dry wine

Meaning

A 'dry wine' is a wine that is not sweet because most of its natural grape sugars have been converted into alcohol during fermentation. It often leaves a puckering, drying sensation in the mouth due to tannins. It is the opposite of a sweet or dessert wine.

Examples

• If you don't like sweet drinks, I recommend ordering a dry wine.

  If you don't like sweet drinks, I recommend ordering a dry wine.

• This crisp, dry wine pairs beautifully with grilled seafood.

  This crisp, dry wine pairs beautifully with grilled seafood.

• Is Chardonnay typically a dry wine or a sweet one?

  Is Chardonnay typically a dry wine or a sweet one?

• She bought a bottle of dry wine to use in her mushroom risotto recipe.

  She bought a bottle of dry wine to use in her mushroom risotto recipe.

• I find that a dry wine cuts through the richness of creamy pasta sauces.

  I find that a dry wine cuts through the richness of creamy pasta sauces.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This wine doesn't have water, it is a dry wine.

  ✓ This wine isn't sweet, it is a dry wine.

  'Dry' in wine terminology does not mean 'lacking liquid.' It refers strictly to the absence of sweetness or sugar.

• ✗ I want a bitter wine, please.

  ✓ I want a dry wine, please.

  English learners often confuse 'bitter' with 'dry.' A dry wine is not necessarily bitter; it simply lacks sugar.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't like sugary drinks, so please pour me a ___.

  💡 A wine that is not sweet.

  Show answer

  dry wine

• This Sauvignon Blanc is a very ___ with a clean finish.

  💡 Opposite of sweet wine.

  Show answer

  dry wine