| While many people try to pigeonhole the taste of | | | | a Sauvignon Blanc in a style that tastes rich and |
| varietals in ways such as "Pinot Noir tastes | | | | full-bodied, the winemaker usually calls it Fume |
| flowery and are light", it is possible to produce | | | | Blanc rather than Sauvignon Blanc. |
| several types of wine from one grape. Often, | | | | Winemakers also have plenty of leeway in what |
| wines can be described by their flavors more | | | | style they will make red grapes taste. |
| than just the varietals or geographical location | | | | Winemakers can make red wines taste fruity and |
| from which they came. | | | | light-bodied, smooth and medium-bodied or rich, |
| For instance, Chardonnay varietals can fit into | | | | hearty and full bodied. The most versatile of the |
| three or four different flavor categories | | | | red grapes is the Merlot. |
| depending on how the grape is processed and | | | | It is common for winemakers to make Merlot |
| made in to wine. Winemakers can make | | | | grapes in styles that taste fruity and light, smooth |
| Chardonnay grapes into wines that are clean, crisp | | | | and medium or rich and full. Shiraz and Cabernet |
| and light bodied or they can make Chardonnay | | | | Sauvignon usually taste rich, hearty and full-bodied |
| grapes into wines that are smooth, round and | | | | or smooth and medium bodied. Pinot Noir is usually |
| medium bodied or they can make Chardonnay | | | | a fruity, light-bodied wine or a smooth, |
| grapes into wines that are rich and full-bodied. | | | | medium-bodied wine. |
| Different techniques of wine making, such as | | | | The difference in how wines are processed |
| using oak for aging or not using oak for aging, | | | | makes a difference in how they are going to |
| allow winemakers to make Chardonnay grapes in | | | | taste. Any time wine makers leave crushed |
| to all of these different types of flavors. While | | | | grapes in a vat with skin and seeds longer, the |
| the Chardonnay grape is probably the most | | | | wine will have more acid or tannins in the flavor |
| versatile grape for making it into different flavors, | | | | whether they are making wine from Pinot Noir |
| most varietals are open to some leeway in flavor. | | | | grapes or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Any time a |
| Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio both lend themselves | | | | wine spends aging in oak will make it taste a little |
| to wines that taste clean, crisp and light bodied or | | | | bit richer and add flavors similar to toasty vanilla |
| that taste smooth, round and medium bodied. | | | | whether they are making wine from Chardonnay |
| Pinot Blanc is also possible to make into a style | | | | grapes or Sauvignon Blanc grapes. |
| that is rich and full-bodied while Pinot Grigio is also | | | | Therefore, if you are looking to be able to decide |
| possible to make into a style that is off dry or | | | | if you like a wine just by what type of grape is in |
| aromatic dry. | | | | the wine, you might end up being disappointed. |
| While winemakers usually make Sauvignon Blanc | | | | While one winemaker might insist on making |
| to taste clean, crisp and light bodied or smooth, | | | | Chardonnay wine only though oak aging, another |
| round and medium bodied, they sometimes | | | | winemaker might believe that the Chardonnay |
| stretch the boundaries and make it taste rich and | | | | grape stands on its own and does not need oak |
| full-bodied. However, when a wine maker makes | | | | aging to taste good. |