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Knowing the Differences Between Various Types of Wines

Learning about wine can seem like a real challenge, especially if you just consider yourself a casual wine drinker. Watching someone smell their wine, swirl it around and then gargle their first sip can be a bit intimidating as well, especially when they rattle off all kinds of information about the wine that they gleaned from that process.

However, wine isn’t overly complicated once you learn the basics. And if you enjoy wine, then why not learn a little about it? By learning more about wine, you’ll be able to figure out what types you like most as well as what it is you like about them. And then you can learn what that whole smelling, swirling and gargling process is all about! 

The following are some of the main types of wine that are available and what makes them unique:

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine that was originally produced in France. It boasts black cherry, black currant, cedar and baking spice flavors. It also has the distinction of being the most popular type of wine in the entire world.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a light-bodied red wine that tends to be very fruity and can also exhibit hints of beet, mushroom or rhubarb. It’s a drier wine that generally has higher acid. Pinot Noirs were originally produced in France.

Merlot

Merlot is a medium-bodied red wine that has a red-fruited flavor profile. It’s one of the smoother types of wine, making it a good choice for beginner wine drinkers. Merlots are produced in France, Australia and the American West Coast.

Malbec

Malbec is a full-bodied red wine that comes mostly out of Argentina. These types of wine tend to have dark fruit flavors as well as smoky finishes and are often considered more affordable, but quality alternatives to pricier Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah red wines.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a medium-bodied to full-bodied type of red wine out of Croatia. Zinfandel wines tend to have a fruity flavor profile, which includes nectarine, sour cherry, blueberry and boysenberry – but what makes it especially unique is the hints of Asian 5 spice powder and sweet tobacco.

Syrah

Syrah is a full-bodied red wine that is most commonly produced in France and Australia. These types of wine are known for their intense fruit flavors that often have a meaty quality to them. Syrah wines generally have flavors of blueberry, black pepper, plum, meat and tobacco.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a dry, full-bodied white wine that boasts flavors of yellow citrus, yellow pear, apple, banana, pineapple, cinnamon and butterscotch. Chardonnay that has been oak-aged often has hints of spiciness and bourbon, while unoaked Chardonnay is generally lighter and zestier.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine that’s typically light-bodied to medium-bodied. They tend to have a citrusy flavor profile, often with hints of green pepper, mint or grass. Sauvignon Blanc wines are a little tart because of this.

Riesling

Riesling wines come in a variety of different styles. They generally come in two versions, either with very high acid in an off-dry style or very sweet. Some of the flavors common to these types of wine include lemon juice, white peach, nectarine and hints of floral and sweet herbal elements.

Pinot Gris

Pinos Gris is a light-bodied white wine that is typically a bit dry. Pinos Gris wines are produced throughout Italy, France and Germany. These types of wine are generally easy to drink and boast a delicate citrus flavor profile that includes white floral notes. Some Pinot Gris wines will have a slight bitter taste.

These are a few of the more popular types of wine. Although there are many more types of wine from around the world, these make for a good introduction to the world of wine. Find out about the different types of wine we carry by visiting us at Acquistapace’s today.

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