By definition, wine is a popular alcoholic beverage made with the fermented juice of grapes. The difference between wine and beer is that the brewing process in beer involves fermented grains, while wine is simply made from fruit. 

More About Wine Types

Wine grapes take an entire season to ripen, and wine is only produced just once a year. When you see a vintage year listed on the label, that’s the year the grapes were picked and made into wine. The opposite of vintage wine is a non vintage wine, which is usually a blend from the product of two or more years. 

The Taste of Wine

Several aspects explain wine’s unique flavor, including acidity, sweetness, alcohol, tannin, and aroma compounds produced in fermentation. 

• Acidity: Wine as an enjoyable beverage lies on the acidic end of the pH scale ranging from as low as 2.5 to as high as 4.5. A wine with high acid will usually taste crisper and more tart on the palate, while a low-acid wine will feel smoother and rounder on the palate. 
• Sweetness: Depending on what style of wine you drink, the sweetness can range from having no sugar to being very sweet. The often-used term “dry” is used to describe a bottle of wine without sweetness. 
• Alcohol: The process of fermentation in winemaking turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. The taste of alcohol is somewhat bitter and slightly sweet, palate-coating, and warms the back of your throat. Wine’s average range of alcohol is about 10% ABV to 15% ABV.
• Tannin: Most commonly found in red wines, tannins contribute to the bitter and astringent quality of red wines. Tannins are derived from the skins, stems, and seeds of the grapes used to produce the wine.
• Aroma Compounds: There are complex flavors and aroma compounds that each grape variety exhibits at different levels. Red wines aged in oak contribute an oak barrel’s flavor and expose the wine to oxygen. Oxidation and aging produce a range of unique flavors to wine, including dried fruit and floral flavors. 

Why You Should Buy Wine at a Wine Shop

We have all experienced our first time browsing the wine aisle at a grocery store and not knowing what you pick. You may have scanned the aisle for a familiar label, deciphering the price, and scared to ask for help. 

While the grocery clerk may not be helpful about picking the best wine, there's another option you should try. Find a shop that’s dedicated to selling wine, beer, and maybe spirits too. 

Wine shops are generally filled with experts who love wine and love talking about it. You can chat with an employee about how you want a red wine to pair with a ribeye steak, and they can give excellent recommendations. 

The Best Place to Buy Wine in Asheville, NC

Each time you purchase wine, it presents another opportunity to explore and broaden your wine-tasting experience. So, where is the best place to buy wine in Asheville, NC? It’s at Metro Wines on 169 Charlotte St. 

When you visit our shop, our staff knows how to perfectly pair just the right bottle of wine with any dish or event. We are always available to give advice, answer questions, and offer suggestions. Offering competitive internet pricing, hard-to-find wines, and quality budget wines, Metro Wines is the best place to shop.