Cheryl Newbrough

About Cheryl Newbrough

Cheryl Newbrough is a foodie living in Berkely, CA. For as long as she can remember, Cheryl has been extremely interested in good food and beverages, as well as the hard work that goes into making them such high-quality. Over the years, Ms. Newbrough has been able to try a diverse range of foods from areas both around the country and internationally, and she is consistently looking for new cuisine to try locally as well.

In addition to her interest in food, Cheryl is a wine connoisseur with knowledge of many of the best that the California area has to offer. One of Cheryl’s favorite things about the wine space is that there is such a rich culture surrounding it, and there is always more to learn as new regions, countries, and wine producers get involved in the industry.

Understanding the Five Basic Characteristics of Wine

Getting into wine can be daunting for a lot of people. After all, there is a preexisting culture that adds a mystique to the industry, and some may put pressure on themselves to be experts at tasting notes, types of wines, and their characteristics, right away.

As someone who has experience within the space, Cheryl Newbrough maintains that wine tasting can be an accessible way to learn more about the varieties and find favorites. Below, are a few simple insights about the five major characteristics of wine, and how new wine tasters can recognize them.

Sweetness

Sweetness in wine comes from the residual sugar left over from the process of the grape fermenting into alcohol. Sweetness is often one of the first things that we perceive about the wine, as it is a distinguishable flavor that we are all familiar with.

What is interesting about sweetness is that everyone’s sensitivity to it is different, meaning that wine tasters can have different interpretations about the profile of the bottle. Still, it is something that we experience immediately, and it can be detected easily by focusing on the tip of the tongue. Because of the sugars involved, the sweetness of a wine has an impact on its viscosity as well as the calorie count.

Acidity

Acidity gives wine a tartness or sharpness. What is interesting about acidity is that it can give wines a lighter-bodied feel that some call “spritzy”. Acidity is often felt mostly on the front and sides of the tongue, balancing the sweetness and bitterness, and contributing to the overall balance of a wine. An interesting fact about acid in wine is that it comes from the tartaric, malic, and citric acids present. Wines made with grapes from cooler climates may be more acidic as the grapes do not ripen as quickly and have less sugar and higher acidity levels.

Tannin

Tannin is sometimes confused with dryness because it can dry out your mouth during tasting, however, it is more the astringency or bitterness present in the wine’s flavor profile. Tannins are imparted by phenolic compounds from the grape’s skins, stems, and seeds. Cheryl Newbrough mentions that, while tannin may be one of the most misunderstood characteristics of wine, it is very important for the structure, complexity, and balance of a wine. It even helps wines last longer. A fun fact about tannins is that they are more present in red wines, and one of the reasons why high-tannin reds pair well with red meat is because it helps break down the proteins and bring out their flavor.

Alcohol

Alcohol in wine is the ethanol created through the fermentation process when yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol. Alcohol content contributes to the texture, viscosity, and aroma of the wine. Wine’s alcohol levels can vary considerably, with the average wine consisting of between 11 and 13%, however, some can be as little as 5.5% alcohol or even as much as 20%. Believe it or not, how we taste alcohol in wine can vary considerably from person to person, with some experts maintaining that it is genetic.

Body

The body is the combination of sweetness, acidity, tannin, and alcohol. There are many factors that have an impact on the body, from the alcohol levels, its age, to the winemaking process, and the dozens of things in between. Typically, when we refer to body, we are using a scale that includes light, medium and full body. According to Cheryl Newbrough, light bodied wines are often considered more acidic but less alcoholic, tannic, and sweet. Fuller body wines are usually higher in alcohol, sweeter, more tannic, and can be sweeter as well, all contributing to perceived density.

Developing Your Palette and Learning More About Wine

Cheryl Newbrough mentions that the general idea around the characteristics of wine is simple. In reality, though, there are so many complex ways that these flavors and qualities can present themselves. What’s more is that, with so many varieties of wine, each can have its own balance and how we perceive them can depend heavily on many factors.

Developing your palette by being mindful of a wine’s characteristics as you taste is an excellent way to expand your wine knowledge. Exploring pairings, experimenting with wine grown in different locations and climates, and taking the opportunity to learn more about how your favorites are produced are all great places to start on your wine journey!

Cheryl Newbrough.com — A One-Stop-Shop for Food, Beverage, and Travel Insights

As a resident foodie, Cheryl Newbrough is passionate about helping others further their understanding of food and beverage space.
Cheryl realizes that sharing her insights and perspectives on how we can enjoy and share great food and drinks can be valuable and matches with our natural desire to find new favorites, explore why we enjoy what we do, and connect with others over our interests.
Cheryl Newbrough.com was created as a platform for a variety of topics based on Ms. Newbrough’s interests. Tune in to the blog for information on:

• Wine and Champagne Insights
• Restaurant Reviews
• Travel