The 4 Most Common Wine Varieties

If you’re a regular wine-drinker, you’ll know that there’s a drop for just about every occasion. Whether it’s the perfect accompaniment to a nice meal, a refreshing drink on a warm day or a way to unwind after a stressful day, you’ll find a wine for the job. At The Wembley Hotel, we serve a range of fine wines varying in quality and flavour. In this month’s article, we’ll be taking a look at a few of the most widely enjoyed red and white wines in Australia and what situations there are suited to.

Merlot

Source: www.mirassou.com

The go-to red for many, Merlot is often described as being quite soft, with a fruitier flavour than many other red wines. It is made from especially dark coloured grapes which are often harvested earlier - this means that the wine takes longer to mature and can have a lower alcohol content than other reds. In terms of when to enjoy it, Merlot is a classic red meat wine so make sure you have a bottle handy next time you’re cooking up a steak!

Chardonnay

Source: www.sidewalkshoes.com

Chardonnay is a wine known not only for its ‘malleability’ and varied taste from region to region, but for how easy it is to grow in a range of different areas. This has made it one of Australia’s favourite wines for many years as the grape can prosper just about anywhere, regardless of rainfall and altitude. What constitutes a good drop of chardonnay is difficult to pin down, given that the flavours are so varied from region to region. Chardonnay is greatly influenced by the winemaker and you might pick up on any number of different flavours from vanilla to citrus fruit and coconut.

Shiraz

Source: www.waterford.com

Grown on some 40,000 hectares in Australia, Shiraz is the popular red wine in the country. It arrived on our shores back in 1831 and has been widely enjoyed ever since! While it is a red, it’s similar to chardonnay in that flavours can change greatly when grown in different areas - indeed this is one of the great things about wine and wine culture. Australian Shiraz varieties tend to big, striking and highly aromatic, making it a fine choice as an accompaniment to a BBQ or roast.

Sauvignon Blanc

The Sav Blanc grape originated in France and is now grown across every major continent, with Australian varieties often described as being the best wine to enjoy with seafood, including sushi. Usually enjoyed chilled, Sauvignon Blanc can have a sparse, grassy and acidic taste compared to other whites is quite refreshing in hotter weather.

While they’re all special in their own ways, everybody has a favourite drop of wine. Which is your wine of choice out of those mentioned here? We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section below! Remember to come and visit us at the Wembley Hotel and check out our extensive wine list.