Have you ever felt overwhelmed in the Ithaca Wine and Spirits store? With many wine choices to choose from, you still pick up the same Wine & Butter flavor. Understanding the basic tastes can help you determine what wines you enjoy the most and would likely purchase in a store. This previous semester I took VIEN 1102: Introduction to Wines and Vines, a class offered at Cornell where students learn about the history of wine, winery practices, wine flavor chemistry and everyone’s favorite part: tasting wine to determine wine quality. Before taking this class, I had no prior knowledge about wine tasting, and I didn't really know what wine to order at restaurants. In class, we explored the importance of describing wine's taste. I often used the five basic tastes to describe each one: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. Since taking this course in the fall, I kept track of my favorite red and white wines we tasted in class, and this is my guide of what to try.
If you love sweet wines, you are in luck. The first five wines are perfect to pair with dessert or when you're craving something sweet. We’re kicking the list off with one of the sweetest wines on this list; it tastes like honey, vanilla and banana.
1. Dublin Scuppernong
The Dublin Scuppernong is made from a grapevine called Vitis rotundifolia, which produces muscadine, a South American (bronze and purple) grape. Often, the wine color is slightly darker yellow due to the grape juice color. Since this wine is so sweet, pair it with a berry tart to balance the taste.
2. Tramin Gewürztraminer
If sweet tastes aren’t your thing, this wine is less sweet and still enjoyable. Tramin Gewürztraminer has a floral aroma with a buttery aftertaste and is a dessert wine, a rich wine usually served after dinner. Made from the Gewurztraminer grape, planted in the mountains of France and Germany, it has an intense aroma of lychee and rose. I would recommend this wine if you enjoy floral wines that aren’t too acidic on the first sip.
3. Fox Run Vineyards Traminette Finger Lakes
If you love floral wines, this might become one of your favorites. The Fox Run Vineyards Traminette Finger Lakes wine is very light and smooth with a hint of citrus. In my opinion this wine is a great option to share with friends — it’s a light wine that anyone could enjoy. Compared to more overwhelming and strong wines, I think this wine is usually a safe bet. It's made from Traminette grapes that carry floral and spicy properties. It's a cross of Gewürztraminer and the French-American hybrid Joannes Seyve 23.416.
4. Riesling Ice Wine, Wagner Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2022 Style
The Riesling Ice Wine from Wagner Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2022 is a sweeter wine that tastes like peach, honey and apricot. Despite it being made from frozen grapes, the wine is still very fresh. Ice Wines are a dessert wine produced from grapes that are frozen on the vine; it's often more expensive in a smaller volume due to receiving less juice from the frozen grapes. If you have a sweet tooth, this is definitely the wine for you. You can have this wine on its own or with a tart-flavored dessert.
5. Tyrell’s Hunter Valley, Australia, 2023
Tyrell’s Hunter Valley wine is the perfect amount of tart and has a crisp, refreshing taste and a fruity aroma. This dry wine has flavors of ripe apples and zesty lemon with a smooth aftertaste. This wine is perfect when you're in the mood for something fresh and a bit sour. Give this one a try to put your taste buds to work.
Have you ever gone to a restaurant and didn’t know what wine to order? Been there too, these wines are great go-to orders when you're with friends. If you enjoy cooking, these wines could be great to pair with food. All these white wines are enjoyable to drink for any occasion, and they won’t make you feel like you need to spit them out!
7. Chardonnay, Lakewood Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2023
The Chardonnay, Lakewood Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2023, has a fruity aroma with green apple and peach properties. It's a bit sour at first, but it has a buttery aftertaste. It tastes smooth but still fresh; it's a great choice to pair with creamy foods. The white Chardonnay grape is grown in France, in the regions of Burgundy and Chablis.
8. Santa Julia, Argentina, 2023
For all the Chardonnay fan favorites, here is another from Santa Julia, Argentina, 2023. Its flavor properties include green apple and a smoky aroma. It tastes citrusy at first, but has a fresh lemon and a smoky aftertaste. Pair it with cheese and beef.
9. Blanc de Blanc, Fox Run Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2024
The last Chardonnay is a Champagne made only with Chardonnay grapes. Blanc de Blanc, Fox Run Vineyards, FLX NYS, 2024, has a lemon-citrus flavor. It's very smooth and light, with refreshing bubbles like sparkling water. Give this one a try if you are tired of flat wines and want something sparkling!
10. Sauvignon Blanc, Martin Ray, Sonoma, CA, 2023
The Sauvignon Blanc, Martin Ray, Sonoma, CA, 2023 has a fruity aroma of green apple and lemon zest with a hint of mint. Sauvignon blanc is a white wine produced in regions of France, New Zealand, and California. The thin grape grows on vigorous vines and does not rot due to its growth on the vine being in tight clusters. It tastes a bit tart, and the consistency is similar to water; therefore, it isn’t a dry wine. It has a buttery aftertaste, which is my favorite part. If you're looking for a clean and crisp wine, I would recommend giving this a try. This can be paired with a salad or seafood.
11. Rosé Malbec Susana Balbo, Argentina 2021
A classic go-to wine is Rosé Malbec Susana Balbo, Argentina 2021. It's known for its light pink color and its floral and fruity properties. Made from red grapes, but the juice is pressed off the skins early, resulting in a short maceration. This gives a light pink color and a floral, fruity aroma. This is one of my favorite wines to get when I can’t make a decision right on the spot. It feels light, with flavors of strawberry and rose petals; it has a buttery aftertaste. If you haven't tried this wine yet, you won’t be disappointed.
Like many, I was not a fan of red wines. I thought they were too astringent or too bitter, but after taking this course, I picked out a few I really love, and I want to share my favorites. These wines have changed my perspective on red wines, here is the rundown.
12. Thick Skin Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
One of my favorite red wines ever, this changed my perception and maybe my taste buds, too! Thick Skin Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, the tannins (skin structure from grapes) are noticeable, but it's smooth, which is why it's not too bitter. It starts a bit sour at first, but then fruity with strawberry properties and smooth aftertaste, which is buttery. The wine-grape, V. vinifera, comes from Europe and gives it those fruit or spice flavors. This wine would pair perfectly with meats and cheese.
13. Hofstätter Meczan Blauburgunder / Pinot Nero 2023
One of my favorites is the Pinot Nero 2023 by J. Hofstätter from Northern Italy, a red grape variety of Vitis vinifera. It's a fruity wine with cherry and cranberry notes. It tastes a bit bitter at first, but it has a smooth, buttery aftertaste that I enjoy most. It's definitely more of a mature wine, as it can be acidic to some, but pair it with meats in red sauce to balance the taste.
14. Garnacha “El” Bodega Breca, Spain, 2022
Garnacha “El” Bodega Breca, Spain, 2022, is a classic Vitis vinifera red grape from Spain. A great red wine for those who don't like how bitter red wine can be. The color of this wine is more of a light reddish color; it is at a medium tannin level, leaving a smooth and ripe taste that’s not too bitter. If you have never tried red wine, I would recommend this; it's light and fruity, with a bit of cherry flavor, and it leaves a buttery finish.
15. Malbec, Susana Balbo, Argentina
Malbec, Susana Balbo, Argentina, is another classic Vitis vinifera red grape. This wine has a dark reddish-purple color. At first, the smell is a bit strong like alcohol, but it has an aroma of oak and smokiness. When you taste it, it’s astringent with a little bit of bitterness, but in a good way. This one is really nice. It leaves the tongue slightly dry from the tannins, but you can pair it with dark chocolate to balance the taste.
16. Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Julia, Argentina, 2022
A perfect option for a red dessert wine is Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Julia, Argentina, 2022, a red wine grape variety of Vitis vinifera. This wine is a dark red color with medium tannins that give a slight drying grip, but they’re smooth rather than harsh, making it a nice, structured red that’s still easy to drink. It’s slightly sweet with a bit of bitterness, its aroma is fruity, and the aftertaste is smooth. If you don’t like the idea of pairing red wine with meat, pair this with dark chocolate desserts to balance the dessert's sweetness.
17. Crocus L’Atelier Malbec de Cahors 2022 .
If you’re a regular red wine drinker, give this one a try. This is a Malbec (Vitis vinifera) from Cahors, France, with a super-deep red color in the glass. It has a cherry-forward smell, and on the tongue, it feels sweeter and less bitter than many other reds. You get lots of oak, cherry, and overall fruity flavors, with medium, smooth tannins that don’t dry your mouth out too much. It comes across as elegant, and very easy to enjoy. I really like this one.
Next time you're in the wine selection, give these wines a try! Have it on its own or pair it with food. Buying wine shouldn’t be intimidating. Explore new varieties of wine to figure out what you like and don’t like. There is a wide range of wines from all regions, as I mentioned above, everyone has a different experience with how they taste each one. So, the only way to determine which one is your favorite is to try a good number of red and white wines. I hope I inspired you to try out some new flavors, or even take VIEN 1102 if you have the opportunity.
Krista Faith Gonzalez is a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be reached at kfg33@cornell.edu.
