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Academy - Module 3

Warehouse Asia Primary Wine Styles Quiz

Primary Wine Styles

Learning Outcome

After this chapter, you will be able to recognize the primary styles/types of wine, their definitions, and their key characteristics.

  • Define wine as fermented grape juice
  • Distinguish still, sparkling, and fortified wine by production technique
  • Identify white, red, rose, sweet, sparkling, and fortified styles
  • Describe each style by color, flavor, body, and common examples
  • Use simple style cues to guide customers toward the right bottle
What is Wine?

Definition: Wine is an alcoholic beverage made with the fermented juice of grapes.

The first customer-friendly question is not only "red or white?" but also whether the wine is still, sparkling, sweet, or fortified.

  • Sparkling wine
  • White wine
  • Red wine
  • Rose wine
  • Sweet wine
  • Fortified wine
Sparkling, sweet, and fortified wines can be made from white and/or red grapes. The style is defined by the production choice and final sensory profile.
Production Families

Still Wine

Wine without visible bubbles. It is usually around 8% - 15% ABV and includes most white, red, and rose wines.

Sparkling Wine

Wine with carbon dioxide bubbles, commonly created by a second fermentation in bottle or tank.

Fortified Wine

A base wine strengthened with grape spirit, usually finishing around 15% - 22% ABV.

Six Primary Wine Styles

Sparkling Wine

Definition: A wine with bubbles made from fermentation, often a second fermentation.

Color: White, rose, or even red sparkling wine.

Flavor: Citrus and green fruits; high-quality examples can show vanilla, toast, and pastry notes.

Examples: Champagne, Cremant d'Alsace, Cava, Prosecco, Moscato.

White Wine

Definition: Made from white-flesh grapes, including white grapes or black grape juice fermented without skin contact.

Color: Pale lemon to deep lemon, gold, and amber.

Flavor: Green fruit, citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, or oak notes such as vanilla and butter.

Body: Light Sauvignon Blanc, medium Viognier, full-bodied Chardonnay.

Red Wine

Definition: Made from dark-colored grapes and fermented with the skins.

Color: Pale to deep purple, ruby, garnet, or tawny.

Flavor: Red fruit, black fruit, herbaceous notes, spice, oak smoke, leather, or wet leaves in long-aged wines.

Body: Light Pinot Noir, medium Merlot, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rose Wine

Definition: Color is extracted from black grape skins, then the juice ferments without the skins.

Color: Pale to deep pink, pink-orange, or orange.

Flavor: Mainly red fruits such as red currant and red cherry, with almost no tannin.

Body: Light, medium, or fuller rose styles such as Tavel rose.

Sweet Wine

Definition: Wine that keeps natural residual sugar through one of several production methods.

Color: Depends on grape variety and style.

Flavor: Always sweet on the palate, with fruit, floral, honeyed, or dried-fruit notes depending on the style.

Examples: Moscato d'Asti, Sauternes, Recioto della Valpolicella, Port.

Fortified Wine

Definition: Base wine with grape brandy added before, during, or after fermentation.

Color: Depends on type and aging style.

Flavor: Can be dry or sweet, often with richer alcohol warmth.

Examples: Sherry, Madeira, Port, Vins Doux Naturels.

Quick Reference
Style Production Cue Color / Flavor Cue Typical Examples
SparklingCO2 bubbles from fermentation.White, rose, or red; citrus, green fruit, and toast in premium styles.Champagne, Cava, Prosecco.
WhiteFermented without grape skins.Pale lemon to amber; citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, or oak.Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay.
RedFermented with dark grape skins.Purple, ruby, garnet, tawny; red fruit, black fruit, spice, oak.Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
RoseBrief black-skin contact, then fermented without skins.Pink to orange; red-fruit notes and low tannin.Tavel rose, Provence rose.
SweetNatural residual sugar remains in the wine.Depends on style; clearly sweet on taste.Moscato d'Asti, Sauternes, Port.
FortifiedGrape spirit is added to strengthen the wine.Dry or sweet; usually 15% - 22% ABV.Sherry, Madeira, Port.
Examples From The Deck
Sparkling wine examples from the source presentation
Sparkling wines: Champagne, Prosecco, Brut, Moscato.
White wine examples from the source presentation
White wines: Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc.
Red wine examples from the source presentation
Red wines: Pinot Noir, Valpolicella, Bordeaux, Carmenere.
Rose wine examples from the source presentation
Rose wines: Bordeaux Rose, Cotes de Provence, Tavel-style rose.
Sweet wine examples from the source presentation
Sweet wines: Sauternes, Moscato, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise.
Fortified wine examples from the source presentation
Fortified wines: Sherry, Tawny Port, Madeira, Vins Doux Naturels.

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