Monday, November 2, 2009

Identify Red Wines From Burgundy

The culture responsible for bringing Burgundy wines to our wine racks, is not the French, but the Romans. After invading the region that would later become known as France's Burgundy region, the Romans began using the grapes they found growing there to make richly colored wines that were then served during formal Roman dinners. After the dissolution of the Roman Empire, monks began cultivating the grapes and making the wine in the cellars of the monasteries that were built in the region.Currently there are three different classifications of Burgundy wines that are produced in France's Burgundy region; dry white wines, medium-bodied reds, and full-bodied reds.


Instructions


1. Look at the label. The simplest and quickest way to determine if a bottle of wine is a red wine or a Burgundy wine is to look at the label. Don’t bother looking at the mane of the wine; what you want to look for is the region where the wine was made. The only place in the world that grows the grapes used to make Burgundy wines is the Burgundy region in eastern France. Frances Burgundy region is the distance of land between Mâcon, Lyon, and Auxerre. There are 400 different types of soils in France’s Burgundy region, which can influence the taste of each bottle of burgundy wine. Red wines can come from any other part of the world.Pinot noir is the grape most commonly used in Burgundy wines.


2. Take a look at the color of the wine. The wine you are drinking should be a dark red in color; most Burgundy wines have more of a purple hue then other red wines, which can look brown or blood-colored.


3. Taste the wine. Red Burgundy wines generally have a tart taste, while white Burgundy wines generally have a pleasant taste that reminds wine lovers of peaches and honey and compliments seafood.


4. Consider the cost. The average Burgundy wine will cost considerably more than its red counterpart. The reason for the higher cost is in part due to the small amount of wines produced in the Burgundy region. The second reason for the higher price tag is because the area has hot, often dry summers, and frigid winters. The extreme changes in the climate make it difficult for the vineyards to produce a significant amount of grapes each year.







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