Want to strengthen your understanding of wine? In order to do so, you must know these five fundamental wine properties. These are found in every single bottle or glass of wine. Some you may already be pretty familiar with and some may be new to you.
In a nutshell
There are 5 primary traits in every wine. Each has its own identity. Yet, they all work together to create symmetry in the wine. Once you understand the behaviour of every trait, you can better understand the difference between wines. This will make ordering or picking up wine a whole lot simpler.
The 5 key wine characteristics are: sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol, and body. With a better understanding of each, you can start drinking a little smarter and enjoying your wine choices a whole lot better.
Sweetness
You probably have commented on how sweet a wine is at least once in your life! All wine has at least a bit of residual sugar. Bone dry wines have less than 3 grams of sugar per litre of wine, which is essentially none at all. Wine bottles do not generally list the residual sugar levels on the label. Therefore, you have to rely on your own tasting skills but it is very difficult to accurately assess a wine’s sweetness.
Sugar causes a tingly feeling on your tastebuds. Think of when you drink soda - it is not only the carbonation that makes your mouth tingle.
There are also a lot of false judgments about wine sweetness. For example, many people incorrectly think a rosé must be sweet if its colour is a deep pink and yet colour is rarely an indication of sweetness.
How to recognise different sweetness levels
- When observing the wine, it appears thick and creates ‘legs’ that stick to the glass.
- When tasting a wine, you experience a strong tingly feeling on the tip of your tongue.
- When drinking a wine, the texture is thick and full bodied.
Acidity
Acidity is an exciting structural part of wine because it is the trait that really stimulates your mouth. Think about when you eat candy - the sourness makes your mouth ‘pucker.’ The same goes for wine. When you drink a wine with bright acidity, your mouth will feel activated. One of the biggest signs of higher acidity is increased salivation. Acidity can only be detected by tasting the wine, not by simply smelling it.
Acidity is important in a wine because it gives it structure, especially in white wines. Dry and high acid white wines typically have a light body, making them very refreshing. Bolder and rounder whites tend to have less acidity. This is due to a little more sweetness in the wine. Sugar diminishes acidity and provides a more round mouth feel.
How to recognise levels of acidity
- After one sip, your mouth seems to pucker up. This can vary in intensity.
- Your mouth feels more salivated, as if you have bitten into a crispy granny smith apple.
Tannin
All wines have tannins. These result from the phenolic compounds found mostly in grape skins, seeds, and stems which is why red wines tend to have more tannin than white wines. When making a red wine, the skins, seeds, and/or stems rest with the juice to give the wine colour. This is called maceration. White wines are generally made solely from the juice without maceration.
Tannin is unmistakable - it causes a bitter mouth-drying sensation. It is important to note that this drying sensation does not equal wine dryness (aka a lack of sugar in a wine.)
While every wine has at least a bit of tannin, some grapes naturally have an intense amount of tannins. Wines with more tannin are often more age-worthy. Barolo is a classic example. This wine is made with the super tannic Nebbiolo grape and can be aged for decades.
Some white wines do experience maceration or ‘skin contact.’ But, the tannins are generally much more mild. Tannin can also come from barrel aging too as the wood imparts tannin.
How to recognise levels of tannin
- The sides of your mouth feel increasingly dry.
- Your tongue experiences dryness.
- The wine has a slightly bitter aftertaste
Alcohol
Wine cannot be wine without alcohol! The amount of alcohol in a wine varies. Typically, a wine has anywhere from 5.5% ABV to 16% ABV. Wines that are more than 17 percent alcohol are often fortified or dessert wines.
No matter the beverage, alcohol causes a warm sensation in the back of our throats. The intensity will vary based on how much alcohol by volume (ABV) there is in your wine.
Recognising exactly how much alcohol a wine has is a task for experts. But, we do have some indicators that let us know roughly how alcoholic a wine is. These do depend on the person. Some experience alcohol as spicy, bitter, or even oily.
How to recognise different alcohol levels
- Your usual bottle of wine (excluding dessert wines) will range from 11 to 14.5 percent ABV
- When sniffing your wine, look up with your eyes. If they burn or tingle, this can indicate a higher alcohol wine.
- Higher alcohol wines usually are more bold and full bodied
- Lower alcohol wines usually have lighter bodies
Body
Body is influenced by the previous 4 wine characteristics. But, what does it even mean?
Body is the overall mouthfeel of the wine. Body is classified into three categories: light, medium, and full-bodied. Each can be assessed by how the wine feels when you drink it.
When trying out food and wine pairings, knowing a wine’s body is essential. Usually, light-bodied wines do best with lighter dishes, like vegetables and white fish. On the other hand, fuller bodied wines often require bolder dishes. A classic example is Barolo and steak.
How to recognise different body levels
How does the wine feel in your mouth? If it is light and fresh, it is on the light-bodied side. If it feels ‘heavier,’ it is on the fuller-bodied side.
FAQs
How do you describe a good wine?
A good wine has balance among all its 5 characteristics. There is not a single trait that stands out awkwardly. For example, you can have tannins, but they are not overwhelmingly astringent. Having this symmetry makes a wine incredibly delicious and easy to drink.
What is a rich wine?
A rich wine is bold in flavor and full-bodied. Most rich wines have a smooth and round texture. This is typically a result of its residual sugar and alcohol content.
What is a smooth wine?
A wine that is smooth has soft tannins. There isn’t any overwhelming astringency or acidity. The mouth feel is almost velvety and well-rounded. This can be found in many red wines, as they undergo malolactic fermentation. This changes malic acid into creamy lactic acid, giving a wine a smooth mouthfeel.
