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Wine, simply

A short guide to wine

For anyone who enjoys wine, or would like to. Each part takes a minute to read.

One

What gives a wine its taste

Four things shape every wine: the grape, the place it grows, the weather of that year, and the choices of the winemaker. Two wines made from the same grape can taste quite different because of the other three.

  • The grape
  • The place
  • The weather
  • The winemaker

Two

Four words for any wine

With these four words you can describe almost any wine. Tap each one.

Acidity

The freshness that makes your mouth water, much like a squeeze of lime. Acidity keeps a wine lively and helps it sit well with food.

Body

How full the wine feels in your mouth. A light-bodied wine feels delicate and quick. A full-bodied wine feels richer and stays longer.

Tannin

A gentle drying feeling on your gums, the same one you notice with strong black tea. It comes mostly from grape skins, so you find it mainly in red wine.

Sweetness

How much natural sugar you can taste. Most wines served with a meal are dry, which means very little sugar remains.

Three

How to taste

  1. Look

    Tilt the glass against something white. Notice the colour and how clear it is.

  2. Swirl

    Move the glass gently in small circles. This lets air in and lifts the aromas.

  3. Smell

    Take a short, calm breath over the glass. Most of what we call taste begins here.

  4. Sip

    Take a small sip and let it rest for a moment. Notice the four words, and how long the flavour stays.

Four

Reading a label

European labels often lead with the place, and the grape comes second. Once you know where to look, every label tells you the same few things.

  1. Producer. The family or estate that made the wine.
  2. Wine name. Many producers give each wine its own name.
  3. Region. Where the grapes grew. In Portugal, the words DOC or Denominação de Origem mean a protected region with its own rules.
  4. Grape. Sometimes shown, sometimes left out when the region already implies it.
  5. Vintage. The year the grapes were picked.
  6. Alcohol and size. Alcohol as a percentage of volume, and the bottle size.
PRODUCER NAME Wine Name Vinho Verde DENOMINAÇÃO DE ORIGEM Alvarinho 2024 12.5% vol · 750 ml 1 2 3 4 5 6
An example label, for illustration only.

Five

Vinho Verde in one minute

Vinho Verde is a wine region in the north of Portugal, close to the Atlantic. "Verde" means green. It refers to wine made to drink young and fresh. The best-known grape there is Alvarinho.

Six

Serving wine in a warm climate

Temperature changes how a wine tastes. Too warm, and it feels heavy and alcoholic. Too cold, and its aromas stay closed. The old advice to serve red wine at room temperature comes from cooler European rooms.

  • Sparkling, white and rosé

    Well chilled, around 6 to 10°C.

  • Light reds

    Slightly cool, around 12 to 14°C.

  • Fuller reds

    Around 15 to 18°C. In a warm room, 20 minutes in the fridge before opening helps.

Seven

Wine and spice

Chilli heat and alcohol make each other stronger. With spicy food, choose wines with fresh acidity and moderate alcohol. A touch of fruit or sweetness also softens the heat.

Strong tannins can taste bitter next to chilli, so lighter reds usually work better than heavy ones.

Try the pairing explorer

Eight

Small words, explained

Dry
Little or no sugar left in the wine.
Vintage
The year the grapes were picked.
Terroir
Everything about a place that shapes its wine: soil, climate, slope and tradition.
Blend
A wine made from more than one grape.
Varietal
A wine named after its main grape.
Appellation
A protected wine region with its own rules, such as Vinho Verde.