The 12 Disciples

Any substance which contains high amounts of natural sugars will ferment when in contact with yeast. Very simply therefore, wine is really spoiled grape juice. One particular species of wild vine that early human nomads around Turkey and modern Georgia used easily from which to produce an alcoholic liquid. It was especially well suited to quick fermentation because of its naturally sweet berries. It is now scientifically known as Vitis vinifera - the "wine bearing grape". Within this one species, there are over 10 000 subtypes, some of which have been deliberately created by cross fertilization. However, only a small percentage are important in commercial production of wine and a very minute handful (almost exclusively French in origin), assail the world thus constituting the language of wine as we know it.

Many factors aside from grape variety are responsible for the taste of a wine, and there are as many styles to its making as there are winemakers. The identity of the grapes however, is the main determinant of style. Commonly met grape varieties have innate characteristics, and these can be harnessed to create and craft wines in diverse parts of the world.
 

These 12 VIPs are:

1. Chardonnay
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
3. Sauvignon Blanc
4. Pinot Noir
5. Semillon
6. Syrah
7. Riesling
8. Merlot
9. Chenin Blanc
10. Grenache
11. Gewurztraminer
12. Gamay

In the next sections under this tag we will attempt to approach the typical flavours in each, and the different regions of the world where these are produced.

Picture from www.pyotr.co.nz/pages/wine