reprinted with permission from WINE FOLLY
How To Tell The Body of a Wine
Because of the fat level, it’s easy to taste the difference between whole milk and skim milk. That said, the fullness of wine’s body isn’t as easy to pinpoint because it involves many factors.
Fortunately, there are a few clues you can look for on the wine bottle:
- Alcohol Level: Wines above 14% alcohol tend to taste more full-bodied.
- Grape Variety: Certain grape varieties produce more full-bodied wines (see below).
- Oak Aging: Much like Bourbon, wines aged in fresh oak barrels often taste more full-bodied. Wine producers often mention oak aging on the back label.
- Climate Type: As a general rule, grapes grown in warmer climates tend to produce richer, more full-bodied wines (this depends on the producer!).
- Residual Sugar: Residual sugars, when present in small amounts, can add to a wine’s body without necessarily making it taste sweet.