Everyone loves wine, and if you don’t, you would occasionally drink it anyway. Drinking wine is fun, but the world of wine can be staggering even for the best of wine buffs, let alone a newbie. There are literally thousands of grape varieties out there and even more types of wine available. Basically, there are two types of wine grape: white grapes which are actually green-coloured and black grapes which are red coloured. And within these types of grapes, there are hundreds of varieties used to make thousands of wines. Here we talk about red wine and everything you need to know about it.
Red wine has been a staple of civilizations for hundreds of years, and today it’s still a reliable choice for housewarming, dining out with friends or simply unwinding at home. Red wine is made of dark-skinned grapes, but they are not like the ones you find in the grocery store. Wine grapes are typically smaller, sweeter, have thick skins and contain seeds. And there are lots of different red grape varietals which differ in flavour profile depending on where it’s being grown. Regardless of your taste, there certainly is a red wine that will make your palate sing.
Red Wine Characteristics
Red wines come in many styles from all over the world, so it’s impossible to define the flavour profile of red wine variety. Different types of wine develop different characteristics. From where the grape grows to how the wine is made, there are so many variables that affect the way a wine taste. As a result, there are hundreds of tasting notes and each wine is unique. Some people like it sweet and other prefer it dry. Some enjoy the richness of full bodied red wine, while others prefer lightweight and refreshing. After all, wine is an acquired taste.
Colour
The first and most obvious characteristic of red wine is its colour, which ranges in hue from deep purple to pale ruby and everything in between. Younger red wines are often lighter in colour, and as they age in oak barrels, their bright colours turn garnet or even rust-like brown colour. While the brown hues might not sound all that appealing, older wines are incredibly delicious.
Tannins
Tannins are polyphenols that naturally occur in grape skins and stalks. They are only found in red wine since in white wine production the skins from the fruit are immediately separated. Red wines are typically high in tannins depending on the grape variety it’s made from. Generally, the thicker the grape skin, the higher the tannins will be in the wine. Tannins lend the texture, structure and ageability to a wine. They soften over time, so younger, tannic wines are best enjoyed after a few years aging in a bottle.
Acidity
Red wine is acidic and its average pH level is between 3.5 and 3.8. The higher the pH level, the less acidic the wine is. The lower pH gives the wine a red hue, so red wines with higher acidity levels tend to be a bright ruby colour. Wines with lower acidity can take on a blue or purple hue. These usually feel smoother and rounder on the palate, while high-acidic wines taste crispier and more tart on the palate.
The Major Types of Red Wine
When you go to the wine aisle at the grocery store, you might feel overwhelmed with choices as you will find literally hundreds of red wines for sale. For simplicity’s sake, it’s worth to mention that red wine is often categorized by body type, that is, how heavy or light the wine feels in your mouth. There are light-bodied reds, full-bodied reds, or something in the middle. Many factors contribute to a wine’s body, however, the main factor is alcohol, which affects wine’s viscosity or a liquid consistency. A wine containing more alcohol is more viscous, hence it feels heavier and fuller in your mouth.
Full-bodied wines are wines over 13.5% alcohol-by-volume and they have high viscosity. Whereas light-bodied wines are under 12.5% ABV and hence have low viscosity. Wines between 12.5 and 13.5 are considered medium-bodied. Each category has hundreds of tasting notes, and most full-bodied wines are red wines. If you are a casual wine drinker, you are only likely to come across a handful varieties. The big boys: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Malbec. Each of these red wines is unique with its own tasting notes and aromas that will draw in your senses.
