Dry wine contains the maximum amount of alcohol possible for the type of grape used to make the wine because the juice is fermented until all of the grape’s natural sugar is consumed, according to the O Chef cooking website. Red wines are primarily dry, except for sweet dessert wines. Some people confuse the presence of tannins, natural compounds found in grape skins that can make a mouth feel dry, with a wine that contains little to no sugar. Best paired with meats, hearty meals, bitter greens or chocolate and cheeses such as brie or cheddar, Cabernet Sauvignon has a peppery, sometimes bitter or sharp flavor. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown all over the world and produce a full-bodied wine that has an alcohol content between 13.5 and 14.5 percent. Cabernet Franc is usually combined with other grape varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, and rarely used on its own. The variety of wine with which Cabernet Franc is mixed will determine which foods the blend pairs with well.

For example, a Cabernet Franc blended with Cabernet Sauvignon will pair well with hearty meals, bitter greens and brie. A wine made entirely of Cabernet Franc pairs well with most cheeses, pork, ham and tomato-based dishes. A light- to medium-bodied wine, Pinot Noir has a variety of flavors such as fruity and herbal. black ink wine tech sheetThe Pinot Noir grapes produce complex wines, with famous productions coming from California and France. what is the best selling wine in the ukThe wine pairs well with mild, creamy cheeses, tomatoes, salmon and lean meats.top wine distributors in india Merlot has a low acid content, smooth flavor and hints of plums, currants and other berries. best wines from club w

Because of the low acid content, Merlot is a dry red wine option for those who may not like strong red wines. The varietal pairs well with a wide array of foods including steak, lamb, seared tuna and cheddar cheese. Choosing a Sangiovese wine presents a variety of options for flavor based primarily on the age of the wine. best sweet red wine brandsYoung wines of this varietal feature fruity and spicy flavors, while the aged Sangioveses take on the flavor of the oak barrels in which they mature. best wine in murphys caThe acidic wine pairs well with roast chicken, tomato sauce, and herbs such as basil and thyme. Syrah/Shiraz wines have a high tannin content combined with a strong fruit flavor to balance the wine. The wine can be used on its own or in combination with other grapes. The varietal ranges from acidic to fruity and pairs well with barbecue, Mexican dishes, black pepper and beef.

Grown in California, the red Zinfandel grapes produce a range of flavors from spicy to fruity, with strong berry flavored wines produced in cooler areas and spicy versions in warmer climates. While White Zinfandel is sweet, the red version is dry and pairs well with everything from turkey and lamb to chili and aged cheeses. Although the Tempranillo grape is now grown throughout the world, it’s largely associated with Spain, where it originated. This wine may be aged or served young, and varies from mild to oakey in flavor. Tempranillo complements Spanish foods, mild blue cheeses, cured meat and grilled fish.5 Basic Wine Characteristics Learn the basic wine characteristics to develop your palate and find favorites. By understanding the 5 characteristics below you’ll have a better chance of getting what you love. In recent history there has been an increasing focus on analyzing and rating wines. Unfortunately, crowdsourcing wine ratings is like asking children. The best way to learn about your taste is to classify wines by their fundamental traits and then pick what you like the best.

To understand the basic characteristics of wine it’s important to learn how to taste wine. Learning to identify wine characteristics helps to identify what you like about a wine. Sweetness: aka “Level of Dryness” Our human perception of sweet starts at the tip of our tongue. Often, the very first impression of a wine is its level of sweetness. To taste sweet, focus your attention on the taste buds on the tip of your tongue. Are your taste buds tingling?–an indicator of sweetness. Believe it or not, many dry wines can have a hint of sweetness to carry a larger impression of Body. If you find a wine you like has residual sugar, you may enjoy a hint (or a lot!) of sweetness in your wine. How to Taste it in Wine Tingling sensation on the tip of your tongue. Slight oily sensation in the middle of your tongue that lingers. Wine has a higher viscosity; wine tears on side of glass slowly. (also an indicator of high ABV) Dry red wines such as cabernet sauvignon often have up to 0.9 g/L of residual sugar (common with cheap wines).

A bone-dry wine can often be confused with a wine with high Tannin Acidity: Wrapping Your Head Around It Acidity in food and drink is tart and zesty (See 40 wine descriptions for more). Tasting acidity is often confused with the taste of higher Alcohol. It is common for wines grown in cooler vintages to have higher acidity. Wines with higher acidity feel lighter weight because they come across as ‘spritzy.’ If you prefer a wine that is more rich and round, you enjoy slightly less acidity. Tingling sensation that focuses on the front and sides of your tongue. Feels like pop rocks. If you rub your tongue to the roof of your mouth it feels gravelly. Your mouth feels wet, like you bit into an apple. You feel like you can gleek. Tannin: The Misunderstood Wine Characteristic Tannin is often confused with Level of Dryness because tannin dries your mouth. What are wine tannins? Tannin in wine is the presence of phenolic compounds that add bitterness to a wine.

Phenolics are found in the skins and seeds of wine grapes and can also be added to a wine with the use of aging in wood (oak). So how does tannin taste? Imagine putting a used black tea bag on your tongue. A wet tea bag is practically pure tannin that is bitter and has a drying sensation. Tannin tastes herbaceous and is often described as astringent. While all of these descriptors sound very negative, tannin adds balance, complexity, structure and makes a wine last longer. How Does a High Tannin Wine Taste? Tastes bitter on the front inside of your mouth and along the side of your tongue. Tannin makes your tongue dry out. After you swallow you feel a lingering bitter/dry feeling in your mouth. Tannin can often be confused with the term “dry” because it dries your mouth out. Fruit: Identifying Different Flavors Wines are often characterized by their main fruit flavors. Tasting for fruit flavors in a wine can help you better define your preferences.

For instance, wines that have strawberry notes lead into a very different set of varietal wines than enjoying wines that taste like blackberries. Additionally, the level of fruitiness that you taste in a wine leads to very different growing regions. Tasting for fruitiness in a wine Red Wine: red fruits such as raspberry or dark fruits like blackberry and blueberry? White Wine: Lemon and Lime or Peach and Yellow Apple? Can you name 3 different fruits easily? Do you find it difficult to pick out a single fruit flavor? Does a wine give you stronger impressions of other flavors such as grass, bell pepper, black pepper, olive or meat? See Wine Varietal Chart Body: Light to Full-Bodied. Are you in the mood for a light, medium or full-bodied wine? Body is the result of many factors – from wine variety, where it’s from, vintage, alcohol level and how it’s made. Body is a snapshot of the overall impression of a wine. You can improve your skill by paying attention to where and when it’s present.