Understanding the basic "building blocks" of wine helps you describe what you like to a retailer or sommelier:
: This provides freshness and a mouth-watering tartness. High-acid wines like Riesling feel "zippy" and refreshing. guide to buying wine
: The specific grape used (e.g., Merlot, Chardonnay). In many regions, a label must contain at least 75% of a specific grape to be named after it. Understanding the basic "building blocks" of wine helps
: Found primarily in red wines, these create a drying, "velvety" sensation on your gums and tongue. High tannins offer more "structure" to a wine. In many regions, a label must contain at
: This is determined by "residual sugar" left after fermentation. If you are new to wine, many experts suggest starting with slightly sweeter whites or rosés before moving to drier reds. 🏷️ Decode the Wine Label Labels tell a story if you know where to look:
: The year the grapes were harvested. At least 95% of the grapes must be from that year to use the designation. Weather during that specific year can significantly impact flavor and quality.