Understanding wine styles
Understanding wine styles
and an alternative to Chardonnay
Understanding wine styles is a key to buying the wines you enjoy. An example of style is a full-bodied white wine. It is the heaviest or richest of white wines.
Body? Heaviest? Huh?
A wine’s body describes the weight of the wine in your mouth. A good comparison is how low-fat milk is lighter than cream. An example of a full body white wine is a Chardonnay which is often made into a full body wine (except when it is not). 😊 Its weight in the mouth leans more towards the cream side. I am not talking about the taste of the fat but rather the density of the liquid.
Source: Vivino
An example of a full body white is this Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vines Chenin Blanc from South Africa. This Chenin Blanc was mistaken for a Premier Cru Burgundy Chardonnay in a U.K. blind tasting. I love the aromas of honeysuckle, nectarine, mango & mineral notes. 🍑The long-lasting ripe fruit flavors will give some of you the perception that this wine is sweet. It is slightly off-dry, however.
I tasted the 2019 and 2021 vintages at a cost of about $25. Both delicious with or without food! The 2021 vintage is available in Alberta, here and Quebec, here. Vernon, B.C. had the 2019 this past winter but I cannot find it online any longer. Cheers!
