Out Of All The Wines Available, Which Wines Are Sweet?
Within the wine world, most wines are either classified as dry wines or sweet wines. Although this can help distinguish which wines you might like better, these terms are too broad to give you a true sense of which wines you might enjoy the most. There are many different levels of sweetness within wines, no matter if they are red or white.
When thinking through a mental list of sweet wines, most people tend to start with white wines. This is due to the composition of white grapes compared to red grapes; white grapes tend to naturally be sweeter, which then translates into making a sweet white wine. A red or darker grape will tend to be bitter, which makes red wines, on average, drier in comparison.
Sweet White Wine List:
- Ice Wine
- Sauternes
- Moscato
- Riesling
However, there are wines which are between the Riesling and a dry wine, like Pinot Grigio, which could be considered to be a sweet wine. These wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. More times than not, our minds are conditioned to see the name of the wine, and immediately classify it as a dry wine. When this happens, all of our senses are focused more upon finding the qualities which makes these wines a dry wine, rather than looking for any scent of a sweet wine.
This is truly enhanced because of our nose. Any time someone tries out a new wine, they invariably swish the wine around the glass a couple of times. Once they do this, then they bring the glass up so their nose can smell the wine. This first sense is what gives us our first impression of what the wine is, and our mind tends to automatically associate a particular wine with that smell. It is very hard for our mind to streamline itself and to pick out the various different flavors and ingredients within a particular glass of wine.
This is mostly because we don’t like our taste buds to be surprised. We want our body to be prepared for what we are about ready to eat and drink, and this is especially true with wine. Most people have drunk enough wine to know what they like, and what they dislike, and do not like to go outside of their box very often. This is an unfortunate mistake people make, because there is a wide breadth of wines available are excellent, whether you have a tongue which prefers sweet or dry wines.
Even though red wines are considered drier, this same principle applies to all red wines. When people see red wines, they tend to automatically think it will be drier than what it may actually be, especially if they sense even a hint of acidity within the wine. However, there are many sweet red wines.
Sweet Red Wine List:
- Ice Wine
- Port
- Zinfandel
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Malbec
There are some very dry red wines, which include Bordeaux and Chianti, but there are some wines which are in between these two extremes. These varieties of wines include Burgundy, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, to name a few.
In conclusion, there are many wines which can be made dry, but those same types of wines can also be sweeter than you were expecting. When you want to enjoy a sweet wine, you do not need to limit yourself to a White Ice Wine; there are plenty of great red and white wine options to choose from. You just need to train your senses to look deeper, and not go by just the first impression they have.
Is Chardonnay Sweeter Than Pinot Grigio
In the world of white wines, there are two grapes that reign supreme: chardonnay and pinot grigio. But which one is better? Which one is sweeter? Let’s find out.
Chardonnay vs. Pinot Grigio: The Taste Test
When it comes to taste, chardonnay and pinot grigio are two very different wines. Chardonnay is a full-bodied wine with a rich, creamy texture and notes of oak, while pinot grigio is a light-bodied wine with a crisp, refreshing taste and hint of citrus. As for sweetness, chardonnay can range from being quite sweet to being completely dry, while pinot grigio is usually on the drier side.
So, which one is better? That’s a matter of personal preference. If you’re looking for a rich, decadent wine, then chardonnay is the way to go. But if you’re in the mood for something light and refreshing, then pinot grigio is your best bet.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which white wine you prefer. Do you like your wines full-bodied and rich? Or do you prefer them light and refreshing? If you can’t decide, why not try both and see for yourself? Cheers!
