How to Tell If a Wine Is Dry in the Store?

When shopping for dry wine, the grape varieties and terms above are good starting points. Here are other ways to tell if a wine is dry:

Wines with an ABV between 11-15% are often dry. Wines with lower ABV (8-10%) may be sweeter, as sweet wine is made by stopping fermentation early when sugar content is still high and, therefore, alcohol level is still low. In contrast, fortified wines like Port have very high ABV (19-22%) due to the grape spirits used to halt fermentation and retain sugar, so many of them are sweet.

While fortified wines may be dry or sweet, “dessert” wines like Sauternes, Vin Santo, Moscato and Tokaji are always sweet. Other phrases that indicate sweet wines are translations of “sweet” (e.g. doux, dolce, dulce), late harvest, ice wine, Botrytis affected or noble rot (all made from grapes with higher natural sugar levels), or recioto or passito (wines made from dried grapes, which are sweeter). If you want a dry wine, avoid these terms.

The wine’s flavor profile or tasting notes should also give you a good idea of its dryness. Dry red wine is often described as vibrant or structured, with mentions of tannins or non-fruit flavors like herbs, spices or earthiness.

Dry white, rosé or sparkling wine is often described as crisp, bright or fresh. Non-fruit flavor descriptors, such as minerally, flinty or grassy also indicate dryness.

If a wine has aged in oak, it is normally dry, as oak aging increases tannins and perceived dryness. (Though, as explained above, it may yield some slightly sweet flavors.) So, wine labeled as oak aged, barrel aged or barrel matured is likely dry.

When in doubt, wine database apps like Vivino or Delectable, store employees, sommeliers or the WSJ Wine Personal Wine Advisors can provide expert information about the wine you’re considering.

Conclusion

All technical definitions of dryness aside, remember that wine is a deeply personal thing. Everyone has different perceptions and preferences—a wine that tastes dry to you may seem sweet to your guests, and vice versa. The best way to find the dry wines you love is to keep exploring. A tough task, but we bet you’re up to it.