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About the annoying decision in front of the wine rack
If you still find it more difficult to make a decision in front of the wine rack than in front of your own wardrobe, then you can now rest assured: the majority of people feel the same way as you.
A good wine plays a very special role in life for many people. The selection that we have today in shops and online is accordingly large. Keeping track of everything is almost like magic. And as the Harry Potter author JK Rowling said: "It is our choices that show who we really are." Well, that doesn't necessarily make things any easier...
So it's time to clear things up and show what really matters when choosing wine. Because just a few factors are enough to recognize a good wine by its label and not have to stand in front of the wine shelf for what feels like an eternity, ignorant.
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Reading time approx. 3 min
1. The price is an indication, but not a criterion
First of all: price should only play a minor role in the supermarket. At home, hardly anyone notices how expensive the wine really was. Believe it or not, very few people actually ask. It all depends on the taste of the wine. So don't let the price or any seals influence you. If you personally like the 6 euro wine better than the multiple award-winning 25 euro bottle, that's completely fine.
2. Look at the origin of the wine
Where the grapes are grown has a big influence on the taste of the wine. You can tell from the label what the wine will taste like. You don't even need to know the different regions in detail. It's enough to read the information about the soil, climate and wine culture carefully and recognize their influence on the aromas.
The soil minerals and the pH value have the greatest influence on the wine's characteristics. A Silvaner from the Keuper with loamy clay can therefore be distinguished by taste from a Silvaner from the Buntsandstein, which is more acidic. But temperature and light are also important criteria. Wines from hot regions are considered to be more powerful, while grapes from maritime regions or at higher and cooler altitudes often retain their freshness.
But be careful!
However, you shouldn't overestimate the terroir, as this distinction based on region and geography is called. Often, such differences can only be recognized with a lot of experience, because the terroir taste is drowned out by the winery's style or the vintage. So there is a lot of storytelling on the label here, which you can skip over for now.
3. Which grape variety do you like the most?
There's no question about it: the grape variety makes up the majority of the aromas, some even have very characteristic aromas. The rule here is: try different ones. If you've already had a Pinot Gris, it will make your choice easier next time. If you're a complete novice, there are a few typical and characteristic aromas that you should at least be familiar with. Here are a few examples:
Typical aromas of red wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon – fruity note through aromas of black currant
- Merlot – aromas of plums and cherries
- Syrah – aromas of blackberry, black pepper and violet
- Pinot Noir – aromas of red berries
- Sangiovese – aromas of black cherry, vanilla and sour cherry
- Tempranillo – aromas of blackberries, liquorice and cherry
Typical aromas in white wines
- Riesling – aromas of peach, stone fruit and citrus fruits
- Chardonnay – aromas of nuts, melon and often exotic fruits
- Sauvignon Blanc – aromas of citrus fruits, nettles and hay
- Pinot Gris – aromas of pear and dried fruits
- Pinot Blanc – Nutty aromas of almond, apricot and caramel
- Roter Veltliner – aromas of oranges, tangerines and apples
Our tip:
Read the flavors on the label and think about which flavor you're most in the mood for. Everyone's tastes vary, so there's no unbiased advice here!
4. Pay attention to the wine characteristics
Sweet, sour, young or strong - the wine label is probably adorned with a whole range of characteristic adjectives. The most important ones here are the sweetness, acidity and bitter notes, which are influenced by the tannins. Incidentally, you also use these characteristics when describing a wine .
The characteristics of the wine are influenced by the age of the wine, for example. While young wines tend to taste fresh, fruity and therefore sweet, they become more complex as they mature. Just pay attention to the description of the wine on the label or from the local expert. Do you prefer sweet wines or more mature ones? Young or old?
The terms dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet , which are usually printed very prominently, can also help you to find your way. These terms describe the amount of residual sugar still contained in the wine. The less sugar, the "drier" it is.
By the way:
This criterion is standardized for all wines by the EU Commission. So there is little that can go wrong here. Only wines from Italy often lack the designation. In general, you can assume that the majority here are dry.
Still overwhelmed?
If you want to get an overall picture of all the different styles, a wine tasting is a good idea. Tasting boxes and guided wine seminars make it easy to find your favorite wines. And tastings like this are also really fun! Check out our selection here.
... Or go to the overview and look at our other articles on the perfect wine evening!