Wine is associated with luxury goods. However, to be able to say that it is outstanding, it must meet a number of requirements – the type, vineyard, ageing method and length. Paradoxically, not always the most expensive wines are the best ones. The price sometimes consists of factors that do not affect the quality of the drink.
First of all, it is the taste that counts… and here we must admit that this is only a part of the truth about the best wines. What also matters is the reputation of the winery, its history and achievements. However, wine itself can be treated as a perfect gift and an object, which can become the beginning of a wonderful collection. After all, who does not want to have a luxurious cellar with interesting wines?
Of course, such a passion is neither common nor cheap. We will have to pay dearly for rare and interesting wines. Some will be difficult to get. In addition, you need to have an appropriate place to store them. Stylish cellar with appropriate conditions inside is necessary.
It is considered that the most expensive wines in the world are outstanding liquors, which are drunk only on great and special occasions. They contain not only alcohol created from high quality grapes that grow on the right soil and benefit from adequate sunlight. What also counts is the history behind them. Even the most expensive Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru is produced in only a few thousand bottles, in only one region of France and has an aroma described by at least several terms (notes of strawberries, wild cherries, mint and others).
How much can a wine collection cost? The famous Scottish football coach Sir Alex Ferguson sold the contents of his wine cellar for $3.8 million.
First of all, a good wine is one that we like – hence personal preferences are important. It is also important to choose the right wine, for example, for the type of meal you eat. However, there are some general indicators of the quality of wine. Here are the most important of them:
A good beverage is made from high quality grapes. The variety of varietals, however, will make it difficult even for a person who is already somewhat familiar with the subject. The tannin content is important. The more tannins there are, the more “astringent” the taste will be on the tongue
Also the time when the grapes are harvested is important. Maturation of wine in oak barrels often results in a more nuanced taste, richer in additional aromas. It is also usually more expensive. However, there is no single rule about the length of this time – it is influenced by the decisions of the producer, the regulations adopted for a given species or other issues.
This is another very important parameter. Young red wine should be bright and clear. Older can be darker, but too strong intensity of color will sometimes indicate that the beverage has been kept a little too long. What about white wine? It must have a golden and intense color.
The aroma can be more or less complex. It is difficult to determine here – rather, you must be guided by your own taste. The point is to smell the wine from a distance – to actually catch the aromatic notes contained in the drink and not be influenced by the alcohol it contains.
Good wine is a tasty beverage – but what does this actually mean? Here, too, counts the taste of the sampler, but also his experience. People familiar with wine will be more sensitive and not be fooled by, for example, the effect of sugar, which apparently makes a sweet wine seem more interesting in terms of taste. The best wines are those with a balanced taste, where the individual components (alcohol, tannins, sugar) are well composed with each other.
A distinction is made between wines:
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