Wine #101: Understanding Common Types of Wine

New to the world of wine? Fret not! LuxoFood is here to share the common types of wine and other basic facts to get you started!

How is Wine Produced?

Wine is produced from grapes, wine grapes to be exact. Wine grapes are grown to produce the sweetest and most potent grapes dedicated for wine making. They are smaller in size and have thicker skins with crunchy bitter seeds and oozes of juice all over.

The grape variety or varieties that go into its making highly define the flavor of wine. There are over a thousand different kinds of wine grapes – but there are a few of the most-commonly planted varieties around the world that make for common types of wine in a bottle.

Wine Origins

The major wine regions and grapes they are best known for can be found in the table below :

[Source: Wine Enthusiast Magazine]

Learning to “Wine”

You probably wonder why wine is such a beloved drink to its die-hard fans. There is a difference between being a casual wine drinker to a proper wine lover, which involves constant learning and exposing yourself to wine classes, communities, and more knowledge of wine in details.

Generally, wine is separated into its type, which are white wine, red wine and rose wine. But to understand the types better, let’s first familiarize ourselves with some wine glossaries that you will encounter in the world of wine:

• The Body: The term to describe the general weight, “fullness” or overall feel of a wine in your mouth. Full-bodied wine means its big and powerful, light-bodied means its delicate and lean, while medium-bodied wines fall somewhere in between
• Tannins: Tannins is the bitter taste of wine that gives a drying sensation. It is the same taste that you find in tea. Tannin gives wine an astringent quality and is a natural preservative that is used in the wine aging process.
• Finnish: This terms refers to the aftertaste or the flavor that stays in your mouth after swallowing the wine.
• Acidic: The acids in wine are present in the ingredients naturally while some also come as the byproduct of fermentation.

How to Choose Your Types of Wine

It’s always a great idea to pop open a bottle of wine to enjoy with the company of friends or loved ones. To begin choosing the types of wine, use the guides below:

• Budget

Budget is a good place to start but don’t assume that the pricier the wine, the tastier it is. This is because high-priced wines may take require a wine pro to appreciate due to its uniqueness or rarity. For beginners, it’s best to stick with lower or medium-priced wines which are universally loved.

• Brand

Popular brands consistently offer good value for the money, so it’s also a good point to start with more well-known names.

• Pairing

You’ll come to learn that wine can be paired with a variety of foods to bring out the best flavors. This does take a while to master, that’s why it’s helpful to have a source of seller who is knowledgeable, trusted and has all you need such as LuxoFood.

Cooking Wine

Cooking with wine is actually very simple; the rule is, if you enjoy drinking the wine, you should cook with the wine. This does not mean the wine you cook with has to be expensive, but it should be a wine you would drink and serve to your guests. If you think it tastes good, it will taste good in your dish. Also, refer to what your recipe calls, including the type and portion!

Need more excellent food and wine articles as such? Read more on LuxoFood blog where we will discuss wine in details! Also, don’t forget –  for fresh produce, quality food ingredients and more, our store awaits your visit!