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Wine Basics
How to go into a wine shop, choose a wine, and not be
disappointed with your choice
Before you go to the wine shop, let me help you think through a few
things.
- Do you prefer sweet or tart foods?
Whichever taste you prefer in foods, you will likely prefer in
drinks, including wines. Most completely dry wines tend to be
relatively tart, or have a certain amount of refreshing
crispness. Most tart wines are the dry wines produced in cold
regions such as Germany, Canada, Austria, Britain and the
northern reaches of France such as Champagne, the Loire, and
Chablis. Examples include dry German Riesling, French Chablis,
and Austrian Gruner Veltliner.
Wines that seem less tart--for a number of technical
reasons--include those grown in warmer climates. Examples
include Australian Chardonnay, Chilean Merlot, many red wines
from Spain made from the Grenache grape, and Californian White
Zinfandels. There are exceptions, but generally warm climate
wines don't taste as tart. Instead, they seem rounder and a
little more fruity. This is not to say these wines are sweet.
Sweet wines are not as common as dry wines but good ones to try
include French Sauternes, Canadian Icewine, and Italian Vin
Santo. These are very sweet wines and are thus considered
dessert wines.
- Learn to look for your preferred
flavours in wine.
Try this. Of the following flavours and aromas, which ones do
you like?
Gooseberry
Lime
Red cherry
Black liquorice
Honey
Raspberry
Blackberry
Caramel and nuts
Apricot
Strawberry
Black currant
Citrus
Lychee
Buttered nuts
Vanilla
Roses
Black cherry
Dark chocolate
Grass/herbaceousness
Peaches
Black pepper
Almonds
Mineral character (the smell of wet stones)
Green apple
Bread
- The flavours you choose will help
you select wines you’ll most likely enjoy. Now, look at the list
below to find wines you will probably like.
Gooseberry
— New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (white)
Lime
— German Riesling (white)
— New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (white)
Red cherry
— Italian Chianti (red)
— Italian Sangiovese (red)
— Chilean/Californian/Australian Merlot (red)
— Red Bordeaux (France)
Black liquorice
— South African Pinotage (red)
Honey
— French Sauternes
— Canadian Icewine (white)
Raspberry
— French Cabernet Franc (red)
— Californian Zinfandel (red)
Blackberry
— Australian Shiraz
— French Cotes de Rhone (red)
Caramel and nuts
— Sherry (golden usually)
— Tawny Port (red)
— Madeira (golden)
Apricot
— French Viognier (white)
— Californian/Australian Viognier (white)
Strawberry
— Red Burgundy (France)
— Washington Pinot Noir (red)
— Californian White Zinfandel (pink)
Black currant
— Californian Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
— Red Bordeaux (France)
— Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
— Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (red0
Citrus
— Unoaked Californian Chardonnay (white)
— Unoaked Australian Chardonnay (white)
Lychee
— German Gerwurztraminer (white)
— French (Alsace) Gerwurztraminer (white)
Buttered nuts
— White Burgundy (France)
Vanilla
— Oaked Californian/Australian Chardonnay (white)
Roses
— German or French (Alsace) Gerwurztraminer (white)
Black Cherry
— Chilean Merlot (red)
— Californian Merlot (red)
— Spanish Rioja (red)
Dark chocolate
— Italian Nebbiolo (red)
— Red Bordeaux (France)
Grass/herbaceousness
— French Muscadet (white)
— New Zealand Sauvignon blanc (white)
— French Sancerre (white)
Peaches
— White Bordeaux (France)
— South African Semillon (white)
— Australian Viogner (white)
Black pepper
— Red Cotes du Rhone (France)
— Australian Shiraz (red)
— Red Bordeaux (France)
Almonds
— Italian Verdicchio (white)
Mineral character
— French Chablis (white)
— French Sancerre (white)
Green Apple
— French Muscadet (white)
— French Brut Champagne (white)
— French Chablis (white)
Bread
— French Muscadet Sur Lie (white)
— Good quality French Champagne (white)
- To tailor your choice further,
think about whether you prefer powerful or subtle fruit flavours
in a glass of wine.
Countries that have been producing wine for centuries—such as
Italy, France, Spain and Germany—produce wines with more
restrained fruit flavours. Newer wine producing countries—such
as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, and
United States—generally make wines with stronger fruit flavours.
- Now you’re ready to make your
selection with more confidence.
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