Your Voyage Through Vino


For both seasoned drinkers and curious newcomers, the world of wine can seem overly complex and pretentious. But these fermentation processes transcend centuries, geographies, and cultures - anyone can enjoy a glass of wine that fits their lifestyle. Take a trip with us to learn about the factors that might influence the color, taste, and mouthfeel of your favorite vintages.

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Did you know that the climate in which grapes grow affects the qualities of each wine? For this reason, wine regions are classified as either Warm or Cool.

In warm regions, the slow temperature drop from summer into fall gives grapes ample time to fully ripen. However, this longer transition also makes grapes lose their natural acidity over time.

In cool regions, the temperature drops off so quickly towards harvest that it is difficult for grapes to ripen. However, lower temperatures help preserve the grapes' acidity.

But how does acidity affect the taste of wine?

A wine with high acid will usually taste crisper and more tart on the palate, while a low-acid wine will feel smoother and rounder on the palate. Dryness is often confused with acidity and wine, but it really refers to the amount of residual sugar or carbohydrates left in the product after the fermentation process has ended.

The pH and dryness (or sweetness) scale help clarify this relationship.


Other factors - like color and style - influence the body and taste of wines. They're also the details that most people already know about when heading to a liquor store or restaurant, but may need a refresher.


What is
wine color?

There are three wine color categories - Red, White, and Rosé - that correspond to the type of grape and level of skin contact in the fermentation process.

Red wines are made with red grapes and their skins.
White wines are made with white or red grapes with no skins.
Rosé wines are made with red grapes and exposed to their skins for a short period of time.


What is
wine style?

Three main wine styles correspond to the combination of grape types or carbonation.

Varietal wines include only one kind of grape.
Blend wines include multiple kinds of grapes.
Sparkling wines are infused with carbon dioxide after the fermentation process, so that the resulting wine is bubbly.


You've learned about wine regions, climates, and how flavors develop in wine. Now, explore Wine Magazine's nearly 120,000 wine reviews from 19 countries, where you'll be able to filter by country of origin, style, color, and sweetness level. Let your curiosity take you towards wines that pique your interest and palate.


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Rebecca Brand

rbrand@mde.harvard.edu

Bianca Cordazzo

bi.cordazzo@gmail.com

Fernando Medeiros

fem433@g.harvard.edu

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