As head of wine at Cavavin, people often ask me, what’s your favourite wine? Truth be told, no one wine comes to mind as wines change in flavour from place to place, and grape to grape. Flavour and style of wine is important in determining the type of wine to buy - one to enjoy at the dinner table or one to sip while sitting on the couch.
Wine styles and flavours vary with grape variety, place, winemaking practices, and so on. Each person tastes differently too. Theoretically, the styles of wine are sparkling, white wine (light, medium, aromatic ), red wine (light, medium, full ), rosé, fortified wines (port ), and dessert wine. What defines the style is typically grape variety, which gives the wine colour, tannin, aromas and flavours, viscosity, and alcohol, which gives the wines weight, mouthfeel, and flavour, the refreshing acidity, but also country and regions.
At Cavavin, our shelves are defined by style and taste, eg, ‘dark and complex’, a selection of reds with richer darker fruit flavours and oak ageing, or ‘crisp and zesty’, a selection of whites with light, dry, and refreshing flavours and a refreshing finish. So next time you’re in the city, stop by, explore, discover, and taste some really flavoursome wines. You may be surprised to see your favourite Argentinian Malbec or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on display beside a wine from France or Spain with similar flavour profiles that may become your new favourite.
Louise O'Brien, head of wine, Cavavin Ireland.
