The 15 types of red, white and rosé wine
Whether it is to celebrate great occasions or to accompany dinner any day of the week, a wine is always present and is part of the situation with its aroma, its flavor and even its texture. Wine is a drink obtained from grape must.
The must is a juice that includes all the parts of the grape, such as the seeds and the skin. The type of grape and the difference in the processes, define what type of wine will be. This variety is sometimes confusing, which is why we list the most popular types of wine here.
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The types of red, white and rosé wine
It is well known that a red wine is not the same as a white or rosé. But in addition to this clear categorization, there are several types of wine within each one. Their particular characteristics make each of them ideal to pair with different foods.
Most of the world's wine production is in Italy, France and Spain, as the cultivation of the vine is favored by the climate of this region of southern Europe. However, there are some other countries that have also stood out with one or more types of wine. Here is a list with the types of red, white and rosé wine.
Red wines
Red wine is made from the must of red grapes. Hence the intensity of its color. Part of the process is the aging time that is left in the barrel, and from this process the type of red wine is defined.
There are red wines, crianza, reserva or gran reserva. The resting time and the type of barrel are undoubtedly the ones that give a touch of difference to each other and from there the different types of red wines can be listed.
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet sauvignon is a type of wine of the best known worldwide. And the fact is that the grape variety with which it is made is grown in almost any region. It is a wine with a high level of tannins and alcohol. Ideal to pair with meats and dishes without spicy.
2. Merlot
Merlot wine is characterized by its intense ruby color. It is distinguished by being fine and smooth without losing its fleshy and aromatic touch. It ages quickly without losing quality. It is recognized for its soft aromas of cherries, plums and notes of herbs.
3. Pinot noir
Pinot Noir has a flavor and texture that make it different from any other type of wine. It is characterized by being very soft tannins with an aroma and soft notes of leather, humid earth and tea leaf. Pairing it with Japanese food, salmon or lamb, is without a doubt the best idea.
4. Malbec
Malbec is a type of wine with a high content of tannins. This wine is made from purple grape, which gives it a warm and smooth flavor. Flavors of plum, dried fruit and vanilla can be appreciated. Malbec is an ideal wine for pairing with red meat.
5. Sangiovese
A type of medium-bodied wine is sangiovese. Very good wines are produced from this in California, however it comes from Tuscany in Italy and its flavor and texture combines very well with Italian food.
White wines
White wine can actually be light yellow, greenish, or gold in color.. This type of wine is produced from the well-known white grapes that actually have a green or yellow hue.
The fermentation process for white wine is carried out from the pulp of the white grape and the different processes, the number of vines and aging are what define the sub categories of white wines that can be found in the market.
1. Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon blanc is originally from France. Nonetheless, Australia has stood out for producing a high-quality sauvignon blanc. It is a type of wine with a spicy tone and has an incomparable flavor no matter how old or young it is.
2. Chenin blanc
The grape from which chenin blanc is produced allows it to give a flavor that ranges from dry to sweet. It is a very acidic wine so its pairing is ideal with spicy dishes and seafood. Without a doubt, this type of wine is ideal for expert palates.
3. Chardonnay
The Chardonnay grape that gives rise to this wine is originally from Burgundy, in France. Its green skin gives Chardonnay white wine its characteristic color. It is perhaps one of the most popular in the world and its flavor is citrus and fruity.
4. Riesling
Riesling is a type of wine that accompanies white meat very well. This grape strain results in a very sweet and light wine compared to other white wines. It is produced in many countries throughout the world such as Chile, Italy and South Africa.
5. Gray pinot
Pinot gris wine has color variations ranging from white to gold. This type of wine varies greatly depending on the region where the grape is grown. They are made to be consumed young, although an aged pinot gris can also give a great body and flavor.
Rosé wines
Rosé wines have the typical color of red wine but much softer, which gives it its characteristic pinkish tone that can range from very light to an intense violet. It all depends on the grapes used and the fermentation and barrel storage technique.
Although it has been associated with low-quality wines, this is not necessarily the case, since its production process is even very similar to white wine but with different grape strains.
1. Tempranillo
Tempranillo wine is produced from the grape of the same name. Its production in Spain is very common. It is a type of wine with low acidity and also low sugar content. Although they can be consumed young, the old ones age for years in oak barrels.
2. Garnacha
One of the most popular rosé wines is Grenache wines. Although the Grenache grape is widely used as a blending component to add sweetness to red wine, a rosé wine with high tannin content is also produced.
3. Syrah
Syrah rosé wine has great flavor and body. The Syrah grape from which this wine is produced is descended from the dark grapes of southeastern France. Without a doubt, it is a wine that is best enjoyed when aged in the bottle.
4. Carignan
Cariñena or mazuela is a grape with which this typical rosé wine is produced. It is a grape with a high level of acidity so its production can be very complicated. A lot of skill is required to obtain a fine and elegant Carignan wine.
5. Cabernet Sauvignon
Although Cabernet Sauvignon is most used in red wines, it also produces rosé wines.s. Cabernet Sauvignon rosé wine is very fruity. They highlight the flavor of blueberry, raspberry and pepper. It has a very balanced acidity level.
Bibliographic references
- Johnson, H. (1989). Vintage: The Story of Wine. Simon & Schuster.
- McGovern, Patrick E. (2003). Ancient wine: the search for the origins of viniculture. Princeton University Press.
- Spilling, M.; Wong, W. (2008). Cultures of The World Georgia.