Welcome to The Cellar Room! If you’re just starting your wine journey, this guide will help you make sense of the basics without overwhelming you. Whether you’re holding a glass of ruby red or crisp white, understanding what’s inside that bottle makes the experience so much more enjoyable.

What Is Wine, Really?

Wine is simply fermented grape juice. Yeast eats the sugar in the grapes and turns it into alcohol. The type of grape, where it’s grown, how it’s harvested, and how it’s fermented all impact the final taste.

Types of Wine

There are five major categories:

Red – made from dark-skinned grapes and fermented with the skins.

White – made from green or yellow grapes, or dark-skinned grapes without skin contact.

Rosé – lightly tinted pink, made with minimal skin contact.

Sparkling – bubbly wines like Champagne and Prosecco.

Dessert/Fortified – sweet wines often with added alcohol (e.g., Port, Sherry).

The Structure of Wine

Each wine has five basic components:

Sweetness

Acidity

Tannin (mostly in reds)

Understanding these elements helps you describe what you like and why.

Tips for Enjoying Wine

• • Serve whites chilled and reds slightly below room temperature.

• • Swirl to release aromas.

• • Don’t worry about “rules” – if you like it, drink it.

Wine can be simple or incredibly complex, but the best way to learn is to taste widely and stay curious. Cheers to your first sip of knowledge!