The Weight of Wines

Light and lean or big and bold? People often select wines asking for something that’s light, heavy, or somewhere in between. But how does one tell the difference in a wine’s body and structure or “boldness” strictly from a label? Well, technically you can’t, but you can get a general idea of the “heft” or fullness of a wine using the charts below.

White Wines

	Lighter Body
Soave, Orvieto
Off-dry German wines (except Riesling)
Off-dry Rieslings (U.S., Australia, Germany)
Muscadet
Dry Riesling (U.S., Alsace)
Chenin Blanc (including Vouvray)
Champagne, Sparkling Wine
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc
Bordeaux white
Gewürztraminer (U.S.), Pinot Grigio
Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Pinot Gris
French Chablis (and other unoaked Chardonnays)
Gavi, Rousanne
Mâcon (including Pouilly-Fuissé), Semillon
Alsace Gewürztraminer, Viognier
California Chardonnay
Mersault, Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachets
Rhône whites
	Heavier Body

Red Wines

	Lighter Body
Beaujolais
Valpolicella
Dolcetto
Burgundy (Côte de Beaune)
Rioja, Tempranillo
Barbera, Sangiovese
Chianti Classico
Pinot Noir
St. Emilion, Pomerol, other Bordeauxs
Burgundy (Côte de Nuits)
Médoc, Pinotage, Malbec
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Petite Syrah, Malbec, Meritage
Zinfandel, Mourvedre
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rhône, Syrah, Shiraz
Barbaresco, Amarone
Barolo
	Heavier Body