I will admit that I'm rather picky. I will only eat certain kinds of food, rarely ingesting dishes labeled with words I can't pronounce or made up of animals I think are cute. And I will only date certain types of men, limiting myself to those who are good looking, charming, successful, or, at the very least, breathing.
But my pickiness doesn't stop there. Transcending many categories, I tend to be picky when it comes to everything from what kind of clothes I wear to what kind of soap I use. However, oddly enough, when it comes to wine, my pickiness subsides—I've never met a type of wine I didn't like or wouldn't drink.
Despite my willingness to form a loving relationship with any type of wine that seeps into my life, you may not be as much as a booze flooze as myself; some of you may prefer certain types over others. Because of this, it's important to understand the different types of wine that exist—the more aware you are of all the varieties, the more likely you will find a wine you really like.
However, I can't discuss all the types of wine, listing each vintage and flavor and mentioning every grape under the sun. Doing so would take forever and by the time I finished, I myself would start to ferment. But, I can provide an overview to help you, the loyal drinker, find something to quench your thirst, a type of wine you'll want to invite over to fill your glass at dinner.
Apéritif: Known as appetizer wines, these are the chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks of the wine world. They are flavored wines typically meant to stimulate the appetite before eating a large meal. They can include sherry and Madeira.
Barley Wine: Though called by the name "wine," barley wine isn't really wine at all, masquerading as such because of a high alcohol content that reaches up to 12 percent by volume. Made from grain instead of fruit, barley wine is simply strong beer, like an ale that regularly works out. While it originated in England, barley wine is available world wide. However, when sold in the US, barley wines are required to be sold with the label, "barley wine-style ales," thus avoiding confusion for the wine-seeking consumer.
Cooking Wines: Wine of extremely poor quality is usually labeled "cooking wine," as if being poured into a pan is one step up from being poured down the drain. Typically containing a large amount of salt, cooking wine isn't made to be consumed by itself. Instead, it is meant to be used as a way to enhance a dish, bringing out certain flavors and seasonings.
Country Wine: It may seem like country wines are wines in possession of a laid back lifestyle and a southern drawl. But, in actuality, they are simply wines that are made from a fruit other than a grape and supplemented with sugar and honey. However, because the word "wine" legally insinuates a drink made from grapes, country wines are often fruit-specific in their definitions. They include types such as plum wine and apple wine.
Dessert Wines: Known for being served beside a piece of carrot cake or a slice of apple pie, dessert wines are wines that range between medium sweet to extremely sweet on the spectrum of sugar. They typically include wines such as port wine, Tokay, and sweets herry. Aside from baked goods and fruity creations, dessert wines also go very well with many types of cheese.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Jennifer, I bet you enjoyed Sideways with a glass or two of wine. And why not? Benjamin Franklin said, "Beer is proof that God loves us." I am sure wine also has roots in divine inspiration. So, I say lift a glass (or more appropriately goblet) of the Nectar of the Gods and say "Cheers!"
2 - Lisa McKay
What you should have said about cooking wine is that it's best left on the supermarket shelf. If it isn't good enough to drink, it isn't good enough to put in your food.