WSET’s global wine education framework defines the main wine styles as: red, white, rosé, sparkling, dessert, fortified, and orange. Each originates from Vitis vinifera wine grapes but expresses a different identity through grape variety, fermentation length, and aging potential.
At Cellar Beast Winehouse, award-winning wines are crafted in Pennsylvania from premier West Coast vineyards in Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, Dundee Hills, and Lodi. We follow Old World winemaking techniques—whole-berry fermentation, extended maceration, and aging in new and neutral French oak—to capture both place and precision.
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Quick Answer: The 7 Main Types of Wine
How to Choose Among Different Kinds of Wine
The Seven Different Kinds of Wine Explained
1. Red Wine
Red wines derive color, texture, and high tannin from extended contact with grape skins. Typical grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Garnacha (Grenache), and Malbec. The Bordeaux Wine Council notes that structured reds with firm tannins are often crafted for longer-term aging.
Signature Bottles: Cellar Beast Cabernet Sauvignon (Yakima Valley) – black currant, graphite, and cocoa notes; Cellar Beast Grenache-Syrah Jeune Bête – bright red fruit and herbs.
Matt Check, Head Winemaker, says: “Tannin only matters when balance is lost. Our fermentations coax structure without bitterness.”
Serve in large-bowl red wine glassware; pairs with beef, lamb, or aged cheddar. Continue reading about red wine types here.
2. White Wine
White wines from white grapes emphasize acidity and aromatic lift. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, and Muscat Blanc offer distinct expressions of terroir.
Cellar Beast Sauvignon Blanc (Meek Vineyard) delivers chalky minerality inspired by Loire Valley appellation laws.
Cellar Beast Chardonnay (Columbia Valley) balances citrus brightness with creamy texture.
Ideal pairings: seafood, roast chicken, and alpine cheeses. Best served around 48 °F.
3. Rosé Wine
Rosé wines blend the freshness of white wine with the fruit of red wine through brief skin contact. Cellar Beast Rosé (Yakima Valley) offers white peach, nectarine, and stone-fruit tones finishing clean.
These wines embody modern wine culture – approachable, seasonal, and versatile for food pairings from charcuterie to salmon. Continue reading about rose wines here.
4. Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines, whether Champagne, Crémant, or Pét-Nat, achieve their effervescence through secondary fermentation, which releases carbon dioxide. Cellar Beast Sparkling Wine (Yakima Valley Pinot Noir Rose) uses the Méthode Champenoise to achieve a creamy texture.
Tasting notes include green apple, brioche, and citrus zest. Pair with shellfish or fried foods.
Historical context: Regions across Europe, from Château de Saumur to Vinho Verde, share a centuries-old sparkling wine heritage under regional appellation laws. The World Atlas of Wine identifies Champagne, Franciacorta, and English sparkling wine as benchmarks for traditional-method sparkling wines.
5. Dessert Wine
Dessert wines concentrate sugar through botrytis or freezing. Cellar Beast Chenin Blanc and Muscat Blanc mirror classic European sweet styles. Notes of honey, candied apricot, and caramel balance bright acidity.
Aging potential spans two decades; serve slightly chilled with fruit tarts or blue cheese. Their production method illustrates the art of stopping fermentation at precise sweetness levels—a lesson taught in the Napa Valley Wine Academy’s Level 1 Award in Wine program.
6. Fortified Wine
Fortified wines are produced by adding grape spirit during fermentation. This technique originated in the Douro Valley for Port creation and in Spain for Sherry styles.
Cellar Beast Dark Angel (Carménère 91%, Petit Verdot 9%) echoes these traditions with notes of spice, graphite, and silky tannins after 17 months in French oak.
Pair with dark chocolate or nuts. This style illustrates how fortifying wine increases longevity and aromatic intensity.
7. Orange Wine
Orange wine – also called skin-contact white – ferments white grapes on their skins, a winemaking process traced to the Areni-1 Cave in Armenia over 6,000 years ago. Expect an amber hue, tea-like tannins, and a marmalade aroma.
Aaron McCullough describes it as “the bridge between white wine’s freshness and red wine’s texture.” Cellar Beast Gewurztraminer Orange Wine draws on ancient European methods refined through modern cellar control.
Cellar Beast Philosophy: Structure Over Hype
Every Cellar Beast bottle reflects a balance of acidity, tannins, sweetness, and aromatics. Whole-berry fermentation and neutral oak aging showcase true terroir. As Matt Check notes, “Structure defines longevity; fruit defines charm.”
This approach aligns with European wine heritage yet thrives in New World regions. Featured examples include Cellar Beast Jeune Bête, Cellar Beast Dark Angel, and Cellar Beast Cabernet Sauvignon.
Build Your Own “Different Kinds of Wine” Flight
Explore all the main types of wine at the Cellar Beast Winehouse Split Rock Tasting Room. The flight includes Cellar Beast Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc Rosé, Pét-Nat Sparkling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dark Angel Fortified-style, Chenin Blanc Dessert Wine, and Pinot Gris Orange Wine. Guests learn to evaluate body, acidity, and aroma across styles using professional wine glassware. Premium wine reports such as Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the Wine Industry highlight that consumers trading up are exploring more diverse styles.
Join the Cellar Beast Wine Club to receive quarterly shipments and education materials curated from BKWine Magazine and our own team of sommelier-trained staff.
About the Author
Written by Kim McCullough, Owner and Brand Director of Cellar Beast Winehouse. A graduate of Level 2 sommelier certification of the National Wine School (similar to the Napa Valley Wine Academy), Kim blends storytelling and sensory training to illuminate modern wine culture. Cellar Beast produces small-batch Pennsylvania wines from elite West Coast vineyards using sustainable methods.
