Why do some wines taste sweeter than others? Is there sugar left in the wine?
If it’s not classified as a Dessert or Late Harvest wine, then the wine has been fermented dry, which accounts for almost all the wine made today. Some grapes are naturally sweeter tasting than others, like Grenache and Zinfandel. If they’re grown in very hot places, they develop high levels of sugar. To make a dry wine, winemakers have to ferment it all out, which accounts for the high levels of alcohol that usually accompany wines that taste “sweet” or as I like to say ripe or fruity. If you don’t like to taste fruit in your wine, drink French or Italian wines. Their grapes can’t get as ripe and thus aren’t the fruit bombs found in many of the New World regions. • How long should I wait to drink my Cabs, Merlots, etc.? Most wines are drinkable upon release, but many definitely get better with age. Many wineries offer recommended cellaring times for their wines with the tasting notes. However, if you have the proper storage, here are my recommendations: • Cabs, Bordeaux blends, Barolo
