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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:3
 | | 05/18/2006 3:42 PM |
| | Is there a general consensus that certain type/kind of wine is more sweet and certain type/kind of wine is more dry? I asking for both RED and WHITE. I understand some grapes can produce both sweet and dry style of wine but is that a broad grouping? Thanks. | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9146
| | 05/18/2006 5:41 PM |
| Biz, welcome to VC.
I'm not sure I understand the question, perhaps you can expand a bit? I suppose the short answer to your question the way it is written is, yes - there is consensus that some wines are sweet and some are dry. For example, Port, Sauternes, SGN from Alsace, Quarts de Chaume, and others are always considered sweet, while typically Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, etc., are typically considered dry. However, the lines do get blurred - for example, Sauternes is made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, both of which can easily be found as dry wines as well. | | | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 05/18/2006 9:30 PM |
| Any varietal can be made in a sweet or dry style; it's simply a matter of when the fermentation stops or is stopped. For example red grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are almost always used to produce dry wines, but I've seen Late Harvest, fortified and icewine versions.
To complicate matters, wines that are made in a "fruity" style can appear sweetish despite having little or no residual sugar.
A clearer phrasing of the question would help us provide a better answer. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
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| ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:3
| | 05/20/2006 8:53 AM |
| Hi, thanks for your reply. Let me see if I can rephase my questions.
Sometimes when we buy say white wine, they will ask if I prefer "sweet" or "dry", so what type of white wine are known to be "sweet" and what type of white wine are known to be "dry"?
Thanks. | | | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/02/2006 8:12 PM |
| Quote:
Sometimes when we buy say white wine, they will ask if I prefer "sweet" or "dry", so what type of white wine are known to be "sweet" and what type of white wine are known to be "dry"?
So you walk into a wine shop or are sitting in a restaurant and someone tries to help.
The first thing they want to know is what sort of wine you like - red or white, sweet or dry.
If you say dry white they are probably going to steer you towards the Sauvignon Blanc (eg Sancerre), Chardonnay (eg Chablis), dry Riesling (eg Kabinett) or - god forbid - Pinot Grigio (feline urine).
If you say sweet white they'll steer you towards things like "off-dry" Riesling (eg Spatlese, Auslese) and Gewurztraminer.
They won't start offering you really sweet stuff like Sauternes or Late Harvest or Eiswein unless you specifically ask for that sort of style or you're looking at the dessert menu. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
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| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15713
| | 06/02/2006 10:28 PM |
| Quote:
god forbid - Pinot Grigio (feline urine).
 What's wrong with a Pinot Grigio? One of my favorite wines is a Pinot Grigio (Gris) from California.
And the stuff has a great heritage. It's siblings include Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. | | | |
| Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1334
| | 06/05/2006 3:10 AM |
| Quote:
Quote:
god forbid - Pinot Grigio (feline urine).
What's wrong with a Pinot Grigio? One of my favorite wines is a Pinot Grigio (Gris) from California.
That's the point; just like you don't expect a Syrah to taste like a Shiraz.
If it says Pinot Gris then it may well be good, or it may not.
But if it says Pinot Grigio on the label, that's to warn you - it sucks. | |
http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
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