To simplify the concept of wine sweetness, you can compare wines on this chart. Although not all wine conform to the generalizations within, you can still learn a great deal about how to find wine in the sweetness range you prefer. Some wines are so dry that they scrape the moisture from your tongue and make the inside of your mouth stick to your teeth. On the other end of the spectrum, some wines are so sweet that they stick to the sides of your glass like motor oil. Why Some Dry Wines Taste More Dry Than Others Wine writers have put words to the concept of dryness for years and food scientists have actually studied why some wines taste more dry than others. Both groups claim that aroma, tannin and acidity are key components to why a wine tastes ‘dry.’ You Might Be More Sensitive to Tannin Than Your Friends What’s interesting about tannin is that a recent study demonstrated that some people have higher sensitivities to tannin based on the amount of proteins naturally present in their saliva.

People with more proteins in their saliva do not feel the drying effect of tannin as much as people with less. Another interesting fact is that the taste of tannin is reduced when paired with salty and fatty foods. Acidity Tricks Our Perception of SweetnessA wine that has higher acidity will taste more ‘dry’ than a wine with less acidity. Several producers of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc will leave a couple of grams of residual sugar in their wines because the acidity is so high. Our Noses Prime Our Sense of Taste Our sense of smell also greatly affects our perception of sweetness. As you can imagine, a wine that smells sweeter will also taste sweeter. Wine varieties are often referred to as ‘Aromatic’ because of their sweet floral aromas. A few examples of this are Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Muscat.5 Red Wines for White Wine Drinkers (Image credit: Jayme Henderson) I remember the first time someone tried to convert me into a red wine drinker. I was just getting into wine and was loving my rich California Chardonnays and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.

A friend of mine passed me a glass of deeply hued, incredibly dry and tannic red Bordeaux and said, "This is what great wine tastes like," as if I weren't already enjoying a great wine. Since then, I have taken it upon myself to explore as many styles and regions as possible, but at the time, I was not ready for such a dramatic stylistic leap. Here are some hints on selecting easily approachable red wines that, although delicious to the savvy red wine drinker, are also great transitional styles into the world of red wine. Why would you limit yourself to only half of the flavor profiles and pairing opportunities available in the vast spectrum of wine? Why Doesn't Everyone Love Red Wine? So, what component in red wine tends to turn off white wine drinkers? Tannins are the most likely culprit. Tannins are imparted from extended contact with the red grape skins during fermentation or from prolonged oak aging and are perceived as dryness on the palate (think black tea that has been steeped too long).

High tannin content is what makes a red wine come across as too dry for the white wine drinker. The First Step: Dry Rosé Certainly, your first step on the road to red wine should be exploring the various expressions of dry rosé. best wine making kitsSerious rosé, derived from red wine grapes, is made in the same fashion as most white wine and is a compelling halfway point. best quality red wine brands in india with priceNow is the perfect time of year to try rosé.best italian wine selection The Next Step: Softer Redstop wine shop london There are some red varietals that, in general, tend to be a little softer and less tannic. best wine when you are on a diet

Try Pinot Noir, Grenache, Barbera, and Gamay for lighter options. Try Shiraz or Malbec for richer options. Try Lambrusco or Brachetto d'Acqui for sparkling options. what is the best dry red wineOf course, there are always exceptions to the general rules, due to a winemaker's style or where the grapes were grown. 5 Approachable Red Wines for White Wine Drinkers These are ranked from lightest to fullest in body. Talbott "Kali Hart", Pinot Noir, Monterrey, California, 2012, $15 Michele Chiarlo "Le Orme", Barbera d'Asti, Italy, 2011, $12 Alvaro Palacios, "Camins del Priorat", Garnacha Blend, Priorat, Spain, 2012, $18 Ravenswood Sonoma County, Zinfandel, California, 2012, $15 Penfold's "Koonunga Hill", Shiraz, South Australia, 2012, $11 Remember: Food Is Your Friend When branching out into a different style of wine, keep in mind that food is your friend. If you find red wine really intense, make sure you have food around to soften the tannins.

→ The easiest way to learn how to taste wine: Five 1-Minute Projects That Will Change the Way You Taste Wine Temperature is another consideration: don't be afraid to chill your red wines. I also advise researching classic pairings and enjoying red wine with a recipe suited for its characteristics. The perfect combination can change your mind about what you think about red wines. Recipes from the Kitchn to Pair with Easy Drinking Reds Duck Breast with Black Olives and Risotto + Pinot Noir Creamy Baked Orzo with Ham, Peas and Leeks + Rosé Lamb Chops with Mustard Shallot Sauce, Roasted Tomatoes and Pearl Onions + Barbera → Drinking Red Wine on a Tight Budget? Try La Granja Tempranillo from Cariñena DO, Spain, 2012, $4. This Trader Joe's wine might not be typical in style of a Tempranillo, but it is drinkable and soft. What was the red wine that expanded your palate? Do you have any go-to reds that a white wine drinker would enjoy?We're sorry, but we could not fulfill your request for