If you’re not a regular wine drinker, it can be difficult to keep track of all the different types available. Most people know the basics of red and white, but if you’re going to a nice dinner and looking to impress, you’ll want to have a bit more of a thorough understanding than that.
There are nine main styles of wine to fit any mood. Whether you’re pairing it with food or want your beverage to be the star of the show, you can choose from sparkling, light-bodied white, full-bodied white, aromatic, rosé, light-bodied red, medium-bodied red, full-bodied red, and dessert.
Here’s a bit more information on each of these types to get you started on finding your new favorite bottle of wine.
- Sparkling: Like the name suggests, this wine is bubbly — either from natural fermentation or added carbonation after fermentation. The taste can range from dry to sweet, and the label will usually tell you which you’re buying.
- Light-Bodied White: Acidity is the name of the game for light-bodied white wines. Because the grape skins are removed before fermentation, the color is lighter and the wine lacks tannins.
- Full-Bodied White: Full-bodied wines are just as light in color, but pack more of a punch in flavor. They’re crisp and tart, and like any white wine, they’re best served chilled.
- Aromatic: These wines get their name from their aroma, or the various scent notes of a wine. Usually, these wines have a more floral note, but aromatics can vary.
- Rosé: This pink wine gets its hint of color from some brief exposure to grape skins. While it has some tannins, this tends to fall on the lighter side of the wine spectrum.
- Light-Bodied Red: A light-bodied red may be a bit of a lighter red in appearance. They still have tannins, like any red wine, but not enough to provide the bitterness of many full-bodied wines.
- Medium-bodied Red: Medium-bodied red wines are the best of both worlds. They have the depth of a full-bodied red with the refreshing aroma of a lighter-bodied wine.
- Full-Bodied Red: A full-bodied red often has a deep and complex bouquet. You can tell a full-bodied red by its viscosity. The “thicker” the wine, the fuller the body.
- Dessert: This wine is sweeter, as the name implies, and tends to be served after a meal. More alcohol, often brandy, is added to this wine to help retain more of the natural sugars after fermentation.
With these definitions and guidelines, you’re ready to dive into the wide world of wine. Whether you visit one of the 7,700 wineries in the United States to try some local flavors or simply seek out your new favorite bottle of wine at your neighborhood liquor store, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
What’s your go-to wine, and what would you recommend to beginning wine enthusiasts?
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