Wine Guide for Beginners

There is simply a lot to know about wine and even the most experienced connoisseur knows how important it is to keep learning about them. Unlike most drinks out there, choosing the right wine involves knowing a bit of the basics in order to maximize your drinking experience.

To help you get on the right track, we have gathered a few wine basics that will surely help you learn and enjoy these drinks even more.

Get your wine glasses ready because we are about to teach you a thing or two about our favorite drink!

There’s More to Wine Than you Think

You’d be surprised to know that most wine beginners assume that wine can be made from table grapes you can purchase at the grocery store. There is a lot that goes in making a fine bottle of wine that most of us think.

Wine grapes are different from the ones you are used to seeing at the grocery store. For starters, they have thicker skins and are a lot sweeter. It requires a bit more tendering compared to the ones we regularly see on the market.

There are over a thousand different wine grapes and each one makes a different type of wine. This is what makes wine such a diverse drink that is full of character in every note.

Single Variety Wine

Single variety wine refers to wine that is made from just one type of wine grape. Not a lot of labels tell you whether the bottle you are getting is single variety or not so this might be a more advanced piece of information.

Blend

Blends refer to wine that is made from different types of wine grapes. Traditionally, wines are named after the place they are sourced from so it can be a tad bit hard to tell whether the bottle you are holding is a blend or not - especially if you are a beginner.

Soon enough, once you get acquainted with more bottles and different kinds of wine, you’ll be able to tell the difference.

Common Types of Wine

There are hundreds upon hundreds of wine available in the market but getting your hand on the most common ones is the best way to know the different range of flavor available. Below are some of the most common type of wine and a little background on each kind.

Cabernet Sauvignon

This full-bodied red wine is probably one of the most popular kind. Usually made from black cherry, black currant and cedar, this wine is smoky and bursting with flavor.

They have a higher dose of alcohol than most and goes well with a variety of dishes.

Pinot Noir

A direct opposite of the Cabernet Sauvignon, this light bodied red wine is another popular type that is known for it’s light and airy taste.

It has a highly floral and fruity taste that makes it a less intimidating drink of choice for beginners.

Chardonnay

The chardonnay is a popular drink due to its sweet caramel notes given by the oak. There are different types of Chardonnay that that vary in flavor. There are those that are more robust and spicier than most while there are those that are zestier and more refreshing to the taste.

There you have it a few of the most common types of wine and some of the basics you need to know in order to get a head start in your wine drinking journey. Remember, there is still a lot more to know about wine so be sure to keep on learning about them as you proceed.

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