A Rarely Told Story About How Wines Are Classified

In Tasting Room Magazine, the story of wine classification is told with great detail wine tasting hong kongfor a newbie. This article illustrates how rare and diverse the classification process can be.

What Does the Classification System Mean?

So, what does the classification system mean for wine? Basically, each wine is assigned a three-digit code that indicates its style and quality. The first two digits indicate the grape variety and the third digit indicates the vintage or year of production. For example, a wine that is labeled as "Chardonnay" would be made with chardonnay grapes from a particular vintage, while a wine labeled as "Cabernet Sauvignon" would be made with cabernet sauvignon grapes from a particular vintage or region.

How are Wines Classified?

There are several ways to classify wines, but the three most common methods are by grape type, wine region, and wine style.

Grape type: Wines can be classified according to the type of grape from which they are made. For example, a wine made from a Cabernet Sauvignon grape would be classified as a Cabernet Sauvignon wine.

Wine region: Wines can also be classified according to the region where they were made. For example, a wine from Bordeaux, France would be classified as a Bordeaux wine.

Wine style: Finally, wines can also be classified according to their style or taste. For example, a sweet wine would be classified as a dessert wine, while a dry wine would be classified as a sparkling wine.

Grape Varieties

There are many grape varieties that are used to produce wines. Some of these grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Grape variety is important because it affects the taste of the wine.

Types of Wines

There are a few different types of wines that are generally classified by where they were made. Red wines are typically from the wine-producing regions of France, Italy, California, and New Zealand. White wines come from locations such as Germany, Austria, California, and Australia. Rosé wines are made from a blend of red and white grapes, and have a pink or light-colored color. Sparkling wines are typically made with added alcohol and carbonation. Fortified wines are made with additional alcohol and sugar to increase their flavor profile.

Tasting and Evaluating Wine

When you purchase a bottle of wine, the label will list the grape variety, country of origin, and winemaking method (press or ferment). After buying a bottle of wine, it's important to taste and evaluate it to decide if you like it. The following is a guide on how to taste and evaluate wine.

To taste wine, first pour yourself a small glass. Remember, different wines will have different flavors, aromas, and colors. If you don't like the way the wine smells or looks when poured, chances are you won't like how it tastes either! Once you have poured yourself a glass of wine, take a sip. Try not to swallow the wine all at once; allow it to slowly roll around in your mouth for about 30 seconds. Once 30 seconds have passed, take another sip and decide how much more you want to drink. If you don't like the taste of the wine after two sips, then stop drinking it! Wine can be sampled in many different ways- alone at room temperature or chilled; with food or without food; with friends or by yourself. As long as you enjoy trying new wines and learning about them, sampling is always fun!