Full-Bodied Red Wine Chart: Your Guide To The Perfect Glass of Wine

One of the best ways to get acquainted with red wines is to know the wine chart.  The full-bodied wine chart above includes light-bodied, medium-bodied, and old wine examples as well. There are many red wine charts, but they essentially tell the same story, which is outlined below.

Their delicate nature characterizes light wines. They are not viscous, flow like water, tend to be fruity, and have low alcohol content, which is usually less than 12.5%. Some well-known light red wines include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Lambrusco, and Nebbiolo.

Medium-bodied red wines tend to have an alcohol content between 12.5% and 13.5%. They have mild viscosity. Some of the typical medium-bodied wines include Merlot, Sangiovese, Rose, and Barbera.

Full-bodied dark red wines have an alcohol content of over 13.5% and have complex flavors and aromas. They are also much darker in color.  Due to the high alcohol content, it is easy to get a little tipsy faster on full-bodied wines. Well-known full-bodied wines include Shiraz, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Malbec.

Old wines are usually from countries that started producing wines centuries ago, like France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Germany. Old wines tend to be older than 25 years. Most old wines have a soft nature but do have an intense acidic taste. Overall, however, the alcohol content tends to be slightly lower. Classic old wines include Burgundy and Barolo.  

One of the best ways to learn about dark red wines, and all wines, is by visiting vineyards where tasting events are common.
The more you taste wines, the better you will be able to differentiate them.  Pacific Rim and Company arose from a love and passion of Riesling wines.  Located in the Pacific Northwest and with an online presence, Pacific Rim and Company representatives are available to answer your wine questions and offer selections that are sure to please your palette.