Wine School: The 9 Wine Categories

Learn to distinguish between the different types of wine

Have you ever sat in a restaurant, looking for a specific type of wine, but not knowing what to ask for? It can quickly turn into a long affair where you flip back and forth through the wine menu until you more or less randomly choose a name you think you know.

Choosing the right wine is not as complicated a task as you might think. All you need to do is know the basics of the many different types of wine available.

This guide is for those of you who want to learn a little more; a completely basic guide without raised index fingers, to the types of wine you encounter every time you shop or eat out. It may not be aimed so much at the wine nerd who can taste whether the red wine comes from the right or left bank of the Rhône river, but hey, we all have to start somewhere...

When we talk about wine in general, there are typically two parameters we start from; grape type (e.g. Merlot or Chardonnay) or region (e.g. Alsace or Rioja). This is the most correct way, but not necessarily the best, especially if you don't know the differences between the different types of grapes and regions. Therefore, this guide is based on the fact that there are roughly 9 types of wine that bring together all red, white and sparkling wines.

The 9 wine categories

In the middle of the scale between light and bold, there are medium-bodied red wines that are often some of the best with food. Classic examples of these are Sangiovese and Merlot. There is often a great deal of variation in these wines, due to the differences in regions and wine production. For example, a Californian Merlot from Napa Valley can exhibit lots of tannins and dark blackberries, while a Northern Italian Merlot is almost the diametric opposite with soft tannins and a mild cherry flavor.

Light Red Wines
Finely perfumed and very subtle in taste, light red wines are perfect for those who do not want the wine to be the dominant feature of the evening. This type of wine is very popular with both connoisseurs and beginners in the mysterious world of wine. Light red wines are known for having lighter tannins, clearer acidity and a slightly lower alcohol percentage. They are typically served in large wine glasses (the so-called Burgundy glass), which gives the wine a large surface area that helps to release the aromas.

Examples of grapes in light red wines

Rose

Rosé wines are the literal cross between white and red wine, but rosés are typically similar in style to white wines. They are most often served chilled, and most are dry. Rosé is very popular near the Mediterranean, in the south of France, the islands in the Mediterranean, the east coast of Spain, and in Italy. Typically, rosé gets its color from allowing the red grape skins to sit briefly with the wine during fermentation.

Full-bodied White Wines
Full-bodied white wines are often mistaken for red wines when served in black glasses at blind tastings. This is because full-bodied white wines are typically treated in the same way as red wines during production to achieve the rich flavor. This usually means that the wines are aged in oak barrels, which adds the classic vanilla or coconut notes, as well as a process called "Malolactic fermentation", which changes the acidity in the wine to make the wine taste creamier. Many full-bodied white wines can be aged for up to 10 years, but most are at their peak after 3-4 years.

Spiced white wines
This white wine almost sparks in your mouth, in style almost like a refreshing lager beer. They are best enjoyed young, within a year or two of the harvest, where you get the most out of the fresh fruity taste and delicious acidity. This type of white wine usually offers great value for money, without breaking the bank.

Sweet white wines
Perfumed aromas rise from your glass, and after sipping one of these wines, you will discover a touch of sweetness. Despite their almost humble reputation, sweet white wines are often popular with wine aficionados, especially because of the classic German Riesling from the Mosel. There are many pitfalls at the cheaper end of the sweet white wines, and you should expect to pay around 80 kr and up for a high-quality Riesling.

Dessert & fortified wine

To preserve the natural sweetness of wine with added alcohol, fermentation is stopped before the yeast has absorbed all the sugar. Doing this often results in a wine with a lower alcohol content, but since liqueur wines are allowed to add spirits (in the form of a neutral-tasting grape brandy), the alcohol content in liqueur wines is usually around 17-20%. Due to their high alcohol and sugar content, dessert wines are concentrated powerhouses that are best enjoyed in small quantities. Dessert wines are a broad group that includes much more than just sherry and port.

Champagne and sparkling wine
Basically, all wines with bubbles are what we call sparkling wines. However, only wines produced in the area of ​​the same name can be called Champagne.
The secret to Champagne's bubbles comes from a special mixture of sugar and wine called "liqueur d'expedition", which is added to the wine during the fermentation process, and then develops the bubbles. Sparkling wines have bubbles and high acidity and range from white, rosé to red in color. Sparkling wines are traditionally a party drink, but actually go well with a wide range of dishes.