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Wine Information
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The
differences between red and white wines |
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Every kind of vine gives a distinct character to its product, and the most celebrated wines are made from distinct varieties of grape. Wine from the Palomino grown at Xeres is very different from the Mantico castellaizo grown in the same district, and the term Sherry does not adequattly cover the two wines, and so of the various French wines classified by district or group terms.
It is interesting to note that the temperate climate with high summer temperature is the best for wine-producing. In the cold countries the grape cannot ripen. In countries like England, where the mean temperature is not lower than in some wine-producing countries, the normal summer heat is insufficient. In the
equatorial territories the vine does not prosper. France is the most favoured country, and produces the greatest diversity of character in her wines. Other top wine-producing countries are Italy, Spain, Germany, South Africa, U.S.A. (California).
While the general character of wine depends on the factors of the vine itself, the climate, the soil, the aspect (and in 'made' and 'fortified' wines, the process), specific quality depends on
the particular vintage, which is, to say, on weather.
Wine is savoured both by the sense of taste and the sense of smell (if these be really separate senses as I understand has been philosophically disputed). The eye also comes into the business, and some astonishing stories are told of connoisseurs (quite sober, bien entendu !) desperately chagrined by being unable to tell whether they be drinking Port or Sherry when blindfolded.