What is a rich wine? No, it doesn’t mean the wine is expensive (although it could be). Rich is more about what you find in your glass, as it’s a way to describe a wine’s flavour profile.
Wine Terms Explained unpacks some of the weird wine terms used to describe wine. There are some truly odd ones out there, and sometimes it can be hard to know what the tasting notes even mean. These guides break down the wine terms so that you can get back to enjoying wine!
So let’s dive into what rich means when it comes to wine.
What is a rich wine?
Rich, like many wine terms, can be a little confusing as it is used interchangeably.
Rich is often used to describe wine body. Wine body is defined by how heavy and rich a wine tastes. Generally, a fuller-bodied red or white wine can be described as rich, as it has ample texture and body with a long finish. This term is used to describe a texture and is generally related to higher alcohol content
However, it can also be used to describe wines with generous flavours that are deep and fruit-driven. These wines are deep, fruit-driven and jammy, filled with ripe, concentrated fruit. Usually, these descriptors are used in red wines, but sweet wines can also be described as rich when the sweetness is backed up by fruity, ripe flavours.
So in essence, it can be used to describe a few things: fuller-bodied wines, as well as fruit-driven wines. These aren’t necessarily the same thing but can be found in the same wine.
Where you’ll find it
So how do you know how to find it? Well, if you’re looking for the body definition, look out for heavier reds like Shiraz and Zinfandel. You can also find it in fuller-bodied whites, like an oaked Chardonnay.
For those red wines that are more fruit-driven and sometimes described as rich, one of the best examples is a jammy, Barossa Shiraz. But you can also find it in other styles like Zinfandel from California and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
In conclusion
Like many wine terms, rich is unfortunately used to describe several things, which can make it difficult to use as a tasting note. It’s thrown around a lot to explain wine body, and so you will often see it mentioned in tasting notes. And this is probably the most common use for this term, so you’re pretty safe using this definition! But you can go further too, if you want to describe a particularly fruit-forward, heavier red.