The term dry is often used on wine bottles, in cooking recipes, and even in beer commercials, but what is it trying to convey? How can a drink be dry?
It is a conundrum indeed, but you may notice that it’s mainly used to describe wine and beer. This is a clue.
Wine and beer both undergo a fermentation process. This means that yeast convert sugar and starches to alcohol and CO2.
In wine, it’s the sugar in the grape that’s eaten by the yeast. With beer it’s the barley, wheat, or grain base that’s converted.
What Is A Dry White Wine?
A dry white wine is made when almost every bit of sugar (glucose and fructose) is converted to alcohol. This means there is no perceptible “residual sugar” remaining. A dry wine has 0 to 10g of sugar per liter or 0 to 1.5g of sugar per 5oz glass.
After consuming “dry” wine, you may feel your tongue have a “dry” sensation. This is from the alcohol.
What determines how much residual sugar is left after fermentation?
- The length of the fermentation
- The yeast strain chosen (some are stronger and hungrier than others)
- The temperature of the fermentation
When yeast doesn’t convert all of the sugar the result is lower alcohol. Sweet Riesling comes in at 6-9% ABV while dry Riesling can push 11-14% ABV.
What’s The Difference Between A Fruity Wine And A Sweet Wine?
A fruity wine has the aroma of fruit due to oils and chemical compounds in the wine. A sweet wine is sweet on the palate due to sugar. A sweet wine can be fruity but a fruity wine (if dry or bone dry) will not have perceptible sweetness.
The oils and compounds that express aromas in wine grapes are also found in flowers, hops, and cannabis which if eaten will not taste like they smell.
This is how it’s possible to have very aromatic white wines, like Sauvignon Blanc, that sing of a variety of fruit on the nose, but then are dry and acidic on the palate.
What Are The Traits Of Dry Wines?
- 0-10g Sugar Per Liter (0-1.5g Per 5oz Glass)
- 125 Calories Per 5oz Glass or 25 Calories Per Ounce (USDA)
- 3.8 Grams Carbohydrates Per 5oz Glass (USDA)
- 11-15% Alcohol By Volume
How Can I Tell If A Bottle Of Wine Is Dry?
There are some tricks to determining whether a wine is dry when looking at a bottle.
The French will use the word “Sec” (pronounced Sehk) which means dry. “Demi-Sec” is half dry which means it has some sweetness.
Italians use the word “Secco.”
You’ve most likely heard of Prosecco, a dry sparkling wine from Northern Italy.
Sparkling wines whether Champagne, Cava, or Cremant, will have varying levels of sweetness.
“Brut” is used on very dry bottles.
“Brut Nature” is used when there is zero sugar. Few wine makers will make a “Nature” (pronounced Natoor) sparkling wine because many find them to be harsh or rustic if not done right.
If the bottle is not labeled as dry, you can look to the alcohol and may get a clue. If it’s below 11% it has residual sugar for sure.
If it’s higher than 12%, there’s a chance it can be dry or sweet.
What Are Some Examples Of Dry White Wines?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Muscadet
- Albarino
What Are White Wines That Can Be Dry Or Sweet?
- Riesling (Kabinett Is The Dry Style)
- Pinot Grigio
- Gewürztraminer
- Grenache Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
What Foods Pair With Dry White Wines?
Dry white wines are wonderful with light fare like seafood, chicken, and salads. Their bright acid is a match for vinaigrettes or any dish that involves, or would benefit from, a dash of lemon.
Sauvignon Blanc is wonderful with many green herbs and vegetables that normally are tricky to pair with; like basil, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, and artichoke.
Albarino and Muscadet are lean and lemon driven. They’re a perfect match for oysters.
Chardonnay is full bodied and creamy, making it nice for cream sauces, buttered, or fried foods.
Dry sparkling wines may be the most versatile food pairing wines. They’re light enough for light appetizers, but also have carbonation to cut the fat of steak.
It’s fun to explore these wines from the different regions of the world where they are produced, as the fruit and aromas may change with different climate and soil.
Enjoy your adventure through the world of dry white wines!
Cheers!
