Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. What is tannin?

KZ: Tannin is a natural preservative that is found in foods like walnuts, tea and grapes. The tannins in wine derive primarily from grape skins but can also come from the oak barrels in which certain wines are aged (which is why even some white wines, which are made without grape skins, have tannins). Tannins, when balanced with fruit, leave a tactile sensation in your mouth that is felt in the middle of your tongue. As a wine gets older, its tannins mellow and become visible in the wine as sediment. Of course, tannins are just one component of a wine's structure; the best wines have a balance of tannins, fruit and acids.

Q. What is meant by vintage?

KZ: A vintage indicates the year the grapes were harvested, so every year is a vintage year. A vintage chart reflects the weather conditions for various years. Better weather usually results in a better rating for the vintage.

Q. Are all wines meant to be aged?

KZ: No. It's a common misconception that all wines improve with age. In fact, more than 90 percent of all the wines made in the world are meant to be consumed within one year, and less than 1 percent of the world's wines are meant to be aged for more than 5 years.

Q. Can white wine be made from red grapes?

KZ: Yes. The color of wine comes entirely from the grape skins. By removing the skins immediately after picking, no color is imparted to the wine, and it will be white. In the Champagne region of France, a large percentage of the grapes grown are red, yet most of the resulting wine is white. California's White Zinfandel is made from red Zinfandel grapes.

 

Spill the Wine?
Try an equal mixture of liquid soap and hydrogen
peroxide to take out red wine stains

 

Kevin Zraly's favorite wine regions:
Napa	Burgundy	Tuscany	Rhein
Sonoma	Champagne	Piedmont	Rioja
Bordeaux	Rhone Valley	Mosel	Douro (Port)