Wines come in different colors and prices and sometimes it's hard to make the right choice. A little knowledge, however, about how wine comes about will help.

Here are some tips you can use to make your decision.

Wine is fermented in barrels. The good old fashioned barrel was always made of oak because that is what gives the wine its flavor and structure. Oak barrels are still used of course, but they are expensive, and wineries using oak barrels will obviously sell their wine at a higher price because of higher quality and higher expenses for the producer.

Nowadays, oak barrels can be substituted by stainless steel tanks. Wineries using stainless steel tanks add oak chips or oak dust in the wine to give the needed flavor and structure to the juice. This process is much cheaper and gives a wine of lesser quality, therefore lowering the price of the wine made that way.

These two different processes both very common will definitely bring two different wines to your table. The second process mentioned above does not mean that you will have a bad wine; many of these wines turn out to be very decent in taste, but it will always be an inferior wine and its price will certainly reflect it.

Another process that will make your wine more or less expensive as well as higher or lesser in quality is coming right from the vineyard. It comes from the pruning which is also called the 'green harvesting'. This process determines how many grapes are allowed to ripe to maturity on the vine. The lesser grapes the more expensive its precious juice. This process also brings the wine's quality to a higher level with more fruit flavor and a higher alcohol level.

The third reason for the price and quality of the wine is its origin; where it's coming from. Some regions are homes to wine, they seem made for it. Perfect climate, altitude and so on... some others are just places where vineyards can grow. This fact alone definitely makes a difference in the quality and price of the wine that you are buying.

There are some other few minor reasons why wines are different in quality and price, but here are the 3 main ones that every wine connoisseur should know.

Wine is not my typical writing topic, but I happened to be from France and my mother has spent part of her childhood in the winery of the biggest producer of Beaujolais and Morgon Sauvignon wines of his time (It took all three of his children to take over the business).

She introduced me to this wonderful family at age 8. I can still remember the wine fume smelling caves where the grape juices were in the process of becoming great wines. That is where I had my first taste of one the best wine in the world made by old fashioned wine makers in the center of Beaujolais wine country. I learned a lot about wine there and have loved wine ever since.

France and other countries produce all kind of wines, but the number one of all wines for a French connoisseur is red dry wine. Dry, means not sweet, but rather sour while fruity. Red dry wine, if consumed with moderation of course, is probably the healthiest alcoholic drink your can bring to the pleasure of you gourmet table.

So, if you are shopping for wine this holiday seasons, think of what is behind the quality and price of your wine and understand the differences from one kind of wine to another much better.

If you want to learn more about French products and France in general I invite you to visit my blog on French travel, food, art and more at: http://www.francetravelandfood.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylviane_Nuccio
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Choose-Your-Wine-For-the-Holidays&id=865677

<-- Previous | Next -->

<< If you enjoyed "How to Choose Your Wine For the Holidays" then please some of our other wine articles. >>

More Wine Articles

Wine.gs . . . the home of red, white and rosé