What does it mean if wine tastes dry?

When it comes to wine, the term “dry” often gets thrown around. But what exactly does it mean? Let’s break it down.

In the world of wine, calling something “dry” means it lacks sweetness. It’s the opposite of sugary. People love dry wines because they’re not too sweet, and they’re versatile for cooking. Think of it as saying, This wine isn’t sweet.

Making wine involves a bit of chemistry. Yeast ferments the grapes, turning their sugar into alcohol. If fermentation stops before all the sugar is gone, you get a sweet wine. But if it goes all the way, you end up with a dry wine.

A dry wine should have less than 1% sugar left. But there’s some wiggle room. Some wines are slightly sweet, known as “off-dry,” while others are very sweet. Different factors, like when fermentation stops and the type of yeast used, affect how sweet or dry the wine is.

Despite its name, dry wines won’t make your mouth feel like a desert. That dry feeling sometimes comes from tannins, found in grape skins. And dry wines don’t always have more alcohol than sweet ones. Alcohol itself can dry out your mouth, but even sweet wines can be strong.

Understanding what “dry” means when it comes to wine isn’t as complicated as it sounds. It’s all about whether the wine is sweet or not. So, next time you’re sipping on a glass of wine and someone says it’s “dry,” just remember — they’re saying it’s not sweet, and that’s all there is to it!