Winemaking"

Your First Wine - This is an article from the WineMaker website briefly describing basic winemaking equipment, cleanliness procedures, adjustments of the juice, and other topics, including two wine recipes. The author is a graduate of the respected UC-Davis Enology and Viticulture Department.

Primer on Winemaking - From the Amateur Winemakers of Ontario, this primer on winemaking contains important do’s and don’t’s helpful to the novice winemaker as well as to more experienced home brewers who are not satisfied with their wine quality. It is a reprint from an issue of Better Winemaking Magazine.

Home Winemaking - This is an online home winemaking manual written by Lum Eisenman. Its twenty-three chapters cover topics from the winemaking process and making fruit wine to laboratory wine testing. Other useful information includes equipment sources. This manual can also be downloaded in various formats.

Making Table Wines - From UC-Davis, this manual is in downloadable pdf format (some large files). Eight chapters provide information on the quality of grapes and wine, potential spoilage problems, and setting up a winemaking facility. Also included is advice about oak barrels. It is available in hardcopy.

"Wine Education: Certificate and Degree Programs"

UC-Davis Wine Degrees - The University of California at Davis offers world-class undergraduate and graduate degrees in viticulture and enology. The department maintains an on-campus wine cellar holding over 60,000 bottles and has a winery and two research vineyards for student training and research.

UC-Davis Extension Courses - UC-Davis Extension offers courses in the business of winemaking, wine appreciation, and public relations for small wineries. Some extension courses are offered via distance learning.

Cal State-Fresno Wine-Related Degrees - Cal State University in Fresno offers bachelor of science degrees in viticulture (study of growing of grapes) and enology (study of winemaking) as well as a certificate of special study in enology for those wanting to pursue a career in winemaking. A master of science degree is also offered.

Washington State Wine Programs - Washington State University has a BS in horticulture with viticulture/enology option. This undergraduate degree requires completion of a hands-on internship in a vineyard and winery. Program addresses the cool climate concerns of Washington winemaking.

Santa Rosa Certificate Programs - Santa Rosa Junior College north of the Bay area in California offers three certificates. Look at the program list for Agriculture/Natural Resources. The certificate programs are Viticulture Management Career, Wine Marketing and Sales, and Winery Maintenance Mechanic (a unique program).

This ResultsAbout Wine Page is maintained by Dorothy Cattle

About Us | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright © 2003 About, Inc. About and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. The About logo is a trademark of About, Inc. All rights reserved.