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Choosing your Wine Type
Wine has been made since ancient times. Since then, many varieties have been developed. It used to be simple to choose a wine; you either picked red or white. Today, there are so many types within each color that you can choose the perfect wine to go with whatever you are serving. Most types of wine follow different varietals of grapes. There are also blended wines that combine many types of grapes together to create a wine. Each varietal will have certain expectations in flavor and texture, though different vintages can vary slightly from each other.
First of all, you need to know the difference between dry wines and sweet wines. Obviously, sweet wines have more sugar content than dry wines. A dry wine can have less than 1% of residual sugar left in it while a sweet wine may have up to 25% sugar. Both red and white wines have sweet and dry varieties.
Red wines are usually drier and more complex than white wines, though some reds are known for their light, fruity characteristics. Popular red wines include Pinot Noir, Syrah (also known as Shiraz), Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot, for instance, is smooth and full of berries while Cabernet Sauvignon is hearty with a bit of pepper to it. Zinfandel is very different from the sweet White Zinfandel wines. While made with the same grapes, Zinfandel is a hearty, complex wine with oak flavors. It is great with Italian dishes.
White wines are popular choices for sipping before dinner, during a meal or with dessert. Popular white wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. Chardonnay is known for its citrus and melon flavors, its buttery texture and its hint of oak. Sauvignon Blanc is more acidic and often features the flavors of green apple, pear, grass, and smoke. Riesling, on the other hand, is much sweeter. They can be served with cheese, pork, fish, poultry, or dessert. Gewürztraminer is sweet and spicy. They go well with spicy foods from Asia and India.
In between the red and white wines are the roses. These pink wines are made with red grapes, but the skins are only used for a very short time. This makes the wine pink in color, but releases fewer tannins in the wine. Roses are also called blush wines. White Zinfandel, while called white in the name, is actually a blush wine.
Sparkling wines are best known because of champagne. True champagne must have originated in the Champagne region of France. Other versions should simply be called sparkling wine. Like red and white, sparkling wines can be dry or sweet. Asti Spumanti, for instance, is sweeter than most white sparkling wines.
Besides all of these varieties, many countries have their own specialties. Wine is now shipped all over the world, so you can try some from France, Italy, and Australia on the same night if you wish. Tasting these wines will show you what you like and do not like. Like art, wines are subjective to those drinking it. What you love may be the worst wine your neighbor ever tasted and vice versa. With so many different wines to choose from, you are sure to find at least a few that you enjoy.
