How can you tell the wines apart? Like is there certain names...?

Question

How can you tell wines apart? Is there certain names for a dry wine? Whats the name for a sweet wine? When I go to the store to buy some wine, how can I tell what I am buying? I am new to this.

Thanks for your time.

My real question is I would like a sweet wine... not no bone farms.. a real nice sweet wine...

Answer 1

yes there is quite a few different wines. you have Cabernet, chardonnay, pino grigio, shiraz just to name a few...

Answer 2

Here's a quick primer for US wine

The grape is the "type" of wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Reisling, etc.

The Winery is the place that produces the wine. Beringer, Veuve Cliquot, Kendall Jackson, Hess, Silver Oak, etc.

The Vineyard is where the majority of the grapes came from - the actual plot of land. Raymond Merlot "Rutherford", Archery Summit "Arcus Estate" Pinot Noir, Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley St. Helena Home Vineyard

Some also designate by area. Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Steinhauer Ranch

There are also other designations like Cuvee (blend), Reserve (more select grapes), Private Reserve, Limited Release, Special Edition, etc.

As far as the sweet vs. dry, this can really be trial and error. While one Pinot Gris may be quite sweet, another one can be not sweet at all.

Red typically aren't sweet. They can be fruit forward and you can avoid tannins and dryness, they aren't "sweet", unless you are talking ports. Cabs and Bordeaux(s) can be VERY dry, but they can also have a fruit undertone.

You can generally expect cheaper Reislings and Gewurztraminer to be sweet. You can generally expect Sauvignon Blanc to be Dry. A good red to start with would be either a blend or a Merlot. These tend to be better sipping wine and wines for beginners. They aren't overly complex and aren't overly dry or earthy. Just good drinking to get warmed up to the idea.

Some of my favourite low cost sipping casual wines are

Six Prong Red Wine
House Red
Cycles Gladiator Syrah
Maryhill Viognier (slightly sweet)
Amberhill Cabernet
Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc (2006)
Reuscher Haart Reisling (slightly sweet)
Maryhill Reserve Chardonnay

All these are $15 and under

Too sweet for me, but people who like "sweet" enjoy:

Fetzer Gewurztraminer
Maryhill Muscat
Maryhill Gewurz
Allegro Muscato
Various Dessert Wines
Grove Mill Pinot Gris



And then, attend lots of tastings. For you, it would be a great way to learn a little more about wines. Write down what you like and don't like and why. Once you get a pretty good list going, come back and talk with the wine shop workers and have them help you pick something out.

Have Fun! : )

Answer 3

The name (not brand name or winery name) is the grape that was used to make the wine. Reds tend to be more dry than whites, but there are exceptions. You have to experiment or read a review of a certain wine. For a good sweet wine, try a reisling or a chardonnay, but spend about 10 dollars on it.

Answer 4

You can tell wines apart by their varietal:designating a wine made entirely or chiefly from one variety of grape. While the name only describes the grape, learning the names will help you. If you like sweet wines, look for White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer or RIiesling. You may also enjoy Martini & Rossi Asti, a sparkling wine. Here are some websites that are very helpful:

Answer 5

There are many brand names of wines. These are the vineyards or where the wine is made. The types of wine depend on the type of grape or other fruit that is used to make it. White wines tend to be dryer and red wines tend to be sweeter. White wines go best with white meats, like chicken and pork, also with cheese and crackers. Red wines go well with red meat, tend to be sweeter and fruitier. start out cheap, like under $10 and sample the tastes. if there is a wine specialty shop or vineyard close by, go for a tasting and sample the wines that they have available. A good rule of thumb when starting out with wine is to avoid any bottle that costs more than $25. You don't want to be spending a lot before you are aware of what you are buying.

Answer 6

There are brand names, and within each brand, different types of wine, usually named for the grapes that go into making them.