When it comes to preparing and drinking wine, there are differences based on the color of the wine. Red and fortified wines should be served a touch below room temperature, while white, rose, and sparkling wines benefit from a chill. Red wines should be kept in the fridge for around 45 minutes before serving, while white, rose, and sparkling wines can stay in the cool for around two hours. From the Casablanca Valley, Chile’s original cool-climate coastal wine region. This lively and fresh sauvignon blanc combines grapefruity and limey citrus with elderflower and peapoddy greenness. It’s tighter and dryer than many New Zealand examples, but all the better for it.

Most Sauvignon Blancs are left as dry white wines, with a few brands preferring to leave a small amount of residual sugar for a richer consistency. It’s a crisp and light wine with flavors of citrus like green apple, lime, and vanilla. Syrah:Chardonnay is the most popular wine varietal in North America and is characterized by its medium to full body and its buttery mouthfeel. It combines crisp flavors like apple and pear with citrus aromas and hints of vanilla. Malbec: Thought to be perhaps the best-ever wine produced by Catena, it’s dense and fresh, full-bodied and layered, flavorful and elegant all at once. It’s a wine to please the masses but a bottle that you’d be forgiven for saving for yourself. Featuring aromas of roses and pine needles with hints of spice and tobacco, it’s a wine that just keeps on giving. Enjoy it for its bold and structured notes.

The aging step comes next and it’s here where creativity and flavor profiles really come into play. Wines can be aged for anything from a few months to several years. Some white wines are ready to be bottled after only a few months, while most dry red wines benefit from being left up to two years. Wine can also be aged in new oak, used barrels, or stainless steel, in American oak barrels or in French oak barrels, or in charred barrels, like those used when aging Bourbon. The different types of wine Cabernet Sauvignon: If you can assess the colour in the bottle, then clear, bright, jewel tones are ideal for summer sipping. Meatier reds such as Merlot, Cab Sav, Syrah and older vintages generally have a deeper garnet colour with orangey ageing, and are best for cosying up with later in the year.

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Old World red wines generally come from traditional wine-growing regions – think Italy, Spain and France. These styles of wine include Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. With something here for old-school collectors as well as the scene’s up and coming “cool kids,” no matter where you are on your wine journey, we’ve got you covered. The fun is all in the trying, but there are a few things to think about when seeking out your latest bottle. Those listed above are the most common varieties of wine, but there are plenty more types and varieties of wine to be discovered. How to drink wine

Across in New York, another hotspot in the United States, you’ll find Ravines Wine Cellars with its famed tasting rooms and wineries, and Keuka Lake, set among the state’s largest and most celebrated wine-producing region. Nearby sits Glenora Wine Cellars, the first winery on Seneca Lake, and one known for its impressive daily wine tastings and cellar tours. The stellar reputation of the reds made on the volcanic soils of Mount Etna is largely based on the nerello mascalese variety. But the “other” mascalese has its own charms, here producing a refreshing, lighter wine where the accent is on pure raspberry-ish fruit and red-cherry tang. Showcasing historic American grapes like Zinfandel and Merlot, we dove headfirst into varieties that no longer get the love they deserve stateside, and came away with a handful of bottles that will surely change your tune about them.We’ve focused on affordable and mid-range bottles for this roundup, all of which offer good value for money while being completely delicious. When it comes to grape varieties, you might already know your favourite. If not, knowing what each varietal offers is key. Grapes Discover the best wine pairing for your food favourites with our guide on matching food and wine . How not to waste corked wine Use your imagination when you’re buying wine for someone who’s willing to think — and drink — beyond Cabernet Sauvignon (the most widely planted wine grape in the world) and Chardonnay (the most popular wine in the U.S.). Go for something unexpected, like a harder-to-find Barolo and Brunello from Italy, or a Spanish Tempranillo-based blend.