There is an opinion that wine is the drink of the gods. The sun-infused drink has billions of fans around the world. A variety of taste sensations and useful qualities have made wine one of the most sought-after alcoholic beverages. The exact number of wine varieties is still unknown, but it is clear that all of them have unforgettable taste qualities and numerous beneficial properties.
How to choose a grape variety to make white wine
Winemaking is an activity that is very popular with people all over the world, but in order for the drink to turn out to be truly tasty, you should initially choose the right grape varieties. White grapes for wine should have berries of a light yellow or pink hue. Few beginner winemakers know that the best wine comes from grapes that are destined for technical use. The berries of this plant have a tart taste andthe minimum amount of pulp. Buying technical grape seedlings is very easy, but before making a purchase, you should know the full characteristics of the plant.
Vine Varieties Difference Parameters
- Fruit ripening period.
- Fruit taste.
- Plant resistance to diseases.
- Freeze susceptibility.
- Plant care requirements.
When purchasing grape seedlings for planting, you should pay attention to the fact that the plant is not damaged and has a he althy trunk and root. By studying the information about the plant, every winemaker gets a chance to grow a full-fledged vineyard and get a large amount of harvest.
Common mistakes made when choosing grape varieties
The most common mistake is to assume that grapes are undemanding plants. An erroneous opinion leads to the fact that after planting, young seedlings grow poorly, do not bear fruit, often get sick, or even die altogether. In order to avoid sad consequences and get a good harvest, you should be guided by certain rules before buying young bushes:
- The grape variety should be highly disease resistant.
- Depending on the climate of the region, a certain grape variety is selected.
- High cold tolerance.
- The best grape varieties are those that have a long shelf life.
Following these rules, you can buy a good variety of grapes, which will give a large amount of harvest. All white varietiesgrapes for wine are more or less susceptible to various diseases, and therefore require special care. In most cases, the development of the plant is influenced by the place of growth and the chemical composition of the soil.
The best grape varieties for making white wine
Each variety of grapes has certain taste qualities and useful properties. There is a certain list of varieties, thanks to which white wine is especially tasty. All winemakers, from amateurs to professionals, say that the most delicious grape varieties are:
- "katsiteli";
- "white nutmeg";
- "chardonnay";
- "aligoté";
- "riesling".
Now let's talk about each variety in more detail.
Rkatsiteli
"Rkatsiteli" is a grape variety that grows throughout Georgia. This species has large berries that ripen within 5 months, so the first crop is harvested in October. One of the negative qualities of this variety is its dependence on weather conditions. Bad weather can greatly reduce yields. The plant is very fond of a humid climate, so the soil where it grows should be constantly irrigated. Vineyard bushes should be placed in a horizontal position. In cold winters, grapes must be insulated. "Rkatsiteli" is a grape variety that has special taste qualities. Taking a sip of thiswine, you can feel the taste of citrus, herbs and flowers. The popularity of Rkatsiteli wine is due to the fact that it goes well with any dishes. Depending on the amount of added sugar, the drink will taste sour or semi-sweet.
White Muscat
This grape variety is known throughout the world as one of the most delicious berries. Even the ancient Romans noticed that this particular grape has special taste qualities. To date, "white muscat" has a very large number of subspecies. All varieties of this grape can be divided into the following plants: early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. This variety cannot resist the cold, so the likelihood that the seedlings will die during the period of severe frosts is very high. The main feature of this variety is that the longer the bunches of berries hang, the sweeter they become. Therefore, in order to make dry white wine, the fruits of "white muscat" must be harvested at an early stage of ripening. Some winemakers neglect this rule, making a mistake.
Dry white Muscat wine has special taste qualities. The taster of such wine first of all feels a distinct taste of grape berries, without any other aftertaste. White Muscat pairs perfectly with meat and fish, so this wine is served for lunch or dinner.
Chardonnay
"Chardonnay" is one of the most popular grape varieties,which is used to make white wine. Fruit ripening occurs within 130 days. "Chardonnay" is a variety that is afraid of the cold, therefore, starting in the fall, it should be insulated. The main task of the winemaker is to harvest the harvest on time, as overripe Chardonnay grapes become unsuitable for making wine. Dry white Chardonnay wine has a mild taste with hints of various fruits. The finished wine has a long shelf life, according to taste it can be divided into: dry, strong, weak and dessert. Depending on the place of growth, the fruits of the plant will have different taste qualities. White wine from "chardonnay" goes well not only with meat, but also with various seafood. The temperature at which you can feel the full taste of wine is 12 ° С.
Aligote
"Aligote" grape is a plant native to France. This grape variety belongs to frost-resistant and early ripening species. A distinctive feature of "aligoté" is its shape of leaves, which are slightly twisted in one direction or another. "Aligote" is unpretentious, so it can be grown in almost any region of the country. It has a high yield. The main requirements for growing this grape variety are the creation of proper lighting, top dressing and timely watering. Grape fruits have high taste qualities, which makes this variety popular among all winemakers. "Aligote" - sour taste,therefore, most connoisseurs of this variety prefer to use it only with food. You can use this wine with any dishes, from meat to seafood.
Riesling
The Riesling grape variety is a sun-loving plant, but it does not tolerate heat well. Depending on the region of growth, the grape itself acquires different taste qualities. The negative side of this variety is that the rapid ripening of berries can lead to an unpleasant taste that will resemble the smell of rubber. Wine made from this grape can be stored for an almost unlimited amount of time. The wine from "riesling" has a fruity aroma, its feature is the presence of notes of pear and apple. Some lovers of this variety, when drinking wine, add a small amount of spices to it, which makes the taste more original. Riesling pairs perfectly with meat, cheese and various vegetable dishes.
Preparation of white wine
White wine tastes much softer than red wine, so making it is not an easy task. Not every novice winemaker knows how to make wine from white grapes. The main feature of making white wine is the use of berries without skins and pits. It is also unacceptable to add any impurities to the raw materials. White grape varieties for wine are selected at the discretion of the winemaker. Even when preparing a drink according to the same recipe, you should not expect that the wine will have the sametaste qualities. In most cases, the taste of wine depends on the ripening period of the fruit and its taste characteristics.
White table wine is made from Rkatsiteli grapes. One of the technologies used to make white wine is the use of not only the berries of the plant, but also its combs. This technology allows you to make wine tart taste, with hints of honey. The main secret of making wine from "rkatsiteli" is the minimum addition of sugar to the drink. For this type of wine, 12% alcohol is used. The finished product has a full taste, and its color varies from transparent to straw.
Dry white Muscat wine can be made from any kind of Muscat grapes. Each berry of this variety contains many useful substances, so a large amount of sugar or alcohol added to this wine deprives it of useful qualities.
26% sugar is added to dry white Chardonnay wine. This is exactly the kind of wine whose preparation cannot be spoiled, thanks to the high qualities of the Chardonnay grape itself. Therefore, for beginner winemakers who would like to experiment, this grape variety is ideal.
Aligote grapes are ideal for making dry white wine. Drink this wine should be young, to feel the notes of fruits and herbs. Wine from "aligoté" is often prepared according to standard technology, but experienced winemakers have their own, already proven recipes that allow you to make wine withamazing taste.
For the preparation of dry Riesling wine, the berries should be picked at the beginning of their ripening. A feature of this variety is that even the harvested crop continues to ripen in bottles. The wine acquires a special taste after ten years of aging. It should also be borne in mind that grapes themselves have a sour taste that cannot be killed even with the largest amount of sugar.
Useful properties of white wine
The most delicious grape varieties allow you to make a truly he althy dry white wine. It is important that such a wine also has useful qualities, which include:
- Preventing the development of various diseases.
- Saturation of the body with vitamins and minerals.
- Strengthening the human cardiovascular system.
Do not forget that all white grapes for wine have a huge list of useful properties, so you can eat them fresh.
No matter how useful wine is, abusing it can harm the body. Therefore, the use of this drink should be in reasonable quantities. Many gourmets prefer to drink wine diluted with sparkling water, claiming that such a drink has a beneficial effect on the entire body.
