Body

Wine is often described as having body but that doesn’t mean that one size fits all or that one body type is better than another. Although it's common to think of full-bodied wines as exclusively red, some white dessert wines with higher sugar content fall into the fuller side. Does that mean full-body is better? You tell us. Champagne is thin. Still think thin wine is not good? We didn’t think so. The point is, you can’t necessarily know if a wine is good or bad based on body.

The body of a wine is made up of all the flavors and textures that comprise it. Sometimes you might want something that’s crisp and light. Chances are this is going to be a wine on the thin end of the body spectrum. And yes, you can find delicious reds residing there. They’re especially delicious on a hot summer evening. A 2007 Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Poulsard from Cotes du Jura, France will run you about $20. Perhaps on the mid-high end of economical range, but keep in mind that wines like this are considered rare and off-beat. Isn’t it nice to know the rare is within reach?

We love looking at things from an unusual angle and body gives us a great way to illustrate that there are always many ways to approach wine and wine culture. Not everything is “just so” and black and white thinking makes this adventure way less adventurous.

So what is the take away? Body can be full or thin without regard for color. And body shape does not dictate the quality. It’s just one component to consider when tasting wine.