Popular Wines from A to Z

Sometimes, people want to have a glass or bottle of wine, but feel uncomfortable because they don’t know what wine to order to how to pronounce correctly the name of wine. Thanks to wine experts from the International Wine and Spirits Association-- who will hold the first European Wine Festival on June 5, 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental Manila— as they give an educational listing of most popular Wines around the world. It’s time to expand our knowledge with popular wines from A to Z and how their names are pronounced.

Amarone (Ah-ma-RoH-nay) – red wine.
Amontillado (Ah-mone-tee-YAH-doe) – red wine.
Beaujolais (Bo-zho-LAY) – red wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Kah-burr-Nay So-vin-Yon) – red wine.
Champagne (Sham-pane) – sparkling wine.
Chardonnay (shar-dun-Nay) – white wine.
Demi-sec (Deh-mee-seck) – champagne with residual sugar.
Gewurztraminer (Ge-vertz-trah-mee-ner) – aromatic German wine.
Kabinett (Kah-bee-NET) – semi-dry German wine.
Merlot (Merlow) - juicy wine.
Muscat (Muhs-kat) – dessert wine.
Nebbiolo (Nay-BYOH-low) –wine with black fruit and tar flavor.
Oloroso (Oh-loe-roe-soe) – sherry wine.
Pinot Blanc (Pee-noe-BlahN) – poor man’s Chardonnay
Pinot Noir (Pea-noe-Nwahr) – red wine.
Riesling (REESE-ling) – red wine
Rose (Roe-zay) – pink wine.
Sauvignon Blanc (So-vin-yon-Blahnk) – white wine.
Tempranillo – (Temph-rah-NEEL-yo) – red wine.

It maybe quite difficult to familiarize ourselves with such long list of popular wines. The rule about white wine for fish and poultry and red wine for red meats has become flexible. In a hotel, or restaurant or in an occasion where you have to order the wine, particularly if you are the host and know little about wine brands, it is better to use the following formula as suggested by the book Executive Etiquette:

To complement Beef dish, order wines starting with letter “B” as in Beef such as Beaujolais, Bordeaux and Bartolo.

To complement Chicken dish , order wines starting with letter “C” as in Chicken such as Chardonnay and Chablis.

To complement fiSh dish, order wines starting with letter “S” as in “Sole fish” such as Soave and Sauvignon Blanc.

Whatever is your preferred wine, let’s drink to that!!