Dry, semi-dry, sweet, semi-sweet - which of these wines should you go for? The abundance of wine assortment in stores, the complex classification and the intrusiveness of sales assistants are confusing. Armed with valuable information and helpful tips, it's easier to make the right choice. The main thing is to take into account the main aspects of choosing a wine of a particular sweetness.
When choosing a wine of this or that sweetness, be guided, first of all, by the tastes and preferences of the people for whom it is purchased. For lovers of sweet and strong, dessert wine is suitable, for those who love a light tart taste, choose a dry one. Semi-sweet wine, so beloved in Russia, is not perceived by the main part of the civilized world as a quality drink. But if among your friends there are lovers of semi-sweet, you can offer them it. If you want to please the guests and show that your table is not cheap, choose semi-dry wine.
According to the degree of sweetness, the wine is classified into dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. The sugar content in dry wine is less than 1%, strength - no more than 11%, in semi-dry - 1-2, 5%, strength - 9-14%, in semi-sweet - 3-8%, strength - 10-12%, in sweet - 10-20%, fortress - 17-18%.
The most famous varieties of red wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Chianti, Rioja, Merlot, Shiraz, Beaujolais, Syrah. The most popular white wines are Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermouth, Muscat, Meursault, Pinot Gris, Semillon, Sauternes, Gewurztraminer, Verdicchio, Chablis, Muscadet.
Another thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a wine of this or that sweetness is the dishes with which it will be served. Dry white wine goes well with fish, crabs, white meat, mushroom and vegetable dishes, berry desserts. Dry red wine is served with game, red meat, liver and kidney dishes, cheeses and pasta. Semi-dry white wine is perfect for oysters, mussels, shrimps and other seafood. Red semi-dry wine is best combined with lamb, veal, game, cheeses. Semi-sweet and sweet wine is well served with desserts, fruits and coffee.
It is enough just to choose a wine when the kitchen is made in the same style - for example, French or Italian. But the Russian feast usually presupposes the presence on the table of both meat and fish dishes, as well as a variety of salads, snacks, and fruits. So which wine should you choose? - When in doubt, purchase several types of wine of different sweetness. It’s difficult only the first time, but the second time it will be clear who chooses which wine.
Another criterion for choosing a wine of a particular sweetness may be the season. In the heat, you should give preference to wines that can quench your thirst. Dry white wines are fresh and light. In winter, it is better to choose opposite “warm”, warming wine - red wine of any degree of sweetness and sweet wine.
It is important to note that the price of wine is one of the most compelling selection criteria. High-quality dry and sweet wine is quite expensive. Especially if it is a wine of a famous brand, a specific grape variety and from a specific region. The wines of the Old World are more expensive than the New. The former are famous for their excellent reputation, the latter for their competitive advantages. Study wine labels carefully - they provide a lot of valuable information.
