Where does the best wine on Earth come from? This question has been debated for millennia! In fact, the history of wines goes back thousands of years, and surely someone wanted to know where to get the best wine! The earliest indication of a fermented drink using grapes comes from China around 7,000 BCE (Perhaps it was the Chinese who were asking the question!). More evidence is found soon after in the Near East, and it is known that wine was important to Israel, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Mesopotamia. The major grape-growing and wine-producing regions of the Mediterranean areas and Western Europe were established during antiquity.
There are a number of different types of wine that have to be considered in the quest for the best wine. For example, Sparkling Wine contains high levels of carbon dioxide so it is fizzy. Sparkling Wine may be white or rose primarily, but a number of red sparkling wines have been developed. Champagne is a subset of sparkling wines, but to be called that, the wine must come from the Champagne region of France. Everywhere else it is called a sparkling wine. The classification of wines depends on the kind of grape or grapes from which it is made or where those grapes are grown. Classification may also depend on the winemaker’s process.
One division of wine is based on color which gives you white, red, and rose wines. Others are defined by production methods and include fortified wines and ice wines. Many different variables go into making all the different white, red, and rose wines. These variables include where the grapes were grown, the climate of the area, moisture percentage, and condition of the soil. After harvesting the grapes, the process each wine maker uses to make his wine is also a variable. White wine grapes are grown primarily in France, Italy, Germany, Austria, New York, California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Chile. Actually many places are growing a decent white wine grape today.
Wine Spectator magazine chooses a Top 100 list each year. In 2012 the wine at the top of the list was a blend known as Relentless from the Napa Valley region in California. This must be the Best California Wine. And where might you find the Best California Wine along with dozens of others? At Towne Cellars Wines & Liquors Inc. in New York!
