Wine 101

A Guide to the World of Wine
Deciphering
a Wine Label
When shopping for wine, you will find that different
varietal wines have different labels. Here are some
things to look for on any wine label:
Table of Contents
1 Deciphering a Wine Label
2 Basic White Varietals
4 Basic Red Varietals
6 Wine Tasting
8 Wine and Food Pairing
10 How to Open a Bottle of Wine
11 How Much to Buy
Brand
Alcohol
Content
13.5% ALC. BY VOL.
V IN T N ER S BL END
Z I N F A N D E L
CALI F O R N I A 2 0 0 6
Region
Grape
Variety
Vintage
Basic White
Varietals
The following is a short list of basic white wine
varietals to purchase that will ensure your home
is wine ready for any occasion.
(Muss-KAHT-oh)
Moscato is considered one of the worlds

ancient grape varieties
Light-bodied, very aromatic and fruity;

sometimes slightly effervescent or fully
sparkling
Almost always sweet
PINOT GRIGIO
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the

French or American wine varietal known
as Pinot Gris
The wines most dominant characteristic

is an instantly recognizable aroma typically
described as grassy or herbaceous
Medium full bodied, crisp and dry, with

forward fruit
A clean, usually refreshing white wine

with a broad range of styles
(PEA-no GREE-gee-oh)
(So-veen-YOHN Blahnk)
RIESLING
CHARDONNAY
Riesling is the great white wine

grape of Germany and grows well
in cooler climates
Chardonnay is the most famous varietal

of all, the vanilla of the wine world
Produced at all levels of sweetness
Styles ranging from light to full bodied
Wonderfully crisp, light, dry wines
Subtle fruit flavors and aromas consistent

with apple, pear, pineapple, and orange
(REESE-ling)
MOSCATO
(Shar-dun-NAY)
Basic Red
Varietals
The following is a short list of basic red wine
varietals to purchase that will ensure your home
is wine ready for any occasion.
(Cah-burr-NAY So-veen-YOHN)
Cabernet Sauvignon is the worlds

most famous red wine grape
Powerful and recognizable aroma of
black currants
Ages extremely well in the bottle,
developing subtle flavor compounds
MERLOT (Mare-LOW)
PINOT NOIR (PEA-no Nwahr)
The homeland of Merlot is the Bordeaux

region of France where it is the most
planted vine variety
Produces a lush, plummy, velvety wine,
typically medium bodied
Pinot Noir is the grape variety exclusively

responsible for red Burgundy
The vine does better in cooler climates
since the fruit ripens relatively early
Fruity at the core, essences like strawberry,
cherry, and plum mingle with notes of
sandalwood, spice, and flowers
SANGIOVESE (San-Joe-VAY-zee)
MALBEC (MAHL-beck)
Sangiovese is Italys most widely planted

red grape and the heart of most central
Italian red wines, most notably Chianti
and Brunello
Produces dense plumminess when grapes
are fully ripe
Well-structured, often high-acid wines
Malbec originates from the Bordeaux

region of France
Has become Argentinas signature grape
Distinguished by plummy dark-fruit
flavors and earthy tannins for a medium
to full-bodied wine
SYRAH/SHIRAZ (Sir-AH/Shur-OZ)
ZINFANDEL (ZIN-fan-dell)
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Shiraz is the Australian and South African

name for the French variety known as Syrah
Produces ripe and often sweeter
wines than Rhne-based wines, and a
suggestion of chocolate as opposed to
pepper and spices
Red zinfandels range from fruity

with light to medium body, to rich
and powerful
Rich berry, black cherry, and plum
aroma with a crisp refreshing mouthfeel
Wine
Tasting
Wine is easy to enjoy. The process of tasting
wine should not be intimidating, it should
be fun. The following steps take just a little
time, yet they give you the benefit of truly
appreciating and understanding the nuances
of each varietal.
1.
See
Hold the glass by its stem and tip

it away from you, preferably against
a white background. See the different
shades of color, particularly at the
rim. Red wines range from deep
purple to pale tawny; whites go from
pale greenish-yellow to deep gold.
2.
Swirl
By swirling, you maximize the

wines surface area and release
more of the bouquet.
3.
Smell
Notice if the wine is clean and

attractive, the intensity of the
smell, and what the aromas bring
to mind. Negative or off smells
are: Vinegar: Too much acetic acid
in wine. Sherry: Too much oxygen
in wine. Cork: Wine has absorbed
the taste of defective cork making
it musty or moldy in flavor. Sulfur:
Too much sulfur dioxide present.
4.
Sip
Hold the wine in your mouth for

three seconds before swallowing.
Notice how sweet or sour, bitter,
astringent, or alcoholic the wine is.
Gauge the body of the wine. Think
skim milk, milk, heavy cream.
Also, how does the wine feel in your
mouth? The term mouthfeel is
used for the sensations experienced.
5.
Savor
Now is the time to assess the wine

as a whole. Do I like this wine? Why
or why not? Were all the elements
in balance or did one of them seem
obtrusive? In young reds, tannin
often dominates while young whites
are often very acidic. In an older
wine, this lack of balance would be
a fault. Is the wine light, medium,
or full bodied? What kinds of food
would work well with this wine?
Wine and
Food Pairing
Varietal
Protein
Other Foods
Pinot Grigio
Turkey, Pork
Fresh Fruit, Mild Cheeses
Riesling
Poultry, Fish
Chocolate, Cheesecake, Tarts, Mozzarella Cheese
Fum/
Sauvignon Blanc
Salmon, Halibut, Oysters
Asian Foods, Pasta/White Sauce
Chardonnay
Chicken, Seafood
Cheddar Cheese
Pinot Noir
Shellfish, Pasta
Parmesan/Romano Cheeses
Merlot
Beef, Lamb, Chops
Mild Cheddar, Pasta/White Sauce
Syrah/Shiraz
Peppered Meats, Sausage
Pasta/Red Sauce, Cheddar Cheese
Zinfandel
BBQ, Steak, Spicy Food
Mild Curry, Risotto
Cabernet
Sauvignon
Beef, Lamb, Chicken
Brie Cheese, Chocolates
Other Helpful Tips
Body to Body
Traditional Pairings
Reflect body, texture, and characteristics of the

wine with those of the food.
Delicate or lightly flavored foods work best with
light-bodied wines.
Stronger, heavier foods should be paired with
medium to full-bodied wines.
The basic rule is to pair white wines with fish

and white meats like chicken red wines with
red meats.
Wine with Dessert

Make sure the wine is as sweet as or preferably
sweeter than the dessert being served.
How to Open
a Bottle of Wine
1. With the small knife on
your good corkscrew, cut
the capsule cleanly beneath
the lip of the bottle. Rotate
the bottle as you cut.
2. Hold the bottle by the

neck and insert the tip of
the corkscrew at an angle
and slightly off center.
(This helps to prevent
cork breakage). Turn the
corkscrew until it is fully
into the cork.
3. Hook the lever of the

corkscrew onto the rim of
the bottle. Hold the lever
in place with the thumb
of the hand that is holding
the bottle. Lift up the
corkscrew in one firm slow
motion until the cork is
fully extracted.
10
How Much
to Buy
There is a simple formula to determine
the right amount of wine you will need to
ensure a successful party.
First, determine the number of guests that will
be coming to your event. Next, take the number
of guests and multiply by the number of hours
the party is intended to last. This will give you
the average number of servings you will need.
Example:
Number of Guests x Number of hours
= Number of Servings
5 guests x 2 hours = 10 Servings
Once you know the number of
servings youll need, you can then
calculate the amount of wine to
purchase based on the number
of servings in each bottle size:
750ml bottle = 5 servings
1.5L bottle = 10 servings
3L bottle = 20 servings
Example:
If you need 10 servings, you could
purchase either two 750ml bottles
or one 1.5L bottle.
11
Notes
12
13
Please enjoy our wines responsibly. 2010 Clos du Bois, Geyserville, California, 2010 Imported by CWUS Imports,
Madera, California, USA, 2010 Woodbridge Winery, Woodbridge, CA, 2010 Imported by International Cellars, Gonzales, CA,
2010 Simi Winery, Sonoma, CA, 2010 Blackstone Winery, Sonoma, CA, 2010 Ruffino Import Company, Rutherford, CA,
2010 Toasted Head, Woodbridge, CA, 2010 Robert Mondavi, Woodbridge, CA, 2010 Estancia Winery, Soledad/Monterey, CA,
2010 Ravenswood Winery, Sonoma, CA
CBPZE11047

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What are some basic white and red wine varietals described in the guide?

What are some basic white and red wine varietals described in the guide?

What are some tips provided for wine and food pairing?

What are some tips provided for wine and food pairing?

A Guide to the World of Wine

13.5% ALC. BY VOL.

Moscato is considered one of the worlds

Light-bodied, very aromatic and fruity;

Almost always sweet

Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the

The wines most dominant characteristic

Medium full bodied, crisp and dry, with

A clean, usually refreshing white wine

Riesling is the great white wine

Chardonnay is the most famous varietal

Produced at all levels of sweetness

Styles ranging from light to full bodied

Wonderfully crisp, light, dry wines

Subtle fruit flavors and aromas consistent

Cabernet Sauvignon is the worlds

PINOT NOIR (PEA-no Nwahr)

The homeland of Merlot is the Bordeaux

Pinot Noir is the grape variety exclusively

Sangiovese is Italys most widely planted

Malbec originates from the Bordeaux

Shiraz is the Australian and South African

Red zinfandels range from fruity

Hold the glass by its stem and tip

By swirling, you maximize the

Notice if the wine is clean and

Hold the wine in your mouth for

Now is the time to assess the wine

Fresh Fruit, Mild Cheeses

Chocolate, Cheesecake, Tarts, Mozzarella Cheese

Salmon, Halibut, Oysters

Asian Foods, Pasta/White Sauce

Beef, Lamb, Chops

Mild Cheddar, Pasta/White Sauce

Peppered Meats, Sausage

Pasta/Red Sauce, Cheddar Cheese

BBQ, Steak, Spicy Food

Mild Curry, Risotto

Beef, Lamb, Chicken

Brie Cheese, Chocolates

Other Helpful Tips

Reflect body, texture, and characteristics of the

The basic rule is to pair white wines with fish

Wine with Dessert

2. Hold the bottle by the

3. Hook the lever of the

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Moscato is considered one of the worlds

Light-bodied, very aromatic and fruity;

Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the

The wines most dominant characteristic

Medium full bodied, crisp and dry, with

A clean, usually refreshing white wine

Riesling is the great white wine

Chardonnay is the most famous varietal

Styles ranging from light to full bodied

Subtle fruit flavors and aromas consistent

Cabernet Sauvignon is the worlds

The homeland of Merlot is the Bordeaux

Pinot Noir is the grape variety exclusively

Sangiovese is Italys most widely planted

Malbec originates from the Bordeaux

Shiraz is the Australian and South African

Red zinfandels range from fruity

Reflect body, texture, and characteristics of the

The basic rule is to pair white wines with fish

2. Hold the bottle by the

3. Hook the lever of the