Have you ever heard someone describe a wine as creamy? You might have seen this in a description of a wine. I know I use this term quite frequently. But what is a creamy wine? You wouldn’t really think that cream and wine go well together (unless they are in a sauce). But is a creamy wine a good thing? And what creates this creaminess?
What is a creamy wine?
Many weird wine terms are used to describe flavours in a wine. But creamy is all about the texture of a wine. Think about drinking milk or cream – what does that feel like in your mouth? It’s sort of heavy and thick, and fills your whole mouth, right? Well, this same texture is what is being described in a creamy wine.
This creaminess can be from different things. Sometimes creamy will be used to describe Champagne, in which case it is the perceived yeast in the wine. Otherwise, it is usually used to describe the flavours from malolactic fermentation.
So how do you create a creamy wine? Well, when grapes are harvested and pressed, they are fermented and sent to aging vessels (wine 101). As the wine ages, there are some solids in the wine called lees. If these lees are left in the tank and pumped through the wine, this gives the wine creaminess. It also gives flavours of butter, bread or creme brulee.
Where you’ll find it
Creamy textures are a positive thing and often a characteristic which a winemaker will create on purpose in their wine. It softens the acidity level of the wines, and so winemakers will normally play with the use of malolactic fermentation to change the flavours in the wine and can make typically medium-bodied wines feel heavier. Although it is most common in white wines and Sparkling, you can also get it in red wines too!
Wines to look out for specifically include:
- Chardonnay – the most classic example of creamy is oaked Chardonnay
- Viognier
- Sauvignon Blanc (if it is oaked)
- Pinot Grigio/Gris
- Cabernet
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Champagne
- Sparkling wine made using the traditional method
In summary
So next time you are sipping on a Chardonnay, why not try and see if you can find that trademark creamy texture? See how it feels in your mouth and the difference between that and a zippy white wine. Better yet, compare an oaked and unoaked Chardonnay to see the real difference in flavours and texture. Creamy wines are not a bad thing at all, it is just a case of personal preference. If you love those textures in your wine, no doubt you are a creamy wine fan!