Types of wine
Published on February 01, 2023
Wine is a beverage made from the must of grapes. There are thousands of varieties of grapes grown around the world, each of which has its own taste, smell and color. Thus, the type of grape berry used largely determines the characteristics of the wine. In this article we will take a closer look at some of the most popular types of wine and describe their particular characteristics.
Red wine
Red wine is made from red grapes and usually has a darker color than white wine. It is usually served at room temperature and goes well with meat dishes and cheese. Some well-known varieties of red wine are:
Cabernet Sauvignon: This is one of the most popular red wine varieties and is grown in almost all wine growing regions of the world. It has an intense flavor of black cherries, pepper and tobacco.
Merlot: This wine has a milder taste than Cabernet Sauvignon and is rich in flavors of currants and plums. It goes well with poultry and pasta dishes.
Pinot Noir: This wine has a slightly fruity taste and is known for its aromas of cherries and berries. It goes well with cheese and mushroom dishes.
White wine
White wine is made from green or yellow grapes and is usually lighter in color than red wine. It is usually served cooler and goes well with fish and seafood. Some well-known varieties of white wine are:
Chardonnay: This is one of the most popular white wine varieties and is grown in almost every wine growing region in the world. It has a full-bodied taste of pears, apple and butter.
Sauvignon Blanc: This wine has a strong taste of citrus and grass. It goes well with salad and vegetable dishes.
Riesling: This wine has a sweet taste and is known for its aromas of peaches and honey. It goes well with desserts and cheese.
Rosé wine
Rosé wine is made from red grapes, but the must is only in contact with the skins for a short time, which gives the wine its pink color. Rosé wine usually has a light and fruity taste and is served cooler. It goes well with shellfish and grilled foods. Some well-known varieties of rosé wine are:
Zinfandel: This wine has a fruity taste of strawberries and raspberries. It goes well with grilled food and cheese.
Grenache: This wine has a light taste of berries and rose petals. It goes well with shellfish and pasta dishes.
Sweet wine
Sweet wine is made from grapes that stay longer on the vine until they are fully ripe. This aging gives the wine its sweet aromas and flavors. Sweet wine is usually served as a dessert wine and pairs well with desserts and cheeses. Some well-known varieties of sweet wine are:
Port: This wine has a sweet and strong taste of berries and chocolate. It is often served as a dessert wine and goes well with chocolate cake and cheese.
Sherry: This wine has a sweet and spicy taste and is often served as an aperitif. It goes well with nuts and cheese.
Moscato: This wine has a sweet and fruity taste of peaches and honey. It is good as a dessert wine and goes well with fruit and desserts.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Wine, also known as Champagne, is made by adding carbon dioxide, which makes the wine sparkle. There are both white and rosé Sparkling Wine. Sparkling Wine is usually served as an aperitif or on special occasions and pairs well with shellfish and appetizers. Some well-known varieties of Sparkling Wine are:
Champagne: This Sparkling Wine comes from the Champagne region in France and has a fruity and elegant taste. It is often served on special occasions and pairs well with shellfish.
Cava: This Sparkling Wine comes from Spain and has a fruity and spicy taste. It is good as an aperitif and goes well with appetizers and shellfish.
Prosecco: This Sparkling Wine comes from Italy and has a fruity and slightly sweet taste. It works well as an aperitif and pairs well with appetizers and shellfish.
Asti: This Sparkling Wine originates from Italy and has a sweet and fruity taste of peaches and honey. It makes a good dessert wine and pairs well with fruit and desserts.
Some other well-known wine varieties worth mentioning are:
Shiraz/Syrah: This is a red wine variety rich in aromas of pepper and dark berries. It goes well with meat dishes and cheeses.
Zweigelt: This is a red wine variety grown mainly in Austria. It has a fruity taste of cherries and currants and goes well with poultry and pasta dishes.
Viognier: This is a white wine variety rich in aromas of peaches and honey. It goes well with fish and seafood.
Gewürztraminer: This is a white wine variety rich in aromas of roses and honey. It goes well with shellfish and grilled foods.
There are many other wine varietals not mentioned in this list. If you want to learn more about wine varietals, I recommend you check out various websites about wine regions and varietals or contact a sommelier or wine merchant. Also, try different wines to find out which varieties you like best and let your taste be your guide.
Red wine
Red wine is made from red grapes and usually has a darker color than white wine. It is usually served at room temperature and goes well with meat dishes and cheese. Some well-known varieties of red wine are:
Cabernet Sauvignon: This is one of the most popular red wine varieties and is grown in almost all wine growing regions of the world. It has an intense flavor of black cherries, pepper and tobacco.
Merlot: This wine has a milder taste than Cabernet Sauvignon and is rich in flavors of currants and plums. It goes well with poultry and pasta dishes.
Pinot Noir: This wine has a slightly fruity taste and is known for its aromas of cherries and berries. It goes well with cheese and mushroom dishes.
White wine
White wine is made from green or yellow grapes and is usually lighter in color than red wine. It is usually served cooler and goes well with fish and seafood. Some well-known varieties of white wine are:
Chardonnay: This is one of the most popular white wine varieties and is grown in almost every wine growing region in the world. It has a full-bodied taste of pears, apple and butter.
Sauvignon Blanc: This wine has a strong taste of citrus and grass. It goes well with salad and vegetable dishes.
Riesling: This wine has a sweet taste and is known for its aromas of peaches and honey. It goes well with desserts and cheese.
Rosé wine
Rosé wine is made from red grapes, but the must is only in contact with the skins for a short time, which gives the wine its pink color. Rosé wine usually has a light and fruity taste and is served cooler. It goes well with shellfish and grilled foods. Some well-known varieties of rosé wine are:
Zinfandel: This wine has a fruity taste of strawberries and raspberries. It goes well with grilled food and cheese.
Grenache: This wine has a light taste of berries and rose petals. It goes well with shellfish and pasta dishes.
Sweet wine
Sweet wine is made from grapes that stay longer on the vine until they are fully ripe. This aging gives the wine its sweet aromas and flavors. Sweet wine is usually served as a dessert wine and pairs well with desserts and cheeses. Some well-known varieties of sweet wine are:
Port: This wine has a sweet and strong taste of berries and chocolate. It is often served as a dessert wine and goes well with chocolate cake and cheese.
Sherry: This wine has a sweet and spicy taste and is often served as an aperitif. It goes well with nuts and cheese.
Moscato: This wine has a sweet and fruity taste of peaches and honey. It is good as a dessert wine and goes well with fruit and desserts.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Wine, also known as Champagne, is made by adding carbon dioxide, which makes the wine sparkle. There are both white and rosé Sparkling Wine. Sparkling Wine is usually served as an aperitif or on special occasions and pairs well with shellfish and appetizers. Some well-known varieties of Sparkling Wine are:
Champagne: This Sparkling Wine comes from the Champagne region in France and has a fruity and elegant taste. It is often served on special occasions and pairs well with shellfish.
Cava: This Sparkling Wine comes from Spain and has a fruity and spicy taste. It is good as an aperitif and goes well with appetizers and shellfish.
Prosecco: This Sparkling Wine comes from Italy and has a fruity and slightly sweet taste. It works well as an aperitif and pairs well with appetizers and shellfish.
Asti: This Sparkling Wine originates from Italy and has a sweet and fruity taste of peaches and honey. It makes a good dessert wine and pairs well with fruit and desserts.
Some other well-known wine varieties worth mentioning are:
Shiraz/Syrah: This is a red wine variety rich in aromas of pepper and dark berries. It goes well with meat dishes and cheeses.
Zweigelt: This is a red wine variety grown mainly in Austria. It has a fruity taste of cherries and currants and goes well with poultry and pasta dishes.
Viognier: This is a white wine variety rich in aromas of peaches and honey. It goes well with fish and seafood.
Gewürztraminer: This is a white wine variety rich in aromas of roses and honey. It goes well with shellfish and grilled foods.
There are many other wine varietals not mentioned in this list. If you want to learn more about wine varietals, I recommend you check out various websites about wine regions and varietals or contact a sommelier or wine merchant. Also, try different wines to find out which varieties you like best and let your taste be your guide.