A Connoisseur’s Delight: 9 Main Types of Wine and the Process Behind Them

The roster for wine is always growing with new things to try. To narrow it down, here are the five main types of wine. Specific types have a special process to make them, and it is something that The Hermann Wine Trail has become familiar with. There are over a thousand different kinds of wine grapes, and they each have something special to offer.

9. Cabernet Sauvignon

For a good full-bodied red wine, few flavours beat Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine process includes red grapes and a long persistent finish. The wine type was first matured in the Bordeaux region, home to many of the greats on this list.

8. Zinfandel

Popular worldwide, Zinfandel can be medium or full-bodied. It is a red/white wine that borrows the bites of multiple fruits without disrupting its medium finish. Croatia born wine uses a process that includes the black-skinned wine grape known as Zinfandel.

7. Syrah

Syrah is a full-bodied red wine that has roots in Australia and France. The intense fruit flavour is unmistakable, with a nice thick quality when it hits the tongue. Syrah is often part of a process that includes blended Mourvèdre and Grenache.

6. Pinot Noir

The process used for the French-based Pinot Noir uses a grape of the same name. It is light, fruity and dry when it hits the tongue. The higher acidity in this wine makes it an easy pairing for multiple types of food.

5. Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a medium to full-bodied white wine that originated in France. Chardonnay is the white grape of Burgundy, so remains a familiar ingredient in the winemaking process. This is a heavy-bodied wine that is low on sweetness but high on the body.

4. Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc has an aggressively fruity taste without being heavy on sweetness. It is a light to medium-bodied white wine that originated in France. The Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white grape that blends well through the winemaking process.

3. Gewürztraminer

Germany is the creator of this wine that is rich with floral aromas. The process for creating good Gewürztraminer involves preserving as much acidity as possible. The wine has a medium body that pairs well with spicy cuisine.

2. Pinot Gris

This light-bodied white wine uses a different process based on its country of origin. The grape is planted heavily in Germany, Italy and France. Pinot Gris probably has the most balanced taste on the list.

1. Riesling

Heavy on fruit and acidity is the best way to describe the off-dry style of this wine. It uses the white grape Riesling in the creation process for one of the more natural flavours on the list. Fermentation time of the grape sugar determines the boldness of the flavour after the creation process.

Wrap Up

After you get familiar with these nine types, look at some of the other subcategories. There is bound to be something that makes an impression. Once you have a few favourites, finding similar flavours becomes much easier.