As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes recommend products from other sellers at no extra cost you. For more details see my disclosure policy and privacy policy.
Do you love wine? Do you want to know more about types of wine and how they compare with each other? This blog post will answer all your questions. In this article, we’ll explore the types of wine, their similarities and differences as well as who might enjoy them best. You may be surprised by what types of wines there are!
Contents
What Are the Different Types of Wine?
Red Wines
Red wines are made from black grapes fermented with grape skins (which is where the red colour of the wine comes from), seeds, and stems. Red wine is high in tannins, which causes that bitter, dry taste in your mouth after you take a sip.
- Starter Picks: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chianti, Beaujolais
- Food Pairings: Pair red wine with hearty dishes containing red meat, such as BBQ ribs, burgers and steak, pasta, and pizza.
- Pro Tip: It’s best to drink red wines at, or slightly below, room temperature. This is because if you chill red wine, the tannins it contains become bitter.
- Good to Know: The darker or newer the wine, the more tannins it has. Go for an older wine, which will taste less dry and bitter.
White Wines
White wines are made from green grapes that aren’t fermented with the skin. If you’ve ever had a white wine and got an unexpected burst of citrus flavour, it’s because some winemakers add back in small amounts of juice from orange or lemon peel to give their wine its signature taste!
- Starter Picks: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer
- Food Pairings: White wine is a great choice to pair with seafood dishes like salmon or shrimp, chicken and pork as well as salads.
- Pro Tip: Serve white wines chilled and slightly over-ice. This will bring out their fruity flavours.
- Good to Know: It’s important not to let white wine sit out for too long before you drink it, otherwise the alcohol will evaporate and leave a flat tasting wine.
Rosé Wines
Rosé is made from red grapes that are fermented with the seeds, skins, stems and pulp of the grape (which gives rosé its lovely pink hue). Rosé wines are lower in tannins than red wine, making them a little less bitter and dry to taste.
- Starter Picks: Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah
- Food Pairings: Because of their lower tannin levels, rosés can be paired with a wider variety of foods than red wines. Try serving rosé with barbeque, fish and chips or even a BLT sandwich!
- Pro Tip: Drink Rosé chilled but slightly over-ice to bring out the fruity flavours.
- Good to Know: Unlike red wines, you can store your bottle of rosé in the fridge without having it go flat.
Sparkling Wines
Champagne, Cava, Prosecco and other types of sparkling wines are made by adding carbon dioxide gas to wine while it’s still in the bottle. This makes the wine fizzy and gives it that characteristic ‘bubbly’ taste.
- Starter Picks: Champagne, Cava
- Food Pairings: Sparkling wines are great to serve as an aperitif (before dinner) or as part of dessert. They pair well with sweet treats like panna cotta, tiramisu and crème brûlée.
- Pro Tip: Serve sparkling wine chilled in a tall flute glass to really show off the bubbles.
- Good to Know: Sparkling wines can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature.
Dessert Wines
Fortified wines, such as Port and Sherry, are types of dessert wine that are made by adding a distilled spirit (like brandy) to the wine. This makes the wine thicker and sweeter than other types of wine.
- Starter Picks: Port, Sherry
- Food Pairings: Dessert wines are best enjoyed after a meal with dessert. Some popular pairings include crème brûlée, cheesecake or chocolate cake.
- Pro Tip: Serve fortified wines at room temperature in a small glass to really enjoy the sweet flavours.
- Good to Know: Fortified wines can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature.
Common Types of Wine
Now that you know a little bit more about each type of wine, let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of wine and what they’re like.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a type of red wine that’s made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. It’s one of the most popular types of red wine and is known for its full-bodied flavour and intense fruitiness.
- Great Alternatives to Cabernet Sauvignon: Merlot, Syrah, Malbec
Syrah
Learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah is a red wine made from the Syrah grape. It’s known for its strong tannins and high alcohol content (usually around 15-16%).
You can expect to find lots of blackcurrant flavours in this full bodied type of wine.
- Great Alternatives to Syrah: Pinot Noir, Grenache, Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a red wine made from the Zinfandel grape. It’s one of the most popular types of red wines in America and is known for its fruity flavours and high alcohol content (usually around 15-16%).
- Great Alternatives to Zinfandel: Pinot Noir, Grenache
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red wine made from the Pinot Noir grape. It’s known for its light flavours and high acidity levels (which give it that dry taste).
- Great Alternatives to Pinot Noire: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape. It’s one of the most popular types of white wines in France and can be found all over the world (particularly in New World countries).
- Great Alternatives to Chardonnay: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. It’s known for its full bodied flavours and high acidity levels (which give it that dry taste).
- Great Alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc: Pinot Gris, Riesling
Learn more about Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling
Riseling is a white wine made from the Riesling grape. It’s known for its mineral flavours, high acidity levels and semi-sweet finish (which makes it great to pair with dessert).
- Great Alternatives to Riesling: Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a white wine made from the Gewürztraminer grape. It’s known for its strong spicy flavours and high alcohol content (usually around 14-15%).
- Great Alternatives to Riesling: Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is a white wine made from the Pinot Grigio grape. It’s known for its fruity flavours and high acidity levels (which give it that dry taste).
- Great Alternatives to Pinot Gris: Riesling, Gewürztraminer
Best types of wine
The best types of wine are always ones that you enjoy but this guide helps you to understand how the world of wines work and where you might want to start. Or find something different to try!
