Different Styles of Wine

Wines in this list are organized from lightest to boldest.


Sparkling wines

Sparkling wine is carbonated by yeast fermenting in an airtight container. The two most common sparkling winemaking methods are called “traditional method” and “tank method”. Sparkling wine is produced throughout the world and often follows the same winemaking methods and grape variety found in Champagne, France.

Examples of sparkling wines:

Light-bodied whites

Light bodied white wines are known for their dry and refreshingly tart flavor. Most light-bodied white wines are meant to be enjoyed young when they have maximum acidity and bold fruit.

Examples of light-bodied wines:

Full-bodied whites

Full bodied white wines are known for their rich, bold flavors. These wines are often aged on their lees or in oak barrels to add unctuous flavors of cream, vanilla and butter.

Examples of full-bodied wines:

Aromatic whites

Aromatic white wines have highly perfumed and sweet-fruit aromas but can range from dry to sweet in taste. Aromatic whites are ideal pairing partners with Asian cuisine because they match well with sweet-and-sour flavors and quench spicy sauces.

Examples of aromatic wines:

Rosé

Rosé wine is produced when red grape skins macerate in their juices for a period of time. Rosé is produced in every major country and is made of nearly every grape variety, both red and white.
Rosé wines range in taste from dry to sweet. For example, a rosé of Tempranillo is usually always dry and savory. Whereas White Zinfandel is almost always sweet and fruity.

Light-bodied reds

Light bodied red wines are translucent in color and tend to have moderately high acidity. They are known for their perfumed aromas that are best collected in a large globe-shaped glass.

Examples of light-bodied wines:

Medium-bodied reds

Medium body red wines are often referred to as “food wines” or “table wines” because of their excellent ability to pair with a wide range of foods. Generally speaking, medium-bodied wines are characterized by dominant red-fruit flavors.

Examples of medium-bodied wines:

Full-bodied reds

Full bodied red wines typically have high tannin, opaque ruby color from high anthocyanin content, and rich fruit flavors.
Wines that are bold such as these, can be enjoyed on their own, or with equally bold-flavored foods.

Examples of full-bodied wines:

Dessert wine

Dessert wines range in style from off-dry to very sweet. The sweetest and highest acidity of these desert wines can be cellared for many years to develop subtle nutty flavors. Some dessert wines are stabilized with the addition of brandy in a process called fortification. Fortified wines have high alcohol and can store open for up to a month.

Examples of dessert wines: