Wine 101: The truth about wines revealed

MANILA, Philippines - Wine complements the daily meal, flavors a dish, welcomes guests, marks memorable occasions, and completes the connoisseur’s feast.

And since the Philippines is a young market for wines, it is best to discuss the common misconceptions about wines and wine drinking. Carlo Rossi, the number 1 bottled wine in the world, shares the answers to frequently asked questions.

• What is wine? Wine is the fermented juice of sound, ripe grapes. The juices from the grapes combine with the yeast and the sugar in each berry to produce natural wine. Through the wine making process, this is transformed into a beverage that is more pleasing to drink.        

The skin of grapes is laden with healthy antioxidants that promote wellness and will be preserved only if the grape harvest is processed immediately.   

• What is good wine? A good wine is one that you enjoy. It is approachable and easy to drink for new wine drinkers yet consistent in quality and appealing even to the regular drinkers. It is a perfect way to relax as well as to celebrate and have fun with family and friends. Also, from a Usage and Attitude Study among Filipino respondents, on a given list of attributes, the five highly rated were: smooth finish, pleasant smell, made by a reputable company, always available, and affordable.

• How does wine complement Filipino dishes? Filipino foods are rich in condiments and sauces. This explains why rice is important in the meals, and why it is difficult to pair wines with Filipino dishes. But certain wines, particularly Carlo Rossi California Red, with its smooth feel and light fruity taste, allow the palate to sense the distinct features of Filipino cuisine. Food and wine then become a pleasurable experience.    

• Is aging an important factor? What is the difference between aging in steel vats and in wooden barrels? Aging allows the flavors and aromas to mature and develop prior to bottling. Stainless steel vats are airtight: they prevent oxidation and preserve whatever characteristics the wine has from the fermentation step. Oak barrels allow the wine to extract additional aromas and flavors like oak, smoke, vanilla and spice. Oxidation is also allowed and impacts on the wine’s color, flavor and aroma.

It is also important to note that short aging has a limited impact on the character of the wine. Longer aging produces more intense changes.

• What is the difference between traditional corks and twist type caps? After bottling, the aged wines are sealed with either traditional corks or screw or twist type caps. The key here is to minimize the exposure of the wine to air, thereby preventing rapid oxidation.

Winemakers may elect to age the wines “on the cork” for a period of time until all the aromas and flavors “marry” and the tannins soften. Currently, modern wines are sealed in the screw or twist type caps for easy open and convenience.

• What is the difference of bringing wines in bulk versus wines in individual bottles? Local wine companies import unprocessed wines in bulk (contained in drums), and do fermentation locally. To say the least that these wines are produced here may not be entirely correct. The Philippines cannot produce wines as it cannot grow and harvest grapes, to start with.

Imported brands bring in the wines in their finished material, in airtight bottles that are sealed to withstand conditions of sunlight, heat, humidity and movement, including transport from the wineries to the oceans and ports, to the local warehouses. They also offer a variety that includes dry and sweet wines.

Also, the next time you visit the International Wine section, look for the BIR seal on the bottle. This gives assurance that the correct taxes had been paid the government, thereby contributing to the nation’s economy.           

Finally, price is not always a direct reflection of quality. Carlo Rossi offers expensive tastes at affordable prices. The wines are made from grapes harvested from California’s grape-growing regions, and are considered by international wine experts to be among the finest in the world.

The grapes are processed right after they are picked and harvested to preserve the healthy antioxidants and to ensure that every bottle captures the true essence of style created by the winemakers.