“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.” – Ernest Hemingway

Do you enjoy wine? Are you a wine aficionado? Wine connoisseurs are quite knowledgeable about wines and all that they entail. If asked a question about a particular wine, they can probably give you an answer easily and with lots of details. 

But what if you’re a beginner? What should you know? Can you still enjoy and appreciate wine? The answer is yes! And here are some of the basics when it comes to wine!

Five Main Types of Wine

If you’ve ever visited your local liquor store or wine shop, you’ve probably seen rows and rows of wine. In fact, some people may find it overwhelming with the number of bottles they see in front of them. But don’t! With some basic knowledge – and the help of a well-versed clerk – you can find a wine you love.

There are five main types of wine:

• Red Wine – All red wines are made with black grapes (of which there are tons of different varieties), and you will find that the flavors of red wine can range from light and fruity to bold and herbaceous.
• White Wine – White wines are made from predominantly white grapes (although black grapes are used occasionally), and the flavors vary from light and crisp to rich and buttery.
• Rosé Wine – Rosé wine has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Rosés are made from black grapes, but the skin is removed, so the wine does not take on a deep red color. It can also be made by combining red and white wine together. You’ll find both dry and sweet varieties.
• Sparkling Wine – To get the bubbles in sparkling wine, the wine undergoes a second fermentation process. You will find red, white, and rosé sparkling wines – and they’ll range from dry to sweet.
• Dessert Wine – Most dessert wines are sweet in nature, but you will find some fortified wines (wines which are fortified with spirits) that are dry, such as Sherry.

Before digging deeper into the different types of wines within each of these five main types, if you’re looking to sample some good wines in each category as you work to find what you like, here’s some help:

Best Red Wines of 2020

• Liquor.com shares their 14 favorite red wines of 2020
• Town & Country Magazine shares 19 red wines to try
• Prevention Magazine shares 10 red wines to try this year

Best White Wines of 2020

• Delish.com shares 16 bottles of white wine to try
• The Chicago Tribune shares their favorite white wines to pick up
• The New York Times shares 10 great bottles of white wine from Italy that cost under $25

Best Rosé Wines of 2020

• Vinepair.com shares 25 great rosés
• Forbes shares 12 of the best rosé wines to try
• The Reverse Wine Snob shares their picks for the best rosés of 2020 

Best Sparkling Wines of 2020

• Delish.com shares sparkling wines that they think you’ll love
• The Drinks Business shares a great list of fantastic sparkling wines
• Town & Country Magazine shares a list of fabulous sparkling wines

Best Dessert Wines of 2020

• Cosmopolitan Magazine shares 10 dessert wines to add to your bar cart
• Taste Atlas shares a list of favorite dessert wines from around the world
• Liquor.com shares their favorite sweet wines of 2020

So, what do you think? Which one of the five main types of wine do you like? Which one do you want to try or, perhaps, give a second chance to? 

And don’t miss “The Beginner’s Guide to Wine – Part 2,” where you’ll take a more in-depth look at each of the five types of wine and some of the more popular styles you’ll find.