What types of wine are there? What colours (red, white, rosé), full-bodied, sparkling, etc.?

When you think of wine, most people probably imagine a red or white drink served in a glass .
It is true that most wines are broadly categorized as red wine or white wine, so that image is not far off. However, there are many types of wine, and they can be further classified .
In this article, we will explain the different types of wine . We hope you will use this article as a reference for your future wine choices.

There are four main types of wine

Wine can be broadly divided into four types:

1. Still Wine
2. Sparkling wine
3. Fortified Wine
4. Flavored Wine

I will explain each one.

1. Still wine

Still wine is a general term for non-sparkling wine . The word "still" means "quiet," meaning that the wine does not make any popping noises.
The term still wine may sound complicated, but it basically refers to any non-sparkling wine, and most wines available in wine shops would fall into this category.
In the first place, still wine is a non-sparkling wine, so in a sense fortified wine and flavored wine, which will be described later, could also be counted as such.
And because there are different colors such as red, white, rosé, and orange , the number of wines is actually huge . We will discuss the different colors of wine later.

2. Sparkling wine

Sparkling wine is a type of wine that is effervescent . Since sparkling means bubbles , it is easy to understand if you think of it as wine with carbonation.
There are many sparkling wines in the world, including champagne, and there are several different types of sparkling wine based on their production methods.

• Secondary fermentation in bottle
• Sharma method
• Carbon dioxide injection method
• Rural method, etc.

Sparkling wines made using a secondary fermentation method in the bottle are called different names depending on the region they are made in. There are many different types of wines made using the same method, such as Champagne in the Champagne region of France, Cava in Spain, and Franciacorta in parts of northern Italy.
High-end sparkling wine, which requires the most effort, is made using a secondary fermentation method in the bottle , but other sparkling wines also have their own merits, so rather than ranking them in terms of superiority or inferiority, we recommend using them according to the situation .

3. Fortified Wine

I had Madeira, which is classified as a fortified wine. It has brandy mixed in, so it's quite strong😝 but I like it. I prefer Tawny when it comes to port wines of the same type🍷 pic.twitter.com/bqoDKDpYP6

— Yamashi (@yamashitubuyaki) November 18, 2020

Fortified wine is wine that has been strengthened with alcohol .
The term "fortified" may be even more difficult to understand, but it basically means "a wine made by adding a strong alcoholic beverage such as brandy to still wine."
Fortified wine has a long history, and is said to have been created in an era when storage techniques were not as advanced as they are today, to prevent wine from spoiling by increasing its alcohol content .
According to the principle of alcoholic fermentation, adding alcohol with a high alcohol content during fermentation increases the alcohol content of the liquid and stops the activity of the yeast. This results in a wine that retains fruit flavors and sugar, but also has a high alcohol content and is easy to store .
Of course, there are many types of fortified wine, and the most common types are listed below.

• Madeira
• Shelley
• Marsala
• port

The fortified wines mentioned above are known as the four major fortified wines in the world and are very famous types. Furthermore, even within each of these, there are categories ranging from dry to medium sweet to very sweet, and are also divided into categories according to the number of years of aging.
Wine is complex and fun, but the world of fortified wine is also deep and a category worth delving deeper into .

4. Flavored Wine

Flavored wine is wine that has had fruits, herbs, or fruit juice added to it . It is mainly made from still wine, and tends to have a more vibrant aroma and flavor.
There are many types of flavored wine, but the most common is a wine-based drink such as sangria .
Wine cocktails can also be considered flavored wine in a sense, but flavored wines are generally those that are prepared in advance and then bottled .
In addition to sangria, other famous flavored wines include retsina, which is flavored with pine resin, and vermouth, which uses herbs and spices.
You can enjoy wine with a new flavor that is different from typical still wine, so you can enjoy your wine life in a festive mood .

Wine colour types

The above types of wine can be thought of as differences in the style of wine produced . These are further divided into red, white, rosé, etc., and are further subdivided, with different names depending on the place of origin, producer, and ageing period.
When it comes to information by producer, it becomes the knowledge of retailers in the wine industry, so the information that beginners should know is "types of wine colors."
There are five main types of wine colour:

1. red wine
2. White Wine
3. rosé wine
4. Orange Wine
5. Other coloured wines

Let's explain each one.

1. Red wine

Red wine is wine that has a red or purple appearance . It is mainly made from black grapes, which have black skins, and the skins, seeds, and juice are all fermented together to produce a deep red wine.
This red color is related to a type of polyphenol called anthocyanin, which is derived from the skin of the grapes; black grapes that have a lot of this ingredient tend to have a darker color.
Depending on the type of grape, they can have a variety of flavors such as red fruits, spices, and leather, and also tend to have an astringent taste due to the influence of tannins, a polyphenol derived from the seeds. Many wines have a high aging potential, and some brands can withstand aging for over 50 years.

2. White wine

White wine is a beautiful wine with a pale greenish color, transparent, and yellowish tint. It is mainly made from white grapes with greenish skins, but it can also be made from black grapes with the skins removed .
Unlike red wine, white wine is characterized by the fact that the skins and seeds are removed and it is brewed using only the juice. In addition, except for some white wines, it is brewed in stainless steel tanks that are protected from oxygen, as a fresh and fruity taste is required, and it is shipped with almost no aging . Compared to red wine, it has very little tannins and is not astringent, but it has a sharp taste because it retains a lot of acidity .

3. Rose wine

Rosé wine is a type of wine that has a pink appearance . It can be made from only black grapes, a blend of black and white grapes, or a mix of red and white wine.
It is generally made from black grapes and initially fermented in the same way as red wine, but the time spent soaking the skins and seeds is shortened, and the wine is fermented like white wine when it is still pale pink in color .
Although rosé wine does not have the astringency of red wine, it has the aroma of both red wine and white wine, and is fresh yet full-bodied, making it an easy-to-drink wine .
It is not widely popular in Japan because it is seen as being somewhere between red and white and is also thought of as being sweet, but in France it is a popular wine that is drunk more than white wine .

4. Orange wine

Orange wine is a wine that has an orange appearance . The category is a recent development and was previously seen as a type of white wine.
Orange wine is made primarily from white grapes and is fermented with the skins, resulting in a deep orange color .
The aroma is rich, coming from the peel, and some tannins are also extracted, so many of them have a bitter aftertaste.
The style changes depending on the fermentation method, soaking time, and the grapes used . It goes well with Japanese food, and in recent years it has become recognized as a type of wine that is more popular than rosé in Japan .

5. Wines of other colors

The types of wine colors can be broadly categorized as above. However, in European countries with a strong wine tradition, such as France, there are wines called yellow wine or black wine due to differences in color related to the production process.
In addition, there is a green wine in Portugal called Vinho Verde , but since it is a white wine with a refreshing greenish color, it is not categorized as "green" under wine laws.
In traditional wine countries, you can find many unique wines that are different from the typical colors, so why not check them out as well?

The body of the wine

There is a word called "body" in wine. When beginners choose wine, it is difficult to imagine the difference in taste from the label or variety.
There are three types of wine body:

• Full Body
• Medium bodied
• Light Body

There is no legal definition for the body of wine, but it is easy to understand if you think of it as mainly the volume of the wine and the intensity and strength of its flavor .
One of the most important indicators is the amount of tannins. It may be easy to think of a wine with a powerful astringency as full-bodied , a light wine with little tannins as light-bodied , and anything in between as medium-bodied .
Also, while the term "wine body" is mostly used for red wines, it can also be used for white wines, rosé wines, and orange wines.
Remember that if the aroma is rich and voluminous, the body will be stronger, and the more refreshing and light the wine is, the more it will be described as light-bodied.

Recommended wines by type

From here, we will introduce some recommended wines from the categories introduced above: still wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, and flavored wine .
If you're having trouble deciding what kind of wine to buy, why not use this as a reference when making your purchase?

[Still Wine] Burgundy Chardonnay 2019 Paul Henri Lacroix

If you choose a bottle of still wine, try the classic Burgundy Chardonnay . Paul-Henri Lacroix is ​​a producer that is known for its high quality, having received 19/20 points for its white Burgundy in the 2023 edition of the French Hachette Guide.
This is a wonderful white wine with citrus and tropical flavors, clean acidity, a long finish, and plenty of minerality.

brand	Grape variety	Vintage	Country of Origin
Paul Henri Lacroix	Chardonnay	2019	France

[Sparkling wine] Oya de Cadenas Cava Brut Nature

When it comes to high-quality sparkling wine with excellent cost performance, Spanish Cava comes to mind. It is made using the same method as champagne, such as secondary fermentation in the bottle, but is also very popular in Japan due to its affordable price .
"Oya de Cadenas Cava Brut Nature" is a rare Cava made from 100% Macabeo grapes . It is light-bodied, has a gentle mouthfeel and a fresh citrus aroma, making it very easy to drink.

brand	Grape variety	Vintage	Country of Origin
Paul Henri Lacroix	100% Macabeo	N.V.	Spain

[Fortified Wine] Madeira Brandy's Celcial 10 Year

Madeira is one of the four great wines in the world. One of the most popular 10-year-old Madeira wines is the "Madeira Brandy's Celcial 10 Year."
Madeira is a fortified wine with a rich flavor that is perfect as an aperitif . Its pale, bright topaz color and golden edges tell of its age.
This is a bottle that offers a complex and noble flavor at this price range , with notes of dried fruit, wood barrel aromas, and citrus flavors.

brand	Grape variety	Vintage	Country of Origin
Brandy's	Sensual	N.V.	Portugal

[Flavored Wine] Cinzano Vermouth Bianco

Cinzano produces the world-famous flavored wine vermouth. Vermouth, derived from the German word "vermut" for wormwood, is a powerful and refreshing flavored wine with a very strong herbal aroma.
"Cinzano Vermouth Bianco" is a white wine-based drink with the addition of herbs, spices and spirits, making it a bottle that you can enjoy for its sweetness and freshness .

brand	Grape variety	Vintage	Country of Origin
Cinzano	Herbs etc.	N.V.	Italy

About purchasing wine

At Linksus, we buy wine at high prices . If you have unopened wine at home or high-end wine that you received as a gift and are worried about what to do with it, please contact Linksus .
Linkuss also focuses on transactions between businesses . If you are a restaurant business owner or other person concerned about disposing of large amounts of wine, please leave it to Linkuss.
Below are some tips to help you sell your wine at a high price .

• Sell ​​quickly
• Accessories also sold
• Keep it properly stored
• High price purchase in good years
• Keep your wine bottles and labels clean

Although wine does not have an expiration date, its quality declines after it is drunk. If it is not a high-end wine that blossoms after a long period of aging, we would appreciate it if you could sell it to us as soon as possible .
In addition, wines that are sold together with their accessories, have been properly stored, and were made in vintages known as good years will be purchased at a high price .
Simply removing dust and dirt from the wine bottles you are selling may increase the appraisal value , so please consider doing so.
By the way, Linkus offers the following purchasing methods.

• In-store purchase
• On-site purchase
• Mail-order purchase

If you are visiting the store, you can make a reservation in advance . It may be crowded on weekends and holidays, so we recommend making a reservation in advance to ensure a smooth purchase .
We also offer mail-order and on-site purchase services , so please feel free to use them.
We also offer a pre-valuation service for customers who would like to know the appraisal value of the wine they want to sell in advance. If you have any questions regarding wine purchases, please feel free to contact Linkus .
Buy wine here

summary

If you find it difficult to choose a wine, it's a good idea to remember the types rather than the brands or place names. If you have a good understanding of what types of wine there are and the differences between them, you will be able to know to a certain extent what kind of wine you want to drink.
Please use this article to learn the basics about different types of wine.
In addition, Linkus is currently purchasing wine at high prices.
If you would like to sell your wine for a high price, please feel free to use Linkus .