Complementing your dish with the perfect wine is no simple task. Reading the wine label can help to narrow down your selection, ensuring that the perfect wine is paired with your dinner. However, even by reviewing the label with the wine bottle in hand, deciphering the lingo can be an obstacle. At times, even the most seasoned wine connoisseurs might need a little help to evaluate wine labels to maximize their fine dining experience.
When examining a wine’s label, first determine the grape variety by examining the classification. Wine labels always list the classification somewhere on the bottle, though perhaps not on the front label. More often than not, a wine taster can expect to see the term Indicazione Geografica Tipica, or IGT. This classification simply means that the wine in your glass contains both Italian and non-Italian grapes, a characteristic most commonly found in wines such as Merlot, Syrah or Chardonnay. While there are other classifications, IGT wines are the most common. Once the classification has been established, it becomes easier to identify the grapes used in that particular bottle. The grape variety may or may not be listed on the bottle, but if it is, it’s usually listed in association with a region.
What about a region makes a wine taste differently? For starters, certain regions only grow certain grapes, which are, of course, the main ingredient in wine! You can almost catch a glimpse of what is inside the bottle by simply knowing the region in which it was produced. The most common grape variety in wine is the Sangiovese, but there are over 350 varieties so each region is going to have a distinct flavor. For example, if the wine bottle in your hand hails from the Tuscany region, expect to taste a mixture of Sangiovese, Trebbiano or Vermentino grapes!
You may know the region and the ingredients, but if you’ve never tasted the grapes used in your wine bottle, then this information might not make your choice any easier, will it? Aspiring wine connoisseurs often have to take a leap and find out which grape varieties they enjoy in their wine. A little research will tell you that Corvina grapes produce wines with herbal undertones and cherry aromas, but what does that really mean for your taste buds? Inexperienced wine tasters can go the trial-and-error route but an easier method is often to just ask someone. If you’re at a restaurant, don’t be shy–servers and other restaurant employees knowledgeable in wine will be more than happy to help! After all, here at Christini’s, extending our knowledge of Italian cuisine is what we enjoy doing.
For an authentic expedition into Italian wine country, join us at Christini’s, one of the best Italian restaurants Orlando.
