GoGoKitty’s Wine Secrets

To those of us who spend time musing over subtle distinctions between this Malbec and that one, or this Chardonnay and that one, it can be startling to realize that to some folks, all wine tastes the same.

We recently had someone ask us, “Really, what is the difference between red wine and white wine?  Because they all taste the same to me.”

We’re guessing that this person has not been a wine drinker for very long.  With time she will more than likely develop a nose and palate for distinctions between different types of wine, not only between reds and whites but also between different varietals within those two broad categories.

When it comes to reds vs. whites, it’s hard to generalize.  Any statement we make about red wines, for example, will have many exceptions.

Nonetheless, we’ll make a stab at it.

Red wine is generally more robust than white wine.  It is “thicker,” for want of a better term, having more weight in the mouth.  It is usually drier (less sweet) than white, although it can be quite fruity in its own right.  Red wine is usually to be drunk at room temperature.

White wine is generally feels lighter in the mouth than does red wine. It tends to be sweeter.  For these reasons, people are more likely to quaff a white wine than they are a red, which tends to be sipped and savored more slowely (we’re not saying people can’t or shouldn’t linger over a white wine; it’s just our observation that they frequently do not).  White wine is frequently chilled before it is drunk.

Don’t worry if you are one who doesn’t notice much difference.  If you stick with wine drinking, trying different many different varieties, the distinctions will eventually become apparent. Don’t fret over it, though, and don’t let wine snobs put you down over it.   Just enjoy the wine you drink, at whatever level of appreciation you happen to be.

Kimpton Hotels announced the launch of Wine Education Vacation with the Bruce Cass Wine Lab. The program houses participants at the Harbor Court Hotel along the San Francisco waterfront where they attend sophisticated wine appreciation classes taught by internationally acclaimed wine educator Bruce Cass.

The first round of classes run between January 16-18, 2009. Each daily two-and-a-half hour class will feature 15 wines in side-by-side comparisons to teach participants the fundamentals of wine tasting and appreciation. Participants will progress from a first session identifying wine basics like residual sugar, acidity, and tannins to a third session that pairs wines from around the world with specially prepared meats, cheeses, and soups.

“We are constantly looking for unique ways for guests to rediscover San Francisco,” said Kimpton Area Director of Sales and Marketing, Mark S. Tuten. “What better way to enjoy the most romantic city in America than to learn wine appreciation from Bruce.”

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