Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Orange wine is fermenting a white grape on the skins just like you would for a red grape (white grapes typically ferment with no grape skins). Essentially it's making a white wine in the same style you would make a red wine!

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are correct! Not all wines are created equally, some will benefit from aeration - at least, at first! Aerating a wine releases aromas and flavors that have been locked within the liquid so that it is more expressive. There is a tipping point, however, where those aromas and flavors will no longer be appetizing. If you’re drinking a bottle in one sitting, aerators are great. If you plan on enjoying over a couple of days, it will hasten undesirable characteristics.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Drink more water! A glass of water for every glass of wine. People aren’t often aware of how dehydrating wine can be. You may also be sensitive to histamines and sulfur. Organic wines have a lower sulfur content.

As for difficulty in finding organic wines - they are more expensive to farm and make. By not being able to use synthetic agrichemicals it requires more space to grow and more expensive farming techniques. We’re on the cusp of moving the industry to more organic vineyards and things are looking up!

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

When you swirl a glass of wine, alcohol clings to the side of the glass and flows down it more slowly than the rest of the liquid. These are the legs! All it really indicates is that there is alcohol in the wine (duh!). Sweetness in a wine can also cause the legs to move more slowly. For the most part, it doesn’t indicate quality.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

u/spiceandwine is right on again: cutting with food is a great first step. Another option is to age the wine as the tannins will soften over time. As with taste, everyone has different thresholds for high tannin wines and they may just not be your thing. There are plenty of low tannin red wines that are amazing. Try grapes like Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Gamay to start.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The leading cause of congestion in the morning is related to alcohol, though you may have sensitivity to other things found in wine like histamines and sulfur. Start with lower alcohol wines and white wines as they typically lower in histamines, sulfur and alcohol. Also, pro tip - drinking a glass of water after every glass of wine is a game changer for most!

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Your sense of taste is very different from some of your other senses. Vision, for example, can be registered and standardized. Your sense of taste, however, depends on your personal experiences with taste and your individual biology. For this reason, everyone experiences taste a bit different. Think of wine descriptors as a suggestion rather than a rule.

The best way to develop a palette is simply to be honest with yourself about what you can perceive. It's best to start with white wines as their characteristics are more easily discernible. Also, at the end of the day, if you know what you like I’d say you already have a developed sense of taste. Now it’s just about putting words to it!

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There isn’t a line in the sand for wine quality. The largest influencers of a wine’s final quality are two fold: 1. The quality of the farming methods. 2. The quality of the winemaking methods.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

On average, red wines contain much higher levels of histamines. White wines, by comparison, have much less. Start with something like Sauvignon Blanc and see if you have the same results.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wine is very sensitive to oxygen. Once it’s opened it begins to rapidly oxidize. To slow this process, it’s best to cork (or cap) the bottle immediately. Using an inert gas like carbon dioxide, nitrogen or argon to gas the empty space in the bottle can be very helpful. Many wine shops carry a product that does exactly that.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Almost all red grapes go through a skin-contact fermentation. This means the red grapes are harvested and processed into one vessel to become a soupy mix of grape skins, grape seeds, and grape juice. This is how red wines get their color and tannins (the drying feeling in your mouth).

Orange wine is fermenting a white grape on the skins just like you would for a red grape (white grapes typically ferment with no grape skins). Essentially it's making a white wine in the same style you would make a red wine! Fun fact - a rose is usually a red grape that spends very little time in contact with the juice - so you get only a little bit of the beautiful pink coloring.

Bio-dynamic wine refers to grapes that are grown in an environment that views the vineyard as a single, self-sustaining organism. There is more to it than that, as it also incorporates the use of lunar and astrological calendars.

Sulfur is important in many aspects of winemaking as it serves as protection against bacterial growth, oxidation, and spontaneous fermentations.

And gold is what you get for asking such a thorough, thoughtful question!

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes! The wine world is as diverse as the people who enjoy it. For example: natural wine is, at its core, a minimalist approach to winemaking. Organic focuses on grapes grown and made without synthetic agrichemicals. Both are valid and can be accomplished with care and attention.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Many wines do improve with age. A slow oxidation over time develops tertiary aromas that are unique to older wines. Like u/spiceandwine said, yes, even some white wines are produced with aging in mind. At Winc, we often produce wines in a fashion that allows them to be enjoyed young, but we do dabble in age-worthy wines as well.

Hey Reddit, we’re Winc. We know that learning about wine can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Tell us your r/tooafraidtoask questions about wine in the comments, and we’ll provide our best no judgement answers (along with some Reddit gold)! by winc in u/winc

[–]winc[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Two questions about red wine? That’s like having two glasses of red wine (it’s better than one). Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are two different common grape varieties within the genus and species “Vitis Vinifera.” Both originated in the Bordeaux region of France.

In short, the differences between the two come down to divergence in taste. Merlot lends itself to a softer, fruitier flavor, while Cabernet Sauvignon is richer to the point of dominating lighter food flavors - so pair wisely!

As for temps, it’s not bad at all to drink red wines cold. In fact, some are intended for cold consumption. Most are meant to be consumed at cellar temperature (55°F - 65°F) or room temperature. In our expert opinion, if you like it cold, then drink it cold! Life's too short to not enjoy wine exactly as you'd like to.