Different Types of Wine

One of the most common questions for a homemade winemaker is what type of wine to make. There are many different varieties that you can make, each one affecting the palate in different ways. Understanding the varieties of wine helps you in narrowing the choices you have to make and selecting the type that would be best suited for you first, or next, batch of wine.

First, it is important to understand that while wine is most commonly made from grapes, any vegetable can actually be used to make a batch of wine. When using grapes to make, there are three main categories to be considered. They are red, white, and rosè. Which grape you use determines what type you are making.

Red wines are not only different in color from white wines and rosè wines, but they also have flavors that are stronger and richer. The skin of the red grape is what determines the color of the red wine. Colors can range from russet brown, to full red, to a dark purple.

While red wines have a deep, rich flavor, white wines have a more delicate flavor. The color of white wine can vary from a pale yellow, to a deep gold. Some white wines even have a slight green color.

Rosè wines, also know as blush wines, are made from grapes used in red wines. The grapes are submitted to a much shorter period of contact with the skin of the grapes, resulting in a rosè, or blush, color.

While there are three main types of wine, the actual wine you make is determined by the variety of grape you choose.

Typical types of red wine include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah and Shiraz, Grenache, and Zinfandel.

Typical white wines include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Viognier.

Understanding the sugar content of wine is also very important. Drier wines use less sugar, sweeter wines use more sugar. Typically in stores wines are classified have a sugar classification, with the numbers 1 to 3. The higher the classification, the sweeter the wine, or the more sugar it has.

It is important to understand the difference between the varieties of wine, and how they are typically served or paired with meals.

Aperitifs are served before the meal. The purpose of this wine is to stimulate the appetite for the meal ahead. A Champagne makes a wonderful aperitif. Aperitifs can also be made with fruit and herbs.

Table wines are commonly served with the meal. They are usually dry, for a very specific reason. Table wines are meant to compliment the food, instead of competing with it. Generally, white wines are served with white meal, while red wines are served with red meat. White wine flavors tend to be subtle, in a similiar fashion to flavors of white meat. Red meats are stronger in flavor, and a stronger wine goes better. A rosè is more flexible, and can be paired with eiter red or white meat.

Dessert wines are generally sweeter wines, usually served with desert; hence the name. An ice wine is a typical desert wine.

After-dinner wines are similiar to dessert wines, but typically not as sweet. Brandy, sherry, and port are all typical after-dinner wines.