Quality of Wine is neither related to an individual’s taste nor can it be judged by reading the label. A wine is either of good quality or of not so good quality. It can be appraised through parameters such as consistency, balance and integrity of Wine. A good Wine expert should be able to assess these parameters by a diligent tasting of the Wine. Let us try to define them and put them in perspective.
Consistency of Wine: Consistency of a Wine is determined by its total dry extract.... Read full post

In compliance with the EU legislation the Italian wine law recognises DOCG, DOC, IGT and Vino da Tavola as the four different quality levels.
 
Firstly, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines, such as Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Chianti, Moscato d’Asti just to mention a few, are the highest quality wines: not just they must satisfy all the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) requirements, but also they must adhere to more rigid regulations in order... Read full post

Wine can be used as an ingridient for marinades for soaking foods before cooking or as a cooking liquid or as a flavouring in a finished dish. When heated, the alcoholic content evaporates and leaves a subtle flavor, richness, acidity and adds body to sauces, stews and casseroles.

The grape is the fruit of a vine and its unique level of sugars, tannin and acidity greatly contributes to the style and quality of wines. Grapevarieties such as Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, just tomention a few, are responsible for giving some of the world's great wines.This is why wines are often known by their grape variety, in particular ifproduced in the New World, whereas wines from the EU are mostly known bytheir geographical origin, e.g. Chianti... Read full post

The persistence, the structure and the aroma of a dish should equate those of a wine. It is important to have consistency and balance of tastes. For example a heavy dish has to be accompanied by a heavy-bodied wine. Similarly, a light-bodied, not fruity or intense wine is recommended with delicate dishes in order to enhance its taste. As a general rule the intensity of the taste of the food should match the intensity of the taste of the wine. In regards to the balance, you can either opt for... Read full post