Wine Tasting 101 is Brought to You By the and and These Great Products Clos Du Bois William Hill Winery Atlas Peak Vineyards Wine Tasting 101 [ Home ] Chapter 1: [ Introduction to WineTasting ] Chapter 2: [ Opening & Decanting Wines ] Chapter 3: [ The Language of Wine ] a.]--The White Wines-- b.]--The Red Wines-- c.]--Champagne, Sparkling Wines & Port-- Chapter 4: [Hosting Your Own Tasting] a.]--Tasting Sheets-- Chapter 5: [ What Have We Learned? ] --Search Our Database of the entire  Kreston Wine & Spirits www.KrestonWines.com Website--

Below we suggest a tasting comprised of "flights" of White wines.  The first is a comparison of a Chardonnay and a Viognier.  The second a comparison between two Sauvignon Blancs.  With the purchase of these four wines you can have a wonderful evening of camaraderie while exploring these three wine types.  You'll come away with an expanded knowledge of the World's white wines and have had an inexpensive evening of fun with friends.  Give it a try!  We think you'll enjoy the process and the experience!

Chardonnay is among the most popular and versatile of white grapes.  It is responsible for the famous French whites of Burgundy, like Chablis, Pouilly-Fuisse and Meursault.  Burgundy's oak-aged wines have inspired many New World vintners.  Excellent Chardonnays, recognized for their abundance of fruit and richness, have emerged from California, New Zealand and Australia.  As you taste, consider the presence and influence of oak on the wine.  Is it heavily oaked or slightly?  Chardonnay also benefits greatly from malolactic fermentation, resulting in soft and complex wines.

Beyond Chardonnay, there is a world of interesting white wines.  Here we suggest you compare two wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, a grape known for its fresh, grassy aromas.  New Zealand has earned a reputation as a great producer of this white, which is often refreshingly crisp and partners well with food.  We also propose a comparison of Chardonnay and Viognier--a white grape best known from France's Rhone Valley.  Like Chardonnay, it is often full-bodied, but the aroma is distinctive, frequently spicy and floral.  Enjoy these two flights as you expand your appreciation of the world's great wines.

     
       [--The Red Wines--]   [--Champagne, Sparkling Wines & Port--]

The 4 Constants in Analyzing Any Wine: 
Appearance - Bouquet - Taste - Aftertaste
                Look at it          -         Smell it     -      Taste it     -     Think About it!