The Basic Styles Of Wine

These are the basic styles of wine. First off is the easiest to recognise, sparkling wine. These wines tend to have relatively low alcohol and high acidity. Sparkling wine is made fizzy by carbon dioxide. The most famous sparkling wine is Champagne, coming from the famous region of Champagne in France. Other famous sparkling wines include Prosecco from Italy and Cava from Spain. Moving to still wines we have light-bodied wines. These also have high acidity but lower alcohol and are best enjoyed young. Look out for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Riesling. Full-bodied white wines are richer in colour and tend to have less acidity but higher alcohol. The best examples of these are Chardonnay, Marsan and Vionier. Rosé wines are made from regular red grapes such as Pinot Noir or Grenache. But during winemaking the juice is only left with the grape skins for a short period, which gives them a much paler colour than red wine. They have low alcohol levels and decent acidity. Light-bodied red wines have a pale and often vibrant ruby colour. They generally come from cooler climates around the world and are relatively low in alcohol, with medium to high acidity. These include Pinot Noir, Dolcetto and Gamay. Medium-bodied reds are one of the broadest categories. They have higher alcohol and more structure. Most famous are Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Full-bodied reds are the typical wines paired with hearty meals. They are the highest in alcohol and richest in colour. They generally have a bit less acidity though. Look out for Syrah, also known as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Finally we have sweet wines. These are a rich golden colour and are most commonly paired with desserts due to their sweetness. They have high alcohol and medium acidity. They are generally made from a blend of Sémillon, Sémillon Blanc and Muscadel. These are the eight basic styles of wine. Try exploring each one.