Wine cooling,What is the difference between
Champagne
Sparkling wine
Sauvignon Blanc
White wine
Red wine
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel
Port
Are any of these sweet like fruity I’m a wine cooler not whiskey kinda gal and what does dry mean?
Which one of these goes better with seafood meat pasta or chicken?
Kathy H // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
If you like a fruity sweet wine and are not use to drinking wine, I would recommend a Riesling, which would go well with seafood or chicken. A tomato based pasta would usually be served with a Barbera, Zinfandel, or Sangiovese so not to be overpowered by the sauce.
A dry wine is not sweet. Champagne is a sparkling wine made in the champagne area of France. Similar wines from other countries are generally not called Champagne by the wine makers although people sometimes refer to all sparkling wines as Champagne.
Visit this site to learn about the different varietals of wines you mention and which foods go best with each: http://www.cheers2wine.com/food-and-wine.html
Proud Navy Wife // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Sparkling wine is probably going to be your best bet, followed by champagne and third choice would be a zinfandel – based on what you were saying your tastes were.
Daniel C // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Champagne: this name only applies to a certain beverage that comes from the Champagne region of France. While there can be similar beverages, those that are not from Champagne are called "sparkling wine." This stuff will get you drunk fast and has a pleasant sweet taste.
Sauvignon Blanc: a particular kind of white wine. Tastes vary widely depending on where the grapes were grown but generally wine experts have described this as "crisp, elegant, and fresh."
White wine: made from white grapes. Tends to have a light body
Red Wine: made from red/purple grapes. Tends to have a heavy body
Merlot: a red wine with tastes of berry, plum, and currant.
Pinot Noir: a red wine that is very difficult to describe. The flavor is very rich and full-bodies. I call it "sex in a glass" because it so flavorful.
Zinfandel: although made from red grapes, it is a white wine. Typically, Zinfandel wine tastes spicy and fruity
Port: port is a special case. Best to read up on it at URL below
Dry is difficult to describe. It’s basically how long the taste lingers on your tongue.
Generally the color of the meat determines the color of the wine (e.g fish, chicken and pork are white, beef is red). The waiter can recommend a wine for the meal selection (if this is a really upscale place they will have a wine steward)
Retired // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
If you have been invited by a male he should choose the wine. If he is not knowledgeable on wines he should just admit that to the wine Stewart and ask for help. The list you gave asks way to much. I’m sure there are 5000 red wines made in the US alone. Then we have all the foreign wines.
To be honest I don’t care what people say about what wine goes with what food. I always HAD what I liked.
Rev // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Champagne is a sparkling wine from France(Californina as well) Sparkling wine is the same. Think Bubbles.
S Blanc is a dry (not sweet) white wine.
White wine is any white, sweet or dry
Red…same thing
Merlot is red, mostly dry, although they are flavoring it a lot now.
Pinot Noir popular red
Zinfandel…sweet
Port…nasty!
White Zinfandel is sweet, good, popular, less expensive usually.
White is good with seafood and chicken. The reds are good with steak.
Usually lighter food/lighter wine…although even that is changing.
Pasta…if it is at an italian restaurant, they usually have a good red they match with it.
Good luck…don’t drink and drive!
Ravin // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
red wines tend to be your sweet wines, and pair well with Meat or beef
white wines tend to be your dryer wines, and pair well with chicken
Port is a wine that is in a catagory of its own with a unique taste.
Zinfandels, white, red, etc are a easy to drink wine.Uniquely, the Zinfandel can accompany a wider range of foods than other reds can. While each of the “major players” are known for one particular characteristic (Merlot for softness, Cabernet Sauvignon for power, Sangiovese for brightness), the Zinfandel contains all of those and more. In a nutshell, it’s inviting (not that Fuquans need arm-twisting!).
The highest quality Zinfandels are produced in California (particularly Sonoma), Italy (Apulia), and Australia (Western & South).
Zinfandel pairs well with:
Spicier meat dishes
Saltier dishes
Full-bodied dishes, especially grilled or smoked
Fruit-based sauces, especially berry
Pinot noir is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines produced predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the french words for "pine" and "black" alluding to the varietals’ tightly clustered dark purple pine cone shaped bunches of fruit.
Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France.
here are some highlights, check the link below for more ideas depending on what it is you think you might have to eat.
tall boy // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
ther is no difference between sparkling wine and champagne (champagne is just the name of the province in France where that sparkling wine is produced!)
Merlot and Pinot Noir are red wines which go well with meat
sauvignon blanc is a white wine which goes well with fishdishes
Port is much to strong for you, and will probably get you drunk!
Want a fresh fruity cool wine take a Chardonnay! if your going to eat fish
If you want to eat a meatdish i recommend a Rosè
gary r // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Champagne- White sparkling-Dry,from Champagne area of France only……costly
Sparkling wine-Sweet,medium or dry….made anywhere.
Sauvignon Blanc-Still dry white
White wine-usually made from green grapes,can be sweet medium or dry
Red wine-made from red or perple grape varieties
Merlot-made from purple Merlot grapes…dry
Pinot Noir-made from purple Pinot Noir grapes..dry
Zinfandel…..not sure
Port-Can be red or white,dry,medium,or sweet.It is fortified wine,higher in alcohol content than wine,and of thicker consistency that wine.
Sparkling wine would probably be best for sweet and fruity.
General rule of thumb is: Red meats=redwine,White meats or fish=white wine,but it is very much a personal choice.
I recommend a wine called Mateus Rose if you can get it. It is enjoyable to all paletes,and goes well with most dishes.
D B // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Wow!
Champagne and Sparkling wine are the same things…just that Champagne comes from a particular region in France and other sparkling wines aren’t allowed to use the name.
White wine is clear. Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine. Any wine with Blanc in the name is white (Blanc is French for white). White Zinfandel is a white wine.
Red wine is darker red. Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Port are red wines. Port is a "dessert" wine, as it is very heavy and sweet (almost like syrup) and has a high alcohol content.
For wine beginners, who want a taste like a wine-cooler (or Kool-Aid), ask for a white-wine spritzer. Not as sweet, and it is wine made with fizzy water. If you want to go whole hog, start out with a popular choice. White Zinfandel can be tasty.
Dry means less sweet.
And pretentious rules of pairing wine colors with food is wrong. If you want to drink wine with food, drink what you like. When your palate has evolved so you can tell the vintage or maison, then you can start pairing dry wines with certain foods, or full-body reds with others.
Gabi ? // Jul 11, 2011 at 9:54 pm
you really don’t need to know all the definitions. if you like fruity, order a white zinfandel (pink in color), or a riesling (white). both go with chicken or seafood. port is a sweet red after dinner drink ( wine fortified with brand). the rest is all dry, meaning NOT sweet, you won’t like those too much. have fun, don’t stress out, enjoy !!! and no, ravin, red wines are NOT sweet.