Sommelier Explains The Different Types Of Wine So You Know Exactly What To Order

What is wine? You would say— yes, we know it's an alcohol beverage made from grapes but for the punctilious, Sushmita explains—'Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes and nowadays, with other fruits as well at times. It typically contains around 9%-16% alcohol by volume, but this can vary depending on the types and the various production processes.' She mentions that the usual production process involves— harvesting, crushing, pressing, fermentation, aging and finally, bottling.

In the broader sense— most of us are familiar with with red, white, rose and sparkling wine. But the confusion starts when you dive much deeper into it and are slapped with fancy words like 'pinot grigio', 'sauvignon blanc', 'merlot' written across wine bottle labels(and wine lists). So what's the fuss about? Well, all of these different styles feature different flavour profiles, depending on which grape variety they are prepared from, weather conditions and how the wine is prepared. Different grape varieties produce different levels of sugar and tannins, the chemical that creates the dry taste in wines, and give the different offerings a unique flavour profile. 

While we agree that one can tell which one they prefer only after loads of experimentation, reading and learning about the different flavour notes and aromas only helps you narrow down your preferences.

Sushmita says, 'Red wine is made from dark-colored grape varietals. Its distinguishing characteristics stem from the fermentation process, which involves grape skins, seeds, and stems. The process separates the wine by colour, tannins, and some complex flavours.

Colour, tannins, and flavour are a few of the characteristics. The colour ranges from deep purple to ruby red to brownish red, depending on the grape variety and the weather conditions the grapes the grapes are grown in. The volume of tannins provides structure to the mouth and a drying sensation.'

The most famous red wines (depending on the kind of grape used in making it)  are Shiraz(or syrah), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese.

Sushmita explains, 'White wine is made primarily from green and yellow grapes. Unlike red wine, white wine ferments without the grape skin. These grapes give the wine more crisp citrus fruit, tropical fruit, and floral notes, as well as varying acidity from crisp to creamy mouth feel.'

The most famous white wine varieties are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Riesling.

According to Sushmita, 'Rose wines have a pink or blush colour as a result of a shorter fermentation process with limited contact between red grape skins and fermented juice. This results in a lighter colour than red wine, but deeper than white wine. Rose wines can be made from red grape varieties, with flavours ranging from dry to sweet. The most popular are Provence Rose, Grenache Rose, Sangiovese Rose, and White Zinfandel.'

Sushmita says, 'Dessert wine is a sweet wine that is typically enjoyed after a meal, either alone or with dessert. These wines are made from grapes that have been left on the vine for an extended period of time to increase their sugar content, or when the sugar content is stopped before all of the sugar is converted into alcohol, leaving a sweeter taste. Dessert wines include late harvest, ice wine, sauternes, port, and muscat.'

Sushmita says, 'Sparkling wines contain high levels of carbon dioxide, making them fizzy or effervescent. Carbonation can occur naturally (as in Champagnes) or artificially (in Prosecco or Cava). Sparkling wines are known for their bubbly texture and are among the most popular celebratory beverages worldwide.'

Champagne is the best-known sparkling wine produced in France's Champagne region.

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from the glera grape variety and hails from the Veneto and Friuli regions.

Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain's Catalonia region made from Macabeo and Parellada grapes.

Moscato d'Asti is made from Muscat Blanc grapes grown in Italy's Piedmont region.

Fruity: If the taste is fruit heavy.

Earthy: All the wines that taste like spice, rocks, clove; anything that is not a fruit.

Body: The heavier the wines taste in your mouth. the fuller it is in body.

Finish: A residual taste lingering in your mouth that’s smoky, bitter, tart or sweet refers to the wine’s finish.

Typicality: As the word suggests, typicality refers to how typical the taste of the wine is to the region in which it was grown.

Complexity: A wine that has a lot of flavours is complex.

Here are the best homegrown wines to buy under 2k.