Wine Regions: Local Character

The desirable characteristics of fine wines from a wine region are dependent on a combination of climate, soil, the grape varietal and the methods of cultivation employed in the vineyard. Wine producers always strive to create award-winning wines by employing both innovative and proven growing methods to get the best characteristics.

Some of the most important characteristics that are considered when judging wine include bouquet, body, acidity, crispness and sweetness. Wines with the most desirable character are often from the most advantageous wine growing regions.

Italian wines are among the most highly appreciated in the world. The wine region of Tuscany is especially celebrated for producing excellent wines. A combination of excellent climate and the long history of wine production is thought to be the key to their superior quality.

France is also renowned worldwide for producing consistently exquisite wines. A few of the most famous French wine growing regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence and Champagne.

Each growing region produces its own unique style of wine and they each base their reputation on that style and the quality of their wines. The character of French wines is determined by the methods of production used to ensure they are endowed with the qualities that have made French wines highly distinctive and sought after.

An upsurge in production of quality wines in countries such as Argentina, Australia and the US has been due in large part by the serious investment of these countries in the study of all aspects of wine making – from growing to bottling.

While the judging of the desirable characteristics of wine can be complicated and confusing, most wine aficionados agree that the variety of the grape is a key factor. Referred to by wine judges as "varietal character," the flavor of the grape used to create a specific wine is considered to be an essential characteristic.

There is an entire vernacular of wine used to describe a wine's characteristics and when heard for the first time, seems to have a poetic quality to it. In reality it helps wine lovers, judges and growers communicate more effectively with each other.

Words such as aromatic, robust and full-bodied are as basic to a wine enthusiast as flambe, confection and crème frache are to a chef. The fun in discovering the diverse wine characteristics is to taste wines from many wine regions around the world and attempt to match the characteristics to the wine.