What Do We Mean By "Fruity" Wine?

All wine tastes like fruit, since its a fermented grape juice. (duh.) But when we talk about "fruity" wine, we mean that the complicated flavors of other fruits created during fermentation are strong, or "forward" as some say.

Of course, "fruity" covers a wide range of flavors. In red wines, it usually means berries and tree fruits. Apple, plum, cherries, and strawberries are all common flavors. In white, it usually means something citrus or tropical: peaches, pineapple, or even something exotic like lychee fruit.

Why is this important to know? If you are not a big fan of fruit, you might not enjoy these wines as much as others with different flavor profiles. If you are having fish for dinner, you might not want a wine that tastes strongly of peaches or cherries. If it's a cold night and you are looking for something to warm you up, a mulled wine reminiscent of apple cider might just hit the perfect note.

One last thing to keep in mind: we sometimes misunderstand a wine, calling it "sweet" when we actually mean "fruity." The next few times you hear yourself saying "sweet" when describing your wine, ask yourself if you mean that you're getting a "fruit forward" wine.