Throughout his travels and experiences over the years, Stephen Iwerebon has become an avid wine enthusiast. He has sampled many wines from all around the world and loves exploring new varieties and flavors.
The top ten wine-producing countries of 2015 include:
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- United States
- Argentina
- Chile
- Australia
- South Africa
- China
- Germany
Portugal just misses the top ten list coming in at number 11. While it is not in the top ten, Portugal produces a unique type of wine known as Port Wine that Stephen Iwerebon has added to his list of favorites. Port wine is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. It commonly comes in the style of a sweet, red wine. Because of its ample sweetness, Port Wine is often served as a dessert wine.
Besides this sweet dessert wine, Stephen Iwerebon also enjoys varieties of Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is a red wine grape variety originating in Burgundy, France. While one of the most difficult grapes to grow, Pinot Noir produces some of the finest wines in the world. Pinot Noir are often known to be delicate wines with red fruit aromas such as cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. As it ages, however, Pinot Noir will grow to have more complex flavors and aromas including hints of earthy notes. One reason Stephen Iwerebon enjoys Pinot Noir in particular is that it is versatile when it comes to having a glass with dinner. Pinot Noir matches up well with poultry, salmon, meat, and vegetables dishes.
Merlot: Merlot is a dark-blue grape variety originating from the Bordeaux wine regions of France. It is often known as a soft wine with fruity flavors of plums and blackberries occasionally combined with mint, chocolate, or eucalyptus aromas. Like Pinot Noir, Merlot can be paired with a wide array of food options. Generally, Merlot pairs nicely with chicken and other light means as well as some lightly-spiced dark meats.
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