Choosing the right wine for your parties or meals can be intimidating if you’re not very familiar with the different types of wine available today. The selection of the best wine should depend on your taste and the food you’re going to pair it with. This is why it’s essential to understand the different wines the market offers today so you can make a smart decision when it comes to choosing the right one for every occasion. How do you know which one is the best for you? Winemakers and stores like usualwines.com offer many different wines you can try. From there, you can decide on the taste you prefer or the alcohol content you can handle. Here is brief guide to wine red to white. Wine can be broken down into three main types:
- Red Wine
Red wines are characterized by their dark color, fruit flavors, and tannins. Red wines are made from black-skinned grapes and have colorless juices. Tannins are the compounds responsible for the wine’s bitterness and quality. They also act as the wine’s preservative. This means that the higher the tannin content, the longer the wine can age. As the wine ages, the tannins fall out of suspension, forming sediments at the bottom of the bottle. The residues are then removed by decanting.
These wines are typically aged in large oak barrels to achieve their rich flavor. Aside from that, oak barrels soften the tannin structure, making the wine taste smoother.
Because of their rich flavor, they make an excellent match for several varieties of food. However, the flavors and aromas of red wine can vary depending on the aging process and the type of grapes used. There are also fruit-flavored red wines like strawberry, blackberry, and black plum.
The famous red wines include:
- Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a sweet red wine commonly found on California’s Northern and Central coast. The Zinfandel grape variety has various characteristics that produce excellent wines. One of these characteristics is its high acidity level. The acidity can be lowered with the addition of fruits, although not necessary. This feature helps keep the wine’s flavors rather sharp and consistent.
- Pinot noir
Pinot noir belongs to the grape variety of the red species Vitis vinifera, which hails from France. It is widely known for its deep color and distinctive aroma. It’s a wine that has matured well, producing crisp intense flavors that are balanced by its fruity zing. Pinot noir is ideal for sipping during the summer months when it radiates an earthy scent. It is also considered one of the best food wines since it can satisfy the taste buds wonderfully.
- Merlot
Merlot is a powerful, elegant, and sophisticated wine made primarily of red wine grapes. It is predominantly used in Bordeaux red wines, where it excels as a varietal. It is a full-bodied wine with soft tannins, rich oak alcohol content, and a full red fruit flavor. Merlot wines are widely planted in California, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon owes its popularity to its great taste and versatile qualities as a varietal. It has been used in dozens of varietals and nearly every single wine style. Its tannic structure also blends perfectly well with fatty cuts of meat like pork and lamb veal. It also works with dishes that contain earthy mushrooms. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the signature types of California red wines.
- White Wine
White wines are made from green-colored grapes with colorless juice as an extract. Before fermentation, the skins are removed, so you can’t expect to have tannins in your white wine. The acid structure and aroma of white wines are stronger, making them taste fruitier.
Moreover, white wines have a more refreshing flavor compared to red wines. These wines have aromatic notes like citrus, flowers, or other orchard fruits. White wines usually have a lighter alcohol content compared to red wines.
White wines are usually aged in stainless steel barrels to maintain the fresh aroma of the grapes. Their taste can vary from dry to sweet depending on the grapes and aging process used. The flavor of the white wine is also dependent on the climate of their place of origin. Warmer temperatures tend to produce riper fruity aromas, while wines from cooler climates have a dominant citrus taste.
Some of the most popular white wines include:
- Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio’s delicate flavor makes it great for dining with meals like salmon and chicken, or for drinking alone on a summer afternoon on the porch.
- Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the widely renowned and most-favored of all white wines. It comes in two types—the classic dry one and champagne. However, despite being a dry white wine, Chardonnay doesn’t have the complexity or intensity of other types of white wines. It is considered a go-to wine, with its gentle flavors and sweet flavor.
- Moscato
Moscato has a very mild flavor. Its delicate flavor can be compared to dates or a blend of honeysuckle and berry. Its slightly sweet nature makes it ideal for blending with other fruits like strawberry or even peach.
- Riesling
Riesling is a versatile German wine that pairs well with a range of food, including chicken and pork, beef, fish, turkey, and pasta. You can also drink Riesling with sausages, duck, goose, rabbit, sturgeon, and salmon. It pairs very nicely with dessert wines as well as sparkling wines.
Riesling grapes are perfect for cooking because of their simplicity and low residual sugar content. Moreover, it is suitable for use as an ingredient in candy bars and cookies.
- Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most excellent white wines on the market. This medium-bodied wine offers a very smooth flavor that goes well with both white fish and poultry. One of the characteristics that set Sauvignon Blanc apart from other white wines is its soft, mellow flavor.
- Rose Or Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines or Rose are different styles of wines that are served on specific occasions. Most of the time, Rose wines are in demand during the summer season because of their refreshing taste. They are also suitable for formal occasions when alcohol content is kept at a minimum.
Summary
Remember that there are three main types of wine. They are red, white, and rose. Each class has particular characteristics and tastes. It’s essential to try the different kinds of wine to select the right one based on your taste and preferred alcohol content. There are also several resources online where you can read about the best food and wine pairings.
If you are new to wine or aren’t too familiar with the specific kinds yet, then browsing through this article might be a good idea. By doing enough research, you can enjoy the finest wines and pair them with the right cuisine.