Types
Of Wine
The types of grapes used
to make a wine are the most important factor in the taste of the wine.
However, the flavors are also affected other factors such as soil, exposure
to sunlight, climate, how the grapes are handled and fermented, types
of yeast used, whether the wine is aged in wood, etc. Because of this,
the same type of wine can be produced in several different regions,
but various factors result in wines which taste different! Half the
fun of experiencing wine is the incredible array of flavors available!
Varietal simply refers to
the grape variety used to make a particular wine. Serious wine-producing
countries and states regulate the amount of a particular grape that
make up a particular wine. In California and Washington any wine referred
to by the name of the grape (Chardonnay, for example) must be at least
75% of that grape; most varietals in Oregon must be 90% of the named
grape; and Alsace requires 100%.
Just click on one of the
links below to find out about the most common varietals and types of
wine. Or go here
to read about the differences between red and white wine.
