Food and Drink Articles

All wines are made by grape juice through the fermentation process. In grapes, the nature has given immaculate chemical balance; thus, it can ferment without the addition of enzymes, sugar, acids, etc.

Generally, when people go to a bar or wine shop they believe or think that there are hundreds of types of wine after looking at hundreds of different types of attractive bottles. This is merely a fallacy. There are only five basic types of wine exist, and all wines come under the umbrella of them. The five main types of wine are:

Red Wine

As its name suggest, this type of wine made by red grapes (they are also called black grapes). During the fermentation process, the grapes red skins leave in to make its color red. These types of wine are heavier than white wines; due to its skin, it has more tannin. The grapes skins also help in flavoring the wine. Some of the most famous types of grapes which are used in the making of red wines are as follows:

* Cabernet Sauvignon * Nebbiolo * Montepulciano * Pinot Noir * Sangiovese * Tempranillo

White Wine

White wine is made by white grapes. It is possible to make white wine with red grapes, but generally it is made by white grapes. The white grapes juice is separated from the skins before the fermentation process; in addition, its juice does not absorb the color of its skins and because of this, it has less tannin as compared to the red wine. Some of the most famous types of grapes which are used in the making of white wines are as follows:

* Chardonnay * Pinot Grigio * Gewrztraminer * Pinot Meunier * Semillon

Fortified Wine

In fortified wines, extra alcohol (generally brandy) is added for preservation purposes. The alcohol level (ABV – alcohol by volume) in fortified wines is not less than 14% and not more than 22%. In the United States it is called dessert wine and in Europe it is called liqueur. Normally, the ABV of fortified wines is over 20%.

Rosé Wine

Rosé wines are also made by red grapes. During its making, the red grapes skins are leave in for some time to make its color reddish or pinkish, and for this reason, this type of wines also contain some amount of tannin. In addition, rose wines are also called blush wines.

Sparkling Wine

To give a fizzy effect and look, significant level of carbon dioxide is added in wines. Carbon dioxide is added through the natural fermentation process or by injecting its doses. These types of wines are called “sparkling wines”. Champagne is only a type of it. Sparkling wines are generally white or rose; however, red sparkling wines are also available.

In a sentence, we can conclude it as though you may say hundreds of bottles in a bar but they primarily belong to one of the aforementioned types of wines.

Syed Rehan is associated with Learn2Serve.com which provides Alcohol Safety Training.