Different factors in grape growing produce different flavors of wine.
Wine is not only categorized as red, white, rose or sparkling; within these categories there are also and bodies. There are several types of red wine ranging from sweet to dry, light-bodied to full-bodied. Knowing the differences within the red wine grouping can help when pairing wine with a meal.
Grapes
Grapes determine what wine is produced. Wines are named for grapes when not named for regions. Each variety of grape has a different tannin level, and there are over 5000 varieties. Auxerrois, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are some of the most common red varieties.
Region
Certain regions produce certain wines. For example, there are the Bardolino, Barolo and Chianti regions in Italy which all produce very regionally specific wines, and there are the Bordeaux, Burgundy and Châteauneuf-du-Pape regions in France. Wines will often be named for the region and will have a certain taste that relates to that area, which will run similarly through wines with the same name. There are also "old world" regions in Europe, and "new world" regions elsewhere in the world, such as Australia, Canada, Chile and the U.S.
Climate
Different climates are suited to growing different grapes, which in turn provide a variety of wines. A hotter climate produces a more full-bodied wine, such as a Zinfandel, while a colder climate produces a light-bodied, delicate wine, such as a Frontenac.
Tannins
Tannins play a part in how rich the wine will be. Light-bodied red wines have less tannins, such as a Beaujolais Nouveau, while full-bodied ones, such as a Bordeaux, have quite a bit. Medium-bodied wines, such as a Chianti or Merlot, fall in the middle of the two.
Tags: climate produces, , wine such, world regions