Urbane Living

This article was written by Aryani V.

With over a thousand different varieties to choose from, selecting the perfect wine can be a daunting task for both the newbie and seasoned connoisseur. But don’t be intimidated by a long list and end up settling for the same bottle of wine you always get because you’ll miss out on the wide spectrum of lush and vibrant flavors that wine has to offer. Soak up Urbane Perspective Media + Lifestye’s Wine Guide and impress your friends with your expanded wine knowledge and delight yourself by trying something new.

Red Wine – Red wine is made by fermenting the seeds, stems and skins of darker red or black grapes. This gives the wine a deep rich and woody flavor. Hearty and robust, it is a perfect match for heavier foods and stronger tasting red meats.

• Pinot Noir
  • Body: Light to Medium
  • What to Expect: Fragrant and velvety, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in color and much softer than Cabernet or Merlot. The typical aromas of this popular red wine include red cherries, strawberries and raspberries with nuanced earthy tones of worn leather and cedar.
  • Food Pairing: Roasted chicken, lamb, grilled salmon, Brie and lightly sauced pastas
  • Get This: Ken Wright Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 1998

• Merlot
  • Body: Medium
  • What to Expect: The smooth and silky texture of Merlot wine makes it instantly approachable and appealing. And while it has a similar taste to Cabernet, this dark red wine is distinctively fruitier. It brims over with ripe fruit flavors of black cherries and plums, and also exhibits hints of coffee and vanilla.
  • Food Pairing: Red meat, duck, mild goat cheese and smoked or grilled foods
  • Get This: Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot 1999

• Syrah/Shiraz
  • Body: Medium to Heavy
  • What to Expect: This boldly spiced wine is known for its deep-purple color and intense flavors. While the Syrah grapes in the Rhone River Valley produce a smoky, spicy and peppery wine, their Aussie counterparts, the Shiraz grapes, create a more fruit-forward concoction bursting with blackberries and currants.
  • Food Pairing: Heavy, strong foods like stews,cured or smoked meats and sharp cheddar cheese
  • Get This: Virgin Vines Shiraz 2005

• Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Body: Heavy
  • What to Expect: Produced from a versatile and adaptable grape that grows well in many different climates, the Cabernet is a rich and complex wine. Be prepared for the whirlwind of aromas that this wine offers: chocolate, tea bags, bell peppers, tobacco and even lead pencil shavings.
  • Food Pairing: Simply prepared red meats, smoky, grilled vegetables and meaty fish like tuna
  • Get This: Fisher Wedding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

White Wine – White wine is a lighter and generally sweeter wine made from grapes without their skins. It has a crisp and fruity flavor that compliments and does not overwhelm lighter dishes that contain fish or chicken.

• Riesling
  • Body: Light
  • What to Expect: Riesling is a refreshingly delicate yet luscious wine with fresh floral and apple-like aromas. It is much lighter than Chardonnay wines and abundant in apricot, honeysuckle, grapefruit and pear flavors.
  • Food Pairing: Seafood soups, oysters, Gouda cheese, fresh fruit and spicy Asian food
  • Get This: Hosmer Riesling 2007

• Sauvignon Blanc
  • Body: Light to Medium
  • What to Expect: The unusual blend of sweet and savory is the main appeal of this herby and acidic wine. The dominant flavors of green chilies, melon, freshly cut grass, figs and tropical fruits accent the wine and lend to the dry, crisp finish that lingers long on the palette
  • Food Pairing: Scallops, crab, shrimp, raw vegetables and citrus fruits
  • Get This: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008

• Gewürztraminer (Pronounced: Gah-vurtz-tra-meener)
  • Body: Medium
  • What to Expect: This pungent wine is famous for and easily recognizable by its spicy and floral aroma. Laden with rose petals, lychees, peaches and cinnamon, this exotic white wine is ideal for sipping and holds up exceptionally well when paired with spicy hot foods.
  • Food Pairing: Turkey, pork, fresh fruit, spicy sauces and grilled sausages
  • Get This: Zmor Gewurztraminer 2005

• Chardonnay
  • Body: Medium to Heavy
  • What to Expect: The best Chardonnay wines are aged in oak barrels. This unique fermentation gives this luxurious wine its signature buttery texture and creamy tone. The oak treatment also allows for a toasty and smoky quality with coconut, toffee and vanilla undertones.
  • Food Pairing: Lobster, sea bass, chicken and cream-based sauces
  • Get This: Bernardus Chardonnay 2005