The 5 Profiles of Wine – Let’s Break It Down 🍷

One thing I’ve learned early on in my wine journey is this:
The more you understand why a wine feels or tastes the way it does, the more fun it gets.

So, in the next few posts, we’re going to explore five core elements that shape how a wine tastes, feels, and behaves in your mouth. These five qualities work together to create what I like to call a wine’s personality:

1. Sweetness
2. Acidity
3. Tannins
4. Alcohol
5. Carbonation

Each one contributes something unique - and once you know how to spot them, you’ll start to unlock the full experience behind every sip.

But before we dive into those five, there’s a sixth, slightly different—but equally important—concept to start with:

Body.

“Wine is bottled poetry.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson

What Is “Body” in Wine?

Let’s keep it simple:
The body of a wine refers to how heavy, full, or light it feels in your mouth.

It’s all about texture and weight.
Not so much about flavor or aroma, but how the wine sits on your tongue.

A good analogy:
Think about the difference between water, milk, and cream.
All are liquids. All are drinkable. But they feel completely different.

Wine is the same way.

Why Understanding Body Matters

Understanding body is incredibly helpful, especially when you’re starting to explore your preferences. It can also make describing a wine to someone else way easier:

“This red is really full-bodied—smooth, warm, and rich. You’ll love it with dinner.”

That says a lot more than just “it’s good.”

A Simple Wine Body Scale (1 to 5)

To make things even easier, I like to use a simple scale to describe body:

• 1 = Very Light
• 2 = Light
• 3 = Medium
• 4 = Full
• 5 = Very Full / Rich

This kind of scale helps compare wines more clearly, especially when writing tasting notes or recommending bottles to friends. It’s not about being “correct” - it’s about communicating your experience in a simple way.

For example, you could say:

“This Riesling is a 2 out of 5 on body—super light and crisp.”
Or:
“This Syrah is closer to a 5—rich, velvety, and intense.”

You’ll find this type of rating in professional wine books and guides too - so why not use it for your own notes?

What Affects the Body of Wine?

Several key elements contribute to how “full” or “light” a wine feels:

🍇 Tannins

Tannins provide structure and grip. The more tannin, the fuller and firmer the wine will feel - especially in reds.

🍭 Sweetness

More residual sugar = more body. Even slightly sweet wines feel rounder and richer in the mouth.

🍋 Acidity

Acidity does the opposite: it brightens and lightens the feel. High-acid wines usually feel more refreshing and crisp.

🍷 Alcohol

Higher alcohol content boosts the sense of richness and warmth, adding to the body.

🍾 Carbonation

Bubbles tend to lighten the body, giving the wine a more airy, refreshing sensation - think sparkling wines or pét-nats.

The 3 Main Wine Body Types

Most wines can be grouped into one of these three categories:

🪶 Light-Bodied

Fresh, crisp, and easy-drinking. These wines usually have lower alcohol, higher acidity, and no tannins.

Examples:

• Riesling
• Verdejo
• Pinot Grigio
• Silvaner

Perfect for sunny afternoons, salads, seafood, or just sipping on their own.

⚖️ Medium-Bodied

Balanced, versatile, and often crowd-pleasers. These wines have moderate alcohol and texture.

Examples:

• Unoaked Chardonnay
• Pinot Gris / Grauburgunder
• Grenache
• Tempranillo (young)

An excellent match for pasta, chicken, grilled veggies, or casual evening conversations.

🪨 Full-Bodied

Bold, rich, and structured. These wines have high alcohol, deep flavor, and often oak influence.

Examples:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah / Shiraz
• Nebbiolo
• Aged Rioja

These wines shine with steaks, stews, or slow evenings where you want something to really savor.

“A good wine is like a good conversation: complex, evolving, and never rushed.”

Tobi’s Tip: Feel First, Then Think

Don’t get caught up in technicalities right away.

When tasting wine, pause and simply ask:
“Does this feel more like water, milk, or cream?”

It’s surprisingly effective.
Then, if you like, give it a number on the 1–5 scale. You’ll start to build your own reference points - and communicating your impressions becomes a breeze.

And remember: There’s no right or wrong answer.
Some days call for light and lively. Others for rich and cozy. Trust your mood.

🎧 Wine & Music Moment

Music and wine? Always.
Lately, one track that’s been floating through my speakers while sipping a full-bodied red is:

🎵 Englishman in New York – Sting & The Police

There’s something effortlessly cool about this song.
It’s refined yet playful, poetic but punchy - just like a well-made glass of wine.
It tells a story of identity and presence, of standing out with grace. And that’s exactly how a powerful, full-bodied wine feels: confident, structured, and impossible to ignore.

Pair it with a Syrah or a Nebbiolo on a quiet night, and I promise - you’ll feel the atmosphere change.

Coming Next…

Next up: Sweetness.
From bone dry to dessert wine, we’ll look at how sweetness plays a subtle (and often misunderstood) role—even in wines labeled “dry.”

Until then, I’d love to know:

Do you prefer wines that are lighter or fuller in body?
Or does it change with the weather, the food, or your mood?

Drop me a comment or send me a message—I’m always up for talking wine.

See you soon with part two.
– Tobi 🍷