Wine Styles

Sparkling wines

'Sparkling wine is usually white or rose but there are many examples of red sparkling wines such as Italian Brachetto and Australian sparrkling Shiraz. The sweetness of sparkling wine can range from very dry "brut" styles to sweeter "doux" varieties.'

            Affectionately called Bubbly, England and Wales produce a range of excellent sparkling wines at different prices. The highest quality ones are made in the traditional Champagne method which is referred to in England & Wales as Methode Traditionelle. 

 Rose'

'In France, rose' has now exceeded white wines in sales. In the United States a recoud 2005 California crop has resulted in an increased production and proliferation of varietals used for rose's, as winemakers chose to make rose' rather than leave their reds unsold.'

Brandy

'Brandy has more pleasant aromas and flavours at a lower temperature, e.g., 16 celcius. In most homes, this would imply that brandy should be cooled rather than heated for maximum enjoyment'.

       

The word brandy comes from the Dutch word brandwijn meaning burnt wine. It was originally a way of preserving wine for long sea journeys. Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine, the wine having first been produced by fermenting grapes. Brandy generally contains 35%-60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink. While some brandies are aged in wooden casks, most are coloured with caramel colouring to imitate the effect of such ageing.