Classicification Of Wines

Wines have always had their allure for several reasons. They can conjure visions of romance, exclusiveness, exquisiteness, and class.

Wines are a study in themselves. You could spend an entire lifetime understanding wines, and still not be an expert. Be warned – a study of wines will probably lead to your being besotted.

Not surprisingly, wines have several classifications. They are classified by type, colour, region, their sweetness and more.

In this article, we discuss the colour classification of wines

The grapes used for wine, also referred to as Wine grapes, are essentially divided into 2 basic types. These are white grapes and black grapes. This classification f wine grapes is not necessarily an indication of either the actual color of the grapes or the wine that is produced by these grapes.

It is simply one of the many methods of classifying these grapes. The story of clolour classifications of wines does end here. Wines are further divided into what is referred to as “styles”.

The styles are white, red and Rosé.

White Wines

White Wines are not really white. Take a close look at a glass of White Wine. You will notice that it is yellow, golden or has a very pale hue. So to put it simply, White wine is a convenient term used to designate wine that is lacking red or pink coloring. In other words, Wines that are not red, pink, rosé or related colors, are broadly classified as White wines.

White wine can be made from white grapes. Again, White grapes are not really white. They come in different hues – such as green, greenish-yellow, golden yellow or sometimes a pinkish-yellowish. And just like the white wine produced from them is not necessarily white, white grapes too are a grape that are dark red, bluish or bluish-blackish.

And before you say you have understood the colour classifications, here is a piece of additional information - a vintner (the wine produer) can also make white wine from the juice of red (black) grapes. Sounds surprising? It isn’t! This is possible because the juice that is produced form these red or black grapes, lacks pigmentation. This process, however, is rare. However, do you know one popular spirit that uses this process? You guessed it right – it is the bubbly Champagne.

White wines are frequently used as aperitifs - alcoholic drinks that you have before a meal. . They arrive at the table before dinner. They may replace a cocktail. White wine is also common at parties and in bars. Some people enjoy the taste of white wine on a hot day, ebcuase white wine can be enjoyed when served cool. Remember to serve white wine cool, but not cold.

Some White Wines You May Want To Try

The white wines you may want to try : Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Muscadet, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Red wine

Red Wine is red in color. It could also be purplish-red, pale red, ruby red or come in a variety of red and pink hues. The source of red wine, is the red or bluish grape. Unfortunately, the grapes are referred to as “black.” All red wines come from these black grapes.

Red wines are not that easy to understand. These wines are usually more complex in taste. They offer a much wider range of style, though. Red wines may be full-bodied. They can also be medium or light-bodied.

Red wines are not usually a stand-alone drink. They usually form part of a complete meal. However they are not to be confused with Rosé or “blush” wines, which I have discussed below.

The red wines you may want to try: Beaujolais, Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel.

Rosé wine

Rosé or Blush Wines are made with black grapes. They are as I mentioned earlier, not however, Red Wines. Blush wines are actually white wines. They are noted for their sweet and sometime even cloying taste.

Rosés are just right for drinking on their own, s stand alones, or as an aperitif and with your meals. In other words you could look at this wine as a general-purpose drink. Rosés need to be chilled before drinking. They do have a shelf life and therefore you must not expect them to last or age.

The Rose’ you may want to try: Pink Merlot, White Zin

Dry, Semi-Sweet (Off –Dry) or Sweet

Wines can be classified in other ways too – such as by their sweetness. When we talk of Wine style it also includes the level of sweetness. Grapes have differing acidity levels and the differing acidity levels of the grapes result in different textures. Wine is described as dry, semi-sweet or sweet.

Dry wine

Wines that are not sweet are referred to as Dry. They are so, because the sugars in such dry wines have been completely fermented. In such wines, the acidity is more prominent. A Sugar Code indicates their levels of dryness. The scale ranges from 0 to 10. The driest wines are given the lowest level and as they go up on the sweetness level, their Sugar Code increases.

The acid or alkaline levels, also known as the pH level, of wine is also a major factor in determining the dryness of a wine. Wines with a pH level of between 2.8 to 3.3 are referred to as dry. As you go higher over this level, the taste of the wine will reflect a difference.

Wines are not ever completely dry. No matter how great the Yeast fermentation of grapes, it does not reduce the sugar content to zero. Inspte of this phenomenon, some wines are considered 0 on the sugar code. This includes most Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti and Soave wines.

Other dry wines include many White German dry wines e.g. Riesling and Pinot Gris. All red wines are considered dry. Among them are Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and Chianti Classico Riserva.

Semi-sweet wine

Wines that fall between dry and sweet are called Semi-Sweet Wines. They are neither white nor red wine. Semi sweet wines range from 3 to 4 on the Sugar Code. Wines which fall into sweet and semi-sweet categories are always White. Blush wines are a perfect example of semi-sweet wines. The Late Harvest Riesling and German Spätlese are perfect examples of semi-sweet wine.

Sweet wine

Wines with the highest content of sugar are Sweet Wines. They are unmistakably sweet. When creating Sweet or Semi Sweet wine, the process is similar and usually follows any of the methods listed below.

1. Ripening - White grapes are allowed to become very ripe.

2. Added Sugar - Sugar is added to make it sweet

3. Drying Methods - Grapes are dried in a specific method using boxes or mats.

4. Additives - Brandy or other neutral spirits are added to the process.

5. Freezing - The vintner permits the grapes to freeze on the vine.

Other methods are also used to add sweetness to wines and create sweet and semi-sweet wines. The final product includes dessert wines (Sauterne) and the famous Canadian Ice Wines. Port and Cream Sherry are very sweet wines.

These classifications are not just all. There are further variations. Acidity, contributes to the depth of the sweetness. A wine high in sugar content may be saved from being cloying by a higher level of acidity.