There are over 10,000 types of wine grapes in the world—this fact alone may sound overwhelming to new and old wine drinkers alike.
So how would I know which one to pick?
If you’re asking yourself that question right now, you’re in luck! There’s no better place to get started than here.
History of wine
Wine is essentially just fermented grape juice. So how did it become a drink so globally adored?
Well, to answer that question, it is essential to know the history of wine.
The wine world is divided into the “Old World” and the “New World.” The Old World refers to regions where winemaking has been around for thousands of years, with the practice rooted in the people’s heritage.
In short, modern winemaking originates from the Old World. Europe and the Mediterranean, like France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Germany are all part of the Old World.
The rest of the world belongs in the New World category. The New World is a product of grape exports and cultural diffusion. The Old World’s thousand-year-old winemaking techniques were adopted by the New World under the influence of Western colonialism.
This was how the love and appreciation for wine spread far and wide, expanding the subcategories of existing wine varieties.
Dissecting wine tasting terms
Taste is subjective, and preferences vary from one person to another. Nevertheless, gathering to discuss your thoughts and perspectives is one of the many delights of wine tasting. Let’s explore the foundational terminologies that define its taste.
Sweetness
A glass of wine is sweet when you can detect the sensation of sugar in your mouth and nose. The other end of the spectrum is dry wine, where there is little to no residual sugar in the wine. Bone dry, off-dry, and medium dry are some intermediates of this division.
Acidity
The taste of lemon juice in your mouth is commonly compared to the acidic flavour of a wine. The higher acidity in wine gives a sharper and more zesty flavour, leaving tingles of electricity zaps on the tongue.
Tannin
The dry and bitter aftertaste in your mouth after a sip of wine comes from tannins, a compound found in grape skin and seeds.
Tannins can give a firm and even chewy texture to the wine. Because of that, such wines are more suited to be sipped than drunk. A smooth wine is one that has soft tannins.
Oakiness
Wines are traditionally stored in oak barrels. It allows the wood’s notes of vanilla, dill, baking spices, and toastiness to seep into the liquid over time.
Fruit quality
The stage at which the grape is picked affects the aroma and taste of the wine it produces. Fully ripe and plump grapes make wines that smell and taste fruity, while marginally mature grapes leave herbaceous, earthy, and savoury flavours after fermentation.
Body
The body of a wine is a rather intricate parameter to assess as it considers both the flavour and texture (weight) of the wine.
A full-bodied wine is packed with complex and intense flavours, high alcohol content, and a robust texture in contrast to its medium-bodied and light-bodied counterparts.
Types of Wine
Now that you’ve mastered the art of wine vocabulary, it’s time to look into the 5 different types of wine. Let’s dive into the New World, where wines are named after the grape varietal which produces them.
Red Wines
The beautiful blush that defines red wine comes from the colour pigment of grape skins. The skins also give red wines their signature tannic taste. Different varietals of grapes contribute to the unique flavours that each red wine has. Here are the different types of red wine:
Merlot
Alongside being the most accessible wine worldwide, Merlot is also known as the default starter wine in the red variety. It has a fruity flavour and is low in tannins, so it doesn’t leave your mouth feeling too dry after swallowing.
A Merlot’s velvety tannins and mild acidity pair perfectly with the grassiness and tenderness of lamb.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Originating from southwestern France, this varietal became the world’s most popular red wine grape because of its strong levels of tannins. In other words, it can develop newer and more complex flavours as it ages.
Due to its rich tannin content, it does not go easy on the tongue; it might leave your mouth feeling parched after a sip.
However, an intense wine like the Cabernet Sauvignon is a match made in heaven with steak.
Pinot Noir
Not many will fall in love with its earthy flavours at first taste, but after a few tries, one might find themself warming up to Pinot Noir.
A sniff of it might make you think of the ground or the earth, which is precisely why this wine pairs great with mushroom and truffle dishes. Additionally, since Pinot Noir is light in body, it’s a fitting match for salmon, a full-flavoured and oily fish.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a red wine from a black-skinned grape. As it can go up to 16% alc/vol, Zinfandel is the most alcoholic red wine. They are typically described as having a “jammy” scent, an essence similar to strawberry or apple jam with a swirl.
Its full-bodied, robust flavour makes an excellent pairing with barbeque.
Shiraz
Syrah, or Shiraz, is a dark-skinned grape and one of the darkest varieties of red wines. It is among the top few favourite wines in the U.S. alongside Cabernet Sauvignon. Shiraz is high in tannins and is full-bodied, carrying flavours of pepper, blackcurrants, and smoked meat.
As you’ve guessed, this wine goes well with flavourful food such as red meat and stews because of its rich flavour profile.
Check out some of the most popular red wine brands here.
White Wines
There are more than hundreds of white-wine grape varietals. The few below are some of the most popular types of white wines today.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most versatile white wines. It is made differently in different parts of the world.
Californian Chardonnay is oaky and buttery since they tend to be aged in oak casks. On the other hand, Chardonnay from the Chablis region of France has an entirely different flavour as they store it in stainless steel tanks.
Sauvignon Blanc
This variety of wine has more of an acidic taste, so it goes well with food. Acidity in wine is known to bring out the flavours of your food.
Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with white meat including fish like cod and tilapia.
Riesling
This type of wine is considered a good starter white wine for beginners due to its sweet taste. Because of that, it also pairs great with spicy food, so the next time you’re looking for a wine to go with your Mexican or Thai dinner, think Riesling.
Pinot Grigio
A popular white wine from Italy, Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris is made from grapes of a greyish blue hue. By removing the skins after extracting the grape juice, the fermentation time with the flesh is shortened; hence the wine’s colour, tone, or taste is not affected. The wines produced are usually deep golden yellow in colour.
The distinct zesty kick and citrusy notes of Pinot Grigio make it a light and refreshing medium-dry white wine, suitable to be enjoyed on a summer picnic.
Check out some of our favourite white wine brands here.
Rosé wines
Rosés can be understood as a middle ground between red and white wines—their elegant peachy shade comes from limited contact of the juice with the grape skins during fermentation.
Two examples of such wines are Provence rosé wines and White Zinfandel. White Zinfandel and Zinfandel (a red wine) are from the same grape varietal, but they taste nothing alike because of the difference in the contact time of the grape skins during winemaking.
Click here to find the best rosé wine that best suits your taste.
Sparkling wines
It is a speciality wine that undergoes a second fermentation process by adding sugar and yeast. This generates gas in the bottle, creating a carbonated end product. Sparkling wines can come from white wine grapes (blanc-de-blanc) or red wine grapes (blanc-de-noir).
Not all sparkling wines are champagne. By law, champagne only refers to those produced in the Champagne region of France.
Champagne and caviar are a classic pair, but any type of sparkling wine typically goes well with the fish roe or fish egg of your choice.
Some examples of sparkling wines are Cava, Prosecco, and Crémant.
Fortified wines
Adding a distilled spirit, brandy for example, to a wine base after or during fermentation makes fortified wine. This process effectively strengthens the alcoholic content of the beverage while giving it an exceptional flavour loved by many.
Port
Port is a Portuguese fortified wine made by adding brandy before fermentation is complete. The additional process boosts alcohol content and kills the yeasts, leaving behind a delectable sweetness. Port wine is suitable to be paired with dark chocolate and—surprisingly—blue cheese.
Port is a strong sweet wine. Ruby Port has a brilliant red hue, whereas Tawny Port is brownish due to its long ageing time in the oak cask compared to the former.
Sherry
Sherry is not just the sweet, colourful soda-like alcoholic drink found on your everyday supermarket shelves. In fact, most Sherries are dry and have an intense flavour profile.
They are also versatile with food, be it cheeses, chicken, or seafood.
Dessert Wines
Dessert wines are a subcategory of wine that has a distinct fruity sweetness and a higher alcohol content of up to 15 alc/vol. Unlike the other varieties, dessert wines are an ambiguous category as it largely depends on the drinker’s preference.
Popular dessert wines are Madeira as well as ice wines made from Riesling and Cabernet Franc.
Types of Wine Chart
Perhaps you might think that it’s tough to digest and visualise all the above information you’ve just read. Here’s a visual wine chart to help you with your choices:
Don’t be afraid to start appreciating wine
Wine tasting is all about exploring, and the good news is that anywhere is a suitable starting point. Trying different varietals will help you develop your palate. Your taste may change as time goes on, and with that, your preference might expand as well.
Having extensive knowledge about wine in your pocket might even save you the trouble of racking your brains the next time you need to buy a gift.
Here’s a selection of wines to buy for gifting, a celebration, or any festive occasion.
Conclusion
We’ve come a long way since the beginning of this wine basics crash course.. From the history of wine to fundamental terminologies to wine charts, a lot has been shared. But, this is not the end of it—not even close.
From now on, the rest is up to you. What are you waiting for? Pour yourself a glass of wine right now, for it’s never too late to start appreciating the beauty of the world of wine.
