Five Basic Wines You Should Know Of

17 Jun Five Basic Wines You Should Know Of

Understanding the primary type of wines is an excellent way to delve deeper into the world of wine. Many individuals are under the misconception that identifying whether a wine is white or red is simply noticing its colour. However, that isn’t true. Here’s a brief look at the different types of wines.

Basic Wine Types

We’ll categorise the wine into five primary categories here:

1. White Wine

Although many people are under the impression that white wines are made using white grapes, that isn’t the case, as both black and white grapes can be used. This is achieved by extracting the red pigments from the grapes and only using the grape juice. White wines often have creamy, bright, and savoury flavour characters. Some of the most common varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Moscato, and Riesling.

Food Pairing: Soft Cheese, seafood, white bread, fish, salads, and white bread

2. Red Wine

While the production of red wines is similar to white wines, it includes grape pips, seeds, and the grape’s skin in the fermentation process. Red wines are often fermented at higher temperatures to effectively extract colour, aroma, tannins, and flavours at varying levels of concentration, depending on the duration of the fermentation process. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel are excellent for beginners.

Food Pairing: Grilled vegetables, chicken, and other white meats are an excellent choice for light-bodied red wines. On the other hand, medium to full-bodied red wine pairs well with smoked meats, steaks, and hamburgers.

3. Rose Wine

Rose wines are made using red and black grapes and have a fermentation process that lasts only 12-36 hours. However, another common style of making roses is blending red and white wines. With flavours ranging from dry to sweet, these wines come in pale to darker pink colours, with low tannin levels.

Food Pairing: These wines pair well with light-flavored dishes like fruits, poultry, and fish.

4. Dessert or Sweet Wine

There are no widely accepted definitions of sweet or dessert wines. This is primarily due to their sweeter character, which is often associated with desserts after a meal. However, in Australia, people consume these sweet wines as an aperitif and sweet reds to rinse their palates. Tawny, Port or Sherry can be considered sweet or dessert wines.

Food Pairing: Besides desserts, sweet wines can be paired with smoked meats and soft cheeses as well.

5. Sparkling Wine

Celebration is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about sparkling wines. The bubbles can either occur naturally or be added to the wines during fermentation. You can further categorise these sparkling wines by region: Asti or Prosecco from Italy, Cava in Spain, or Champagne from the Champagne region in France.

Food Pairing: if you’re hosting a party, consider pairing fish, cheese, salad, or break with these wines.

Choosing The Right Wine Cellar To Store Wines

Your wine collection is a beautiful thing that will last you for years to come. The same should be said for your wine storage solutions. Whether you’re simply storing a few bottles, or have a collection of hundreds, here are a few valuable tips for creating the perfect wine cellar for your home:

• • Controlling the temperature and humidity of the wine cellar is critical to preserving it’s quality until its ready to be served. Discuss your requirements with your wine cellar designer, and they will provide their input on the matter.

• • The size of your wine cellar is another crucial aspect that should be considered. It’s always better to have more space than less. This way, you have plenty of space for your expanding collection. Your wine cellar dimensions will also depend on the available space in your home.

• • If you have a vast wine collection and plenty of room, designing a custom wine room is the way to go.

• • When purchasing a wine cellar, it’s essential to find one that complements your décor and reflects your personal taste. If you want a wine cellar that is truly one-of-a-kind, you need to hire experts.

For information about custom wine cellar designing services, call Signature Cellars on 1300 570 636. We are here to help with all your wine cellar requirements from start to finish.

Thanks for reading,
Signature Cellars
1300 570 636