Chardonnay & Oak Aging
This dry white wine, made from the Chardonnay grape, is the most popular of its variety. Chardonnay ranges in style, with some oakier versions contributing to taste. The purpose of Chardonnay aged in oak is to add some of the oaks characters, along with helping the wine develop its texture. Winemakers may lightly toast the inner surface of barrels, allowing the smoky oak or toasty characters to be detected in the final product. Oak gives the taste a dimension of spiciness and adds a hint of vanilla or coconut to the grapes aroma. The oak and Chardonnay combination is a favorite that is sure to last!
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Smell
There are a few very important things to note when we "nose" a wine. It is suggested to first smell the wine before swirling, noticing the delicate aromas. Next, swirl the wine and smell again after it is at rest. Depending on the bouquet, you may then notice a profound difference in the odors emerging. Aroma is a smell that originates from the actual grape, with very clear cut characteristics. Aroma is most prevalent in young wines. The bouquet of a wine refers to smells generated as a result of aging; smells found particularly in mature wines that were aged in a bottle. The bouquet generally has much softer and complex characteristics than aromas. Identifying what you smell is usually the most challenging part in wine tasting. Although there are many smell categories used to describe characteristics of wine, none have been exclusively agreed upon.
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Taste
After observing your wine using the sense of sight and smell, it is then time to use your palate to identify tastes. This is far more detailed than simply tasting as we would any other beverage. We must remember to note the characteristics of the wine on all sensory areas of the tongue. Sweetness is detected on the very tip of the tongue, while bitter tastes are sensed in the extreme rear. Saltiness is sensed on the front, upper sides of the tongue, and the acidity-sour taste is sensed mainly on the sides. Some suggest focusing your attention on one sensation at a time in order to be more efficient in your taste. Try taking a sip of wine and swallowing immediately. Then try another sip, this time letting the wine work well around the palate into these sensory areas before swallowing. You will recognize a noticeable difference in the intensity of flavors!
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Livermore / Tri-Valley Winery List
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Bent Creek Winery
Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars
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Bodegas Aguirre Winery
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Cedar Mountain Winery
Charles R Vineyards
Chouinard Vineyards
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Concannon Vineyard
Crooked Vine Winery
Cuda Ridge Wines
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Darcie Kent Vineyards
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Deer Ridge Vineyards
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Eagle Ridge Vineyard
Eckert Estate Winery
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Elliston Vineyards
el Sol Winery
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Fenestra Winery
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Garre Vineyard and Winery
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Hidden Creek
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John Christopher Cellars
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La Rochelle Winery
Las Positas Vineyards
Lavish Laines Winery
Les Chenes Estate Vineyards
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Little Valley Winery
Livermore Valley Cellars
Longevity Wines
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McGrail Vineyards & Winery
Mitchell Katz Winery
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Murrieta's Well
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Nottingham Cellars
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Occasio Winery
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Page Mill Winery
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Red Feather Winery
Red Skye Winery
Retzlaff Estate Vineyards
Rios-Lovell Winery
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Rodrigue Molyneaux Vineyard & Winery
Ruby Hill Winery
Ryhan Estate Vineyards
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Steven Kent Winery
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Stony Ridge Winery
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Tamas Estates
Tenuta Vineyards
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The Singing Winemaker
Thomas Coyne Winery
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Wente Vineyards Estate Winery
Westover Vineyards
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White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyards
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