Multo Vino in Italia

Wine is a very central part of the dynamic culture of Italy. It dates back to ancient times when wine was developed as an added social aspect to everyday life, which it still remains today. The definition of wine is simple terms is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of fruits, mainly grapes, containing natural sugars. When wine ferments, the yeasts will convert the sugars to carbon dioxide and alcohols, which include ethanols and other chemicals that add to the character of the wine. The key factors to making/producing wine include climate zones, a temperate zone is ideal, altitude, and soil composition and texture. The differences in these key factors contribute to the differences in flavor and body in the wines. The main parts of the grape that contribute to the wine are the skins (color contributor), the pulp (nutrition component), and the seeds of pits (flavor and tannins).

Wine is such a complex element that there are more components involved with it that one would originally think. The main components of wine are water, alcohol, acids, sugars, mineral salts, flavoring and coloring substances, odorous substances, and sulfites. Wines range from white wines to red wines to roses to sparkling wines. Red wines are made from macerating red grapes and using all of the grapes to produce the wine. White wines are actually made from red grapes, but the skins are separated from the juice so that the wine stays clear and doesn't have any color to it. Rose wines are made with limited skin contact making the color of the wine a lighter, more pink color. Sparkling wines are made with special fermentation techniques either Metodo Champenoise (bottle fermentation) or Metodo Charmat (sealed tank fermentation method). The Metodo Charmat is the faster and cheaper method to making sparkling wines.

The main wine producers of the world include France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The best quality and highest production of wine are mainly from France and Italy. Regionally wine is named for where they are produced and cannot be called something else if produced in another region of Europe. For example, Bordeaux is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc only produced in Bordeaux, France. Therefore, if this combination is made somewhere else, it cannot be called Bordeaux, it must be called something else. There are many regions in Italy like this as well that include: Toscana and Piemonte as the best red wines produced in Italy.

Another complex component of wines is the art of wine tasting. The main steps involved with wine tasting are sight, smell, taste, and touch, generally in that order. Sight involves evaluating the color of the wine, considering the clarity of the wine, and evaluating the "tears" left on the sides of the glass after swirling it. In a sparkling wine, effervescence, which is the consideration of bubbles formed, is also looked at. When evaluating the smell of the wine, there are primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas to consider. Primary aromas come directly from the grape, secondary aromas come from the fermentation of the wine, and the tertiary aromas come from the aging and storing of the wine. The next step is evaluating the taste. The four main components of taste involve sweetness, acidity, saltiness, and bitterness. Actually evaluating the wine is very subjective, but it involves using your creativity to really evaluate the wine and see what you think your senses are grasping.

Uno cappuccino, per favore

Waking up in the morning can be tough sometimes even for a person like me who considers herself a morning person. In the United States, I usually stop at a place like Starbuck's or Espresso Royale on my way to class to get my daily dose of caffeine. I usually arrive with my typical order "one grande skinny vanilla latte please" and I usually pay around $4 for each one of those that I order. This usually gives me the caffeinated push that I need to get me through a long and stressful day of school and various other activities. In Italy, however, I've encountered a different type of lifestyle related to caffeinated beverages such as cappuccinos and espressos. In Italy, ordering a cappuccino is like a typical routine for most Italians such as brushing your teeth, it needs to be done. There are no different sizes like tall, grande, or venti, there are just set sizes for whatever it is that you order. Also, the prices of caffeinated beverages here like the cappuccino are significantly cheaper than in America. However, there are places located in tourist areas that can rip you off if you're not careful. Another observation I have made is that Starbuck's does not exist in Italy, probably because they realize that they would be up against some insane competition when it comes to Italian coffee, but never the less there are no Starbuck's locations in Italy. This goes to show you that cappuccinos and espressos made in Italy are just that authentic where any brand name coffee place would not be able to compete.

When it comes to cappuccinos, I personally have never had one before I came to Italy. They just aren't ordered that often by people in the United States. When I tried my first cappuccino, I was hooked! It was absolutely delicious and even though I love to have my lattes at home sweet. I do not add sugar to my cappuccino and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. Although, the barista that I order my cappuccino from as begun to recognize me since I go there at least twice a week so he draws me designs with chocolate syrup on the top of my cappuccino. It's so cute and super good!

The cappuccino is a very popular drink in Italy, but really only in the mornings. Sometimes cappuccinos are consumed in the afternoon, but usually never after a meal. Sometimes Americans think that you should drink one after a meal to help your food digest however a milk based drink does not help with digestion. A coffee, tea or espresso would be a more logical choice to choose after a meal rather than a milk based drink because these actually do help with food digestion and are better choices. If you've never consumed a cappuccino before, you should definitely do so and to get the best cappuccinos would definitely be in Italy because they know how to make them the right way and cheap! :)