I wish I could say breaking down wine was as easy as breaking down spirits and beer. Unfortunately that just isn’t the case. There are over 600 kinds of grapes in existence, a small portion of which is considered suited to produce fine quality wine. Each grape variety has its own unique combination of characteristics including size, color, acidity, skin thickness, flavor and yield per vine. The majority of wines are categorized as either Red or White, with a third category known as rose also in existence.
Types of Red Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Pinot Noir
- Chianti
- Grenache
- Malbec
- Gamay
- Nebbiolo
- Dolcetto
- Sangiovese
- Shiraz
- Syrah
- Barbera
Types of White Wine
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Gris
- Chenin Blanc
- Pinot Blanc
- Muscat
- Gewurztraminer
- Riesling
- Roussanne
- Vermouth
- Voignier
- Chablis
- Semillon
Types of Rose Wine
- Gamay
- Grenache
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Franc
Besides Red, White, and Rose, we can’t forget the ever important categories of Fortified, Sparkling, and Dessert sub categories. Consider this your first step into the world of wine purchasing and consuming. By no means is this a complete guide to the drinking of wine. For more information I suggest you take a trip over to The Wine Encyclopedia to learn more on the subject of wine.