When looking to purchase wine, there are so many to choose from. So, you decide to try a few, you may find a couple you enjoy. Then you find yourself buying them over and over again. That eventually you are stuck in a rut. Once you find that wine you enjoy, all you have to do is find out which other wines are made in that style but with different grapes.
It is very unlikely that only one style will fit you. It may change depending on your mood, the time of the year or what you are eating. What I did was pick a style and explore the different grapes, countries and regions. Thereby, introducing my palate to different wine characteristics. Wine Styles can be separated into 4 catagories for both white and red. They are as follows:
- Crisp fresh fruity dry
- Smooth, medium-bodied
- Full-bodied
- Semi-Sweet
Doing this 4 part blog on wine styles I hope to encourage your palate on a journey of discoveries.
Wine Styles Part 1: Crisp fresh dry light and fruity
White Wines
In this category when we say dry, what we are saying is a wine that is not sweet. These wines display ripe fruit characteristics, refreshing crisp and clean. These wines are also typically tank fermented to preserve its youthful fresh quality. Some grapes to explore in this style will be: Chardonnay (unwooded), Chenin Blanc, Garganega, Gruner Veltliner, Muscadet, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc & Trebbiano. The fruity character descriptors range from citrus such as lemon & lime to nectarine or melon.
Crisp fresh whites are perfect for everyday drinking. They are good with salads or with grilled white meats, or simple snacks. I encourge you to experiment and find a match that you enjoy or if you have one to share please do. I like to have wines in this style category at a temperature roughly between 50-55 degrees, although I have enjoyed some at around 60 degrees and it was still delicious.
Red Wines
Red wine in this category would be similar with these differences: fruit character will be more red or dark fruit dominant in flavor, the grapes will be different & serving temperature maybe slightly different. Also these wines, although not common, may have light wood aging. Some grapes to explore in this category: Barbera, Dolcetto, Dornfelder, Gamay, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese & Valpolicella.
Light, fruity reds make great wines for summer sipping, when at picnics or just sitting on the deck at home. They are good year round for parties and informal meals and with simple suppers such as pizza. I like to enjoy my reds in this category served slightly chilled, between 58 to 62 degrees, particularly in the summer. (Depending how noticeable the wood is in the wine, I may change the serving temperature.) There are a lot of fun wines in this category that are both food and people friendly.
As with tasting wine, styles are subjective as well. Each individual has their own taste and style preference. Experiment the many wine styles and enjoy! Share your wine style journey with us, and “Let Your Palate Be The Guide”.
Comments are welcome, we would love to hear about your experiences, or if you have any questions. Next month we will explore Wine Styles Part 2 Smooth Medium-Bodied Wines
