The Body Type of Wine

Whether a wine is “light-bodied” or “full-bodied” depends on its weight

(watery to thick), a measure of the amount of alcohol and extracts it
contains.

Light-Bodied Wines

Red: Dolcetto, Lambrusco

White: Asti, Moscato/Muscat, Soave, Vinho Verde
Pink: Rosé, White Zinfandel

Light- to Medium-Bodied Wines

Red: Bardolino, Gamay (Beaujolais), Valpolicella

White: Gewürztraminer, Orvieto, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon

Medium-Bodied Wines

Red: Carménère, Chianti, Pinotage, Sangiovese

White: Albariño, Bordeaux, Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner

Medium- to Full-Bodied Wines

Red: Barbera, Bordeaux, Brunello, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha/Grenache, Malbec,

Merlot, Montepulciano, Burgundy/Pinot Noir, Rhône, Tempranillo (Rioja), Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel
White: Burgundy/Chardonnay

Full-Bodied Wines

Reds: Barbaresco, Barolo, Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah

Whites: Viognier