Tasting Guide
At McLaren Vale Cellars, we want to ensure you find the perfect wine to suit your taste.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve created simple spectrums that highlight the key characteristics of our wines.
Here’s a guide to understanding these spectrums and what they mean for your wine experience.
Sweetness
The sweetness of a wine is a fundamental aspect of its taste profile. From bone-dry to lusciously sweet, understanding where a wine falls on this spectrum can help you choose the right wine for any occasion.
Dry: Wines with no perceivable sweetness, often crisp and refreshing.
Off-Dry: Wines with a slight hint of sweetness, balancing acidity and sweetness.
Semi-Sweet: Wines with a noticeable sweetness, often fruity and easy to drink.
Sweet: Wines with a higher level of sweetness, typically dessert wines.
Very Sweet: Wines with intense sweetness, often syrupy in texture.
Acidity
Acidity in wine contributes to its freshness and crispness. The level of acidity can significantly influence the taste and food-pairing options for a wine.
Low: Smooth and soft wines with a mellow taste.
Medium: Balanced wines with a noticeable but not overpowering tartness.
High: Crisp and zesty wines, often with a refreshing, tangy finish.
Body
The body of a wine refers to its weight and fullness in your mouth. This spectrum ranges from light-bodied wines, which are more delicate, to full-bodied wines, which are rich and robust.
Light: Delicate wines, often with lower alcohol content and a subtle flavor profile.
Medium: Wines with a balanced mouthfeel, offering more structure and complexity.
Full: Rich and robust wines, often with higher alcohol content and intense flavors.
Tannin
Tannins are compounds that affect the texture and mouthfeel of wine. They come from grape skins, seeds, and stems, as well as from aging in oak barrels. Understanding the tannin level can help you anticipate the wine’s astringency and aging potential.
Low: Smooth and soft wines with minimal astringency.
Low to Medium: Wines with a slight astringency, offering a bit more structure while remaining smooth.
Medium: Balanced wines that offer both softness and noticeable astringency.
Medium to High: Wines with a stronger astringent quality, providing more grip and structure.
High: Bold and structured wines with pronounced astringency, often benefiting from aging to soften.
Each of these spectrums were designed to help you find a wine that matches your preferences, whether you're looking for a crisp, refreshing white or a rich, full-bodied red. Explore our range of wines with confidence, knowing that you have the knowledge to choose the perfect bottle.
