The Different Types of Wine Explained in a Nutshell
Understanding the different types of wine is considered the first step towards appreciating the exciting world of wine. You may think that all you need is use your eyesight to classify wine as either white or red, but that it is not entirely correct.
Every type of wine has its character largely determined by the variety of grapes used in making it and the region where it is primarily cultivated.
Moreover, other factors also determine the type of wine such as the tannin level in the wine, the aroma, and its bouquet, whether it is sweet or acidic, and alcohol level in it.
In general, wines can be classified into at least the following five basic categories:
1. White Wine
The popular misconception is that white wine is made from white grapes alone. White wine is actually brewed from red or the black variety of grapes. The red pigment is extracted away, and the grape juice alone is used in making this popular drink.
White wine has a bright and savory flavor. Some of the white wines can also be sweet and creamy based on what is added to them.
Some of the best white wines in the world include:
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc, and
- Moscato
White wine pairs beautifully well with soft, creamy cheese, white bread and seafood, and salads.
2. Red Wine
Red wine is produced in pretty much the same way as white wine, with the only difference being that the grape’s skin, pip, and seed are added to the fermentation process in red wine.
The red-colored wine is also fermented at much higher temperatures to bring out the richer color, tannins, aroma, and deep flavors.
The longer it is fermented, the more flavorful it becomes.
If you are just stepping up your red wine repertoire, some of them we’d recommend to start with include:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir and
- Zinfandel
Red wine pairs very well with grilled meat and veggies. Smoked food in Asian cuisine is a great combination too.
3. Rose Wine
Rose wine has a pinkish tint in it. The grapes used are the red and the black variety. The fermentation period is kept short within half a day to one-and-half days.
If you are running out of your pink wine stock, a quick fix is to blend red and white wine. The flavor in pink wine usually oscillated from dry to sweet.
The wine has low tannin levels too.
Rose wine goes perfectly well with all kinds of seafood and poultry. It is a good wine to pair with fruits too.
4. Dessert Wine
A dessert wine is a wine that is sweet and is usually served along with desserts after a course meal. Some countries, however, have a tradition of drinking dessert wine before starting the meal.
Some sweet dessert wines you can start with include:
- Port
- Tawny and
- Sherry
Apart from desserts, you will love it with smoked BBQ meats and softer varieties of cheese.
5. Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine has bubbles that occur with the adding of carbon dioxide during its fermentation.
The wine is usually known from the region of its productions.
- It is called Cava in Spain
- Asti and Prosecco in Italy, and
- Champagne when it is sourced from Champagne, France.
Salads, cheese, seafood, and bread all go perfectly well with sparkling wines.
In Conclusion
Knowing about your wines and what food it goes well with is an indication of fine taste and sophistication. The knowledge comes in handy in many occasions, especially when you are looking to host important people you hope to impress.
You may visit websites like ishopchangi.com to search fine selections of the different types of wine and buy the best ones that suit your taste and preferences. Cheers!
