Going down to the basics, a white wine becomes dry after the grape undergoes its natural fermentation process and all the sugars in the grape juice are fermented into alcohol. A dry white wine is different from other whites since these other white wines contain additives that prevent the sugar from being converted fully into alcohol, which is why some of these are termed sweet white wines.
There are fully dry and medium-dry white wines, the latter of which contains just enough sugar residues to lessen the degree of dryness but not enough to push it over the limit and into the sweet wine category. Some of these are excellent choices when making white wine sangria and it would be a great trait to learn how to identify a dry white wine with other types.
Distinguishing Sweet Wines from Dry Wines
Wine tasting clubs have sprouted all around the world and this can be credited from the popularity of wines. However, a tasting challenge can be a bit tricky particularly if you are new. Learning to distinguish a dry white wine from other types can be a wonderful trait which you can learn through the following guidelines.
* Sweet wines have a more honeyed taste because of the higher levels of sugar, unlike dry wines where all sugars have been fermented away.
* Familiarize yourself with the terms associated with white wines which can be your initial guide to wine tasting. Bottles labeled with Sauternes, Riesling and Chablis are in the dry white wine category while on the other hand Muscat and Tokay are sweet. Other dry wines are the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Albario, and Muscadet.
* Smelling the wine by sticking your nose into the wine glass can help you determine if the wine is sweet or dry. Hints of fruit, honeysuckle and sugar would definitely tell you it is sweet, while a dry white wine hints of spices, herbs, yeast and wood. However, some wines have hints of chocolate and citrus that would make it difficult for the untrained nose to distinguish if these are sweet or dry. The best way is to familiarize yourself with such smells.
* Your best indicator to identify a sweet wine from a dry white wine is still your sense of taste. Tasting a wine does not mean gulping down swallows and emptying the glass. Just sip a small amount and let it rest on your tongue. Afterwards just swirl it around your mouth for some time and then swallow – and then wait for the oncoming aftertaste. A dry wine can taste stronger but has no lingering aftertaste unlike sweet wines which stays in your mouth even after you have swallowed the liquid.
Wine tasting can be a fun and enjoyable experience with friends and loved ones. You can teach yourself how to distinguish among wines by trying them out on your own and familiarizing yourself with their intrinsic qualities.