Finding wines you love is a long and learned process; there are so many to choose from with such a variety of tastes. Wine is an acquired taste, so experiencing a type you adore can be as well. Here is a list of the most common and popular types of wine, along with their characteristics. If you're having trouble finding your favorite, or are just looking for something new - here is some good information to get you started. Sip happily and enjoy!
Since it's summer, we'll start with white - because who doesn't love a chilled glass of white wine on a warm day?
Riesling
Riesling is a semi-sweet wine that comes from a white grape, originated in the Rhine region of Germany. It provides a flowery, fruity aroma and high acidity, making it into a dry, sweet and slightly sparkling wine in most cases. As far as food pairing goes, it's very versatile due to its sugary yet acidic combination in tastes, but it is typically paired with white fish or pork, as well as standing up nicely to spicier dishes. It's an excellent wine to pair with highly-salted foods.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety, which originated in the Burgundy region of Eastern France. Now made all over the world, Chardonnay is considered the rite of passage and simple entry into the international wine market. It is a complex wine, which is usually full, golden and velvety, containing subtle tastes of fruit, nuts, butter, oak, spice or vanilla and medium to high acidity. Since there is a wide range of Chardonnay styles, it can be paired with a variety of food. Typically though, it is paired with white meats such as roast chicken and turkey, and generally does not pair well with light seafood. Spicier seafood and Asian dishes, however, blend nicely with Chardonnay.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is another green-skinned grape variety, stemming from the Bordeaux region of France. It is a crisp, dry and refreshing white whose flavor varies depending on where it's produced, but often contains several fruit components. When chilled, Sauvignon Blac pairs very nicely with fish or cheese, especially Chèvre (goat cheese).
Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris)
Pinot Grigio is a white wine grape thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir grape, due to its greyish-blue color. The Vitis Vinifera grape can also have a brown-pink, white or black appearance. The flavor of Pinot Grigio, like other wines, varies based on where it's grown, but the European Pinot Grigion tends to be more acidic with less body than the American version. Both, however, have a citrus aroma and pair well with salmon, shellfish and pork.
Now, on to reds:
Merlot
Merlot (the third most-produced wine) is a dark, blue-colored grape that's used for blending as well as varietal wines. It has a diverse flavor, so it goes well with many foods; typically having a medium body with hints of currant, plum and berry. Cabernet-like Merlots taste wonderful alongside charred or grilled meats, while more Pinot Noir-like Merlots pair well with salmon, mushroom dishes and greens. Lighter-bodied Merlots are tasty with shrimp, scallops and other shellfish, but Merlot rarely goes well with strong cheeses, as they overpower the flavor of the wine.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a black wine grape variety that is grown all over the world, but is predominately associated with the Burgundy region of France. It supposedly produces some of the best wines in the world, but is extremely difficult to cultivate and transform into wine. Pinot Noir is a delicate and fresh wine with no harshness. It has a fruity aroma with cherry, strawberry and plum, and pairs very well with grilled salmon, chicken, lamb and Japanese dishes - especially sushi.
Malbec
Malbec is of the purple grape variety, with an inky dark color and robust tannins. It's origin is also in the Bordeaux region of France, but is the most popular grape variety in Argentina, and is also grown in Chile, Australia and California. Again, Malbec has a varied taste depending on where it's grown, but it typically pairs best with any meat-based meal, foie gras and any Mexican, Cajun or Indian dish. It is an easy-to-drink red that has subtle tastes of plums, berries and spice.
Shiraz (or Syrah)
Shiraz is a dark-skinned grape grown internationally that is used to make powerful red wines. It's extremely popular, with an aroma of wild black fruit and an occassional toffee note, which comes from the wine resting in oak barrels. It's a spicy red, with intense flavors that pairs well with any meat, especially red.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most recognized red wine grape varieties in the world, and is also highly suggested to be the best. It's grown in almost every wine-making area in a wide variety of climates. Since it is such a bold, full-bodied wine, it can easily overpower many food dishes, but fats and simple protein dishes are the best for this assertive red. When paired with meat or fatty dishes (creamy sauces, etc) the tannins in the wine become neutralized, which allows the fruits in the wine to become more highlighted and recognizable. As with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon gets a subtle flavor from resting in oak barrels, although in Cabernet a vanilla can be noticeable rather than toffee.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a red grape that produces a robust wine, which in cooler areas has red berry fruit flavors such as raspberries, and in warmer areas contains tastes of blackberry, anise and pepper. Depending on the freshness and heaviness of the wine, some food pairings that go well with Zinfandel are pizza, grilled meats, barbecued meats and tomato-sauce pasta.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about different wine varieties. Tomorrow we're headed to
Shelburne Vineyard to learn about the wine-making process among other interesting facts about wine, which I'm very excited to share with you afterwards! Again, if there is anything you're keen on learning about, please feel free to leave a comment on here or our
Facebook wall and we'll be sure to post a response.
Lastly, don't forget to
enter our contest by clicking here to win tickets to the
Burlington Wine and Food Festival on June 23 at the Waterfront Park!
Image 1 via goodharbor.com
Image 2 via menageatroiswines.com
Image 3 via oysterbaywines.com
Image 4 via triowine.com.au
Image 5 via lunarossawinery.com
Image 6 via quixotewines.com
Image 7 via piperbeverages.com
Image 8 via mingwo.com
Image 9 via gooddrop.wordpress.com
Image 10 via napacellars.com
Background information via Wikipedia & French Scout
Riesling
Zinfandel
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