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GENERIC
WINES --- Blended wines with names unrelated to their
origin or grape variety.
GLASSWARE
--- Glasses can make a big difference in the experience of wine.
Cleanliness (no detergent residue, please) and appropriate shape
(to capture the pleasurable bouquet and to gently release the wine
over the taste centers in the mouth) are the keys. Much has been
made of the myriad of glasses that have been developed for precision
tasting-from luxurious and traditional Baccarat crystal designs,
to scientifically-engineered Reidel glassware, to unorthodoxly-shaped,
but highly effective, Les Impitoyables. At the root of all this
fuss is the simple idea that different wines require different amounts
of space. Time and experience have proven that a fragrant Pinot
Noir, for instance, benefits from a large, bulbous glass with a
tapered opening at the top to allow the bouquet to collect in the
bowl. In general, a clear, smooth-surfaced, stemmed glass has proven
best. And although there are glasses made for virtually every style
of wine, a set of medium-large, so-called Bordeaux-style or egg-shaped
INAO (International Standard Organization) all-purpose glasses that
hold about six ounces when two-thirds full is functional for most
wines, with the exception of sparkling wines. A tall, tulip- or
flute-shaped glass with a tapered body and relatively small opening
best releases the bubbly charms of these wines.
GRASSY
--- Describes a wine with characteristic flavor and aroma resembling
grass or herbs, particularly associated with Sauvignon Blanc.
GREEN
--- Describes wines made from unripe grapes, resulting in a raw,
acidic taste. The color green is sometimes prevalent in young, white
wines.
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