For nearly two decades, Dr. Charles Roman has been providing patients with caring medical services. Focusing his practice on general internal medicine, he serves as the owner and CEO of Roman Medical Group where he provides long-term comprehensive care to adults and the elderly. Outside of work, Dr. Charles Roman is a wine connoisseur.
One of a wine’s many characteristics is its body. Most wines are classified as either light, medium, or full-bodied. The body of a wine provides an overall idea of what the wine is like. Body is affected by location, vintage, and even the method in which the wine was made. However, it is actually alcohol that plays the largest role in creating a wine’s body.
This is because alcohol is responsible for providing a wine with its viscosity. When a wine is more viscous, it feel heavier in the mouth and is regarded as having a more full body. This fact makes it a bit easier for wine enthusiasts to determine the body of a wine they are considering. Rather than spending a great deal of time evaluating the wine’s weight compared to other wines, enthusiasts can simply inquire about the wine’s alcohol content.
In general, wines with 12.5 percent alcohol and below are considered to be light-bodied. This includes many white wines, such as Riesling and Vinho Verde. Medium-bodied wines contain between 12.5 and 13.5 percent alcohol and include Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Finally, wines such as Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay are full-bodied wines. They are primarily red wines and contain more than 13.5 percent alcohol.
