Everything you wanted to know about wine

Even the world’s top sommeliers at one point didn’t know the difference between white and red Zinfandels.

With that in mind, here’s a few tips to help you wine rookies to get the most out of your Lodi wine tasting experience.

Q: Why are red wines red and white wines white?

A: Typically, white wines come from white grapes and red wines come from black grapes. The difference between the two wine types goes beyond the grapes used, however.

Red wines take their color from the grape’s skin, which is left on the fruit during the crush and fermentation process. The deep purple grape skins seep into and color the juice, and provide the tannins that add texture and body to the wine.

The grape skins are removed before the crush while making white wines. The absence of tannins makes a lighter, less complex wine.

Some white wines are made by removing the skins from black grapes. A good example is White Zinfandel, which gets its light pink hue because it uses the black Zinfandel grape.

Q: Why swirl wine in a glass when tasting?

A: Swirling wine against the sides of the glass allows the wine to breathe, which brings out a stronger aroma. Using all senses — eyes for color, nose for smell and of course the tastebuds — allows for a more complete tasting experience.

Q: How long after the harvest is the wine ready to drink?

A: That depends on the wine. According to Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, wines can take as little as two months and as long as five years before they’re ready for consumption.

White Zinfandel harvested in August can sometimes be bottled in October, since the wine requires a fresh, young flavor. Most red wines are aged about 18 months before bottling, though some can spend up to three years in a barrel and two more in the bottle before being opened.

Q: How many bottles of wine can be taken from a vine?

A: It’s impossible to say for sure, given the different varieties and winemaking philosophies out there. It’s somewhere in the ballpark of three bottles per vine, or approximately 400 grapes a bottle, Chandler said.

Q: Why age wine in wood barrels?

A: Wood is porous, and allows oxygen to seep into the wine while it ferments. The oxygen softens the wine, giving it a smoother texture.

Q: Aren’t all older wines better?

A: Not necessarily, Chandler said. Many wines are made to be drank right away, and would not be well served by sitting in a cellar collecting dust.

If a wine collector is going to save a bottle, he should keep it away from direct light and in an area with a constant temperature that is protected from vibration.

“Putting it on top of your refrigerator is not a good idea,” Chandler said.

Q: What’s up with that wine label?

A: Labels attract attention, sell the product, answer questions and comply with the law — all on about 12 square inches of paper. They typically include the winery’s or brand’s name, the grape variety, the appellation or region in which the grapes are grown, the year or vintage during which the grapes were grown and the wine’s alcohol content.

1) The brand name usually features clever designs (note the spin on the numeral 7 and the letter Z) to attract the consumer’s eye. Seven Deadly Zins is one of Michael-David Vineyards’ signature labels.

2) Lodi Appellation is where the vast majority of the grapes used in the wine were grown. At least 85 percent of the grapes must come from the named area to be named on the label.

3) At least 75 percent of the grapes must be of a certain variety in order to list the varietal on the label. This wine is a Zinfandel, which means it was made using at least 3/4 Zinfandel grapes.

4) To include the vintage, 95 percent of the grapes must be harvested that year. The remaining 5 percent sometimes comes from wine that tops off barrels to compensate for evaporation caused by aging.

5) If the alcohol content is less than 14 percent, it can legally be called a table wine. When more than 14 percent, the exact percentage must be given.

6) Old Vine means the Zinfandel grapes used in this wine were harvested from a vine that is at least 35 years old. Older vines produce a more complex fruit, but aren’t as productive as younger ones.

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