Guide to Common Styles of Wine
Red Wines
California | Zinfandel, Cabernet | |
| French | Rhone, |
| Italian | Barbaresco, Barolo |
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California | Pinot Noir | |
| French | Bordeaux, Burgundy |
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French | Beaujolais | |
| Italian | Chianti, Bardolino |
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White Wines |
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California | Chardonnay | |
| French | Montrachet, Meursault |
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California | ||
| French | |
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| Vouvray, Graves |
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French | Chablis, Muscadet, | |
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Germany | Beerenauslese | |
| Frency | Sauternes |
| Hungary | Tokay |
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California | Gewurtztraminer | |
| Germany | Liebfraumilch |
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Germany | Rhine, Mosel, Riesling | |
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Common Tasting Terms
Terminology | Description |
Acidity | A critical element of wine that is responsible for preserving the wines freshness. Excess acidity results in an |
| overly tart and sour wine. |
Balance | A desired trait where tannin, fruit and acidity are in total harmony. Wines with good balance tend to age |
| gracefully. |
Body | The weight and presence of wine in the mouth provided by the alcohol and tannin level. |
| tend to have this strong concentration. |
Bouquet | The blending of a wine's aroma within the bottle over a period of time, caused by volatile acidity. |
Complex | A subjective term often used in tasting. A wine is said to be complex if it offers a variety of flavors and scents |
| that continue to evolve as it develops. |
Flabby | A wine that lacks structure, or is heavy to the taste, lacks acidity. |
Wine high in alcohol and extract, generally speaking, fills the mouth, powerful. | |
Lean | Generally describes wines that are slim, lacking of generosity or thin. |
Oaky | A desirable flavor imparted to wine if done in moderation. Most wines are aged in oak barrels one to three |
| years, thereby receiving this toasty oak characteristic. However, if a weak wine is left in contact too long with |
| an oak barrel it will tend to be overpowered with an oaky taste. |
Tannin | Tannins are extracted from the grape skins and stems and are necessary for a |
| are easily identified in wine tasting as the drying sensation over the gums. Tannins generally fade as a wine |
| ages. |
12 | 2115WC and 2115WCOL, 2175WC and 2175WCOL |