Lesson 1: Introduction to the world of wine

Welcome to our wine course. In this first lesson, we will give a brief introduction to the world of wine, exploring its history, the classification of wines by color, the most common grape varieties, and the importance of terroir.

The history of wine is ancient and fascinating. Man has been making wine since ancient times, using various winemaking techniques that have evolved over the centuries. Today, wine is a popular beverage all over the world, coming in many varieties and shades.

Based on color, wines can be classified into three main categories: white, red and rosé. White wine is produced using mainly white grapes, while red wine is made from red grapes. Rosé wine, on the other hand, is the result of brief maceration of the skins of red grapes in the must, which gives the wine a soft pink color.

Grape varieties are the grape varieties used to make wine. There are so many of them, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Examples of the most common grape varieties for white wine include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling, while for red wine we find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.

But wine is not just grapes: the environment in which the vines grow and the cultivation technique used are key factors that influence the flavor and characteristics of the wine. These factors are known as terroir and include climate, soil, altitude and sun exposure. Terroir is one of the reasons why wine from one region can be so different from wine from another.

In this first lesson we explored some of the basic concepts of the world of wine, from its history to its classification by color, grape varieties, and the importance of terroir. In the next lesson we will learn how to taste wine and evaluate its sensory characteristics.