CHOOSING A WINE
Sweet to Dry Reds
Sweet to Dry Whites
Red Wine vs White Wine
Okay, you probably don’t need any help recognizing a white wine versus a red wine. They look different and they certainly taste different as well. But since we’re in this to find you a bottle of wine that you’re going to enjoy, it’s worth your while to try and understand why they look and taste so different.
The culprit in both cases: the skins, and a little something they bring to the party called tannins. Remember the word tannin and what it means, because wine people talk about tannins a lot.
POPULAR SELECTIONS
Whites
Chardonnay
Fruity, buttery, with a velvety feel that’s atypical to dry white wines.
Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris)
Simple, light-bodied, dry and crisp.
Riesling
Usually very sweet, with intense fruit flavors. Much lighter than chardonnay.
Moscato
Fruity, and often sweet.
Sauvignon blanc
Dry, tart and acidic with herbal flavors as well as tropical fruit.
Reds
Cabernet sauvignon
Full-bodied with herbal notes. Younger cab has rich flavors of currant.
Merlot
Fruity, spicy. Very soft, less tannic than Cabernet sauvignon.
Pinot noir
Delicate and fresh, very soft tannins with fruity aromas.
Zinfandel
Typically zesty, ranges from medium- to full-bodied and dry to off-dry.
Other Wines & Champagnes
Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chianti, Malbec, Grenache, Chenin Blanc, Syrah/Shiraz, Rose, Sparkling (Champagne/Prosecco)
