Everything You Need to Know About Dry Wines

Are you a dry wine drinker? Do you favor dryer wine flavor profiles such as Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines? Dry wines feature a taste with more robust tannins and are less sweet, but that doesn’t mean they are entirely absent from sweet flavors. You will likely be able to taste the fruit of a dryer wine flavor profile.

If you want to learn more about dry wines, including what is a dry wine, what are some of the driest wines to try, and more, we’ve created this guide about everything you need to know about dry wines.

What Is Dry Wine?

A dry wine relates to sugar content, as dry wines have minimal to no residual sugar content. Specifically, they will typically have less than one percent of residual sugars to be categorized as a dry wine. A bone-dry wine is an extremely dry wine containing less than 0.5% residual sugar. However, that does not mean all dry wines cannot have a light, sweet taste.

It’s a common misconception that dry wines cause dry mouth. The dryness people believe they are experiencing when drinking dry wine is actually the result of a higher tannin level in wine. These bitter-tasting tannins come from the grape’s skin.

Another myth about dry wine is that dry wine has more alcohol content than other sweeter wines, which isn’t true. The amount of alcohol in any wine depends on the wine’s fermentation process, not the sugar level.

What Are the Driest Wines?

Many dry wines will feature a more clean, crisp, and even slightly tart taste. So, what are some of the driest wines on the market? The driest white wine types include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio/Gris. And for the driest red wines include Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, and Bordeaux.

To visualize wines from driest to sweetest in taste, check out our go-to wine sweetness chart showing wines from driest to sweetest and explore the differences between dry and sweet wine.

What To Pair with Dry Wine

Dry wine’s refreshingly crisp taste pairs flawlessly with roasted vegetables and seafood dishes like fish, shrimp, and crab. Dry wines are also great with chicken (especially chicken dishes with a white creamy sauce), salads, and light appetizers like cheese and crackers. If you want to enjoy a dry red, dry rosé is fantastic with decadent, cheesy appetizers.

Shop Papi Wines Today

Papi demi-sec wines offer a beautiful, softly sweet taste, featuring red and white wines with various flavor profiles from bright citrus to toasted French oak. Papi wines have the cleanest, highest-quality ingredients and no sugar options. Discover your next favorite bottle of Papi’s softly sweet wine that pairs well with every occasion and any time of day or night.