There are 3 main types of wine; still, sparkling and fortified. Still Wine – Most people think of still wine when they think of wine. This includes red wine, white wine and rosé. Sparkling Wine – Sparkling wines still have carbon dioxide that is trapped during fermentation and makes the wine fizzy or bubbly. Campagne is a good example of this. Fortified Wine – These wines are made by adding extra alcohol into the wine during the winemaking process. Fortified wines have an average ABV range from 15% to 22% ABV. Taking it a step further, there are hundreds of different styles & varieties of wine. The sheer amount of wine can be very overwhelming sometimes, especially for beginning wine enthusiasts. The amount of choices will often lead us to choose the same bottles and types of wine over and over, because you don’t want to purchase a bottle that you end up not liking. So it’s “safer” to stick with what you know.
For beginners, we typically recommend finding something that you enjoy and exploring other types of wine that are similar to what you like. So if you enjoy a cabernet sauvignon from the Sonoma Valley region, then try to find other cabs from that same region. Once you get a feel for that specific region, then you can try cabernets from other areas like Paso Robles, Napa Valley, Washington, Australia, France, Italy or South America. Another way to explore different wines is to look for similar tasting notes. If you typically like a dry wine with notes of dark berries, try to find wines with those same attributes. If you like white wines with a floral nose, then look for other white wines that fit that description. We do not recommend just getting a bunch of random different wines and trying them all at once. Because tastes do change over time, and you may not like something initially but end up liking it down the road. And trying random different bottles can also be overwhelming on your palate to really hone in on what you like. Some people do this and it works for them though. So these aren’t hard and fast rules. This is just what seems to work well for most people.

Types Of Wine Grapes

The complete list of every type of grape used to make wine around the world!

Wine Denominations & Classifications

It can be argued that wine denominations date back to ancient Greece, and at several points in history people have defined regions from where quality characteristic wines come. In France and Italy, the denominations or appellations go beyond geographical boundaries and can stipulate grape varieties as well as other vine growing and winemaking practices.

Bordeaux Classifications

Burgundy Grand Crus Regions

French Wine AOCs

Italian Wine DOCs

Italian Wine DOCGs

 
Primitivo vs Zinfandel
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Similarities of Primitivo & Zinfandel Primitivo and Zinfandel are two names for the same grape, grown in Italy and the USA respectively. These two wines’ characteristics vary according to climate and producer, but for the most part, they are very … Read More

Grenache vs Garnacha
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Grenache is not a wine that is well-known, as it is often overshadowed by the far more popular reds, like Pinot Noir and Merlot. However, Grenache is an important wine that is superb on its own, but also a key … Read More

Syrah vs Petite Sirah
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Syrah and Petite Sirah. The similarity in the names could lead you to believe that these are the same type of wine, but you may be surprised to learn that these are two entirely different wines.  Similarities of Syrah & … Read More

New World vs Old World Wines
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As you start learning more about wine, you may hear people reference ‘new world’ and ‘old world’ wines, but what do those terms really mean? While one is not better than the other, there are some distinct differences between the … Read More

Left Bank vs Right Bank Bordeaux
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Bordeaux is quite possibly the most well-known wine region in the world. At almost 120,000 hectares, it is also the largest. The region was first cultivated by the Ancient Romans in the 1600’s and today there are 7,500 wine-makers in … Read More

Grenache & Garnacha Food Pairing
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Grenache and Garnacha are the French and Spanish names for a red grape varietal, which in this article, we will simply call Grenache. It has become a staple of the Rhone, but is believed to have originated in northern Spain, … Read More

Petit Verdot Food Pairing
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Petit Verdot is one of the grapes used in classic Bordeaux red blends. Oddly, it often fails to ripen fully in its home region, which has led to it falling out of popularity and the name, which means “Little green”. … Read More

Petite Sirah vs Cabernet Sauvignon
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Similarities of Petite Sirah & Cabernet Sauvignon Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon are both full-bodied wines made from robust grapes. They both originate in France but have become even more popular in California. In other words, they are well worth … Read More

Tempranillo vs Cabernet Sauvignon
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Similarities of Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon are red grape varietals, originating from Spain and France respectively. They form the basis for some of the best red wines in the world, including Rioja wines from the north … Read More

Tannat vs Malbec
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Similarities of Tannat & Malbec Tannat and Malbec are both red grape varietals that remain relatively underappreciated in their home countries of France while enjoying great success in the more extreme climates of South America.  Both of these wines are … Read More

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