The world of wine can be a bit overwhelming, especially with so many brands, types, and tastes out there. We wanted to make it easier, so enjoy our no-frills guide to the 4 basic types of wine where we'll explore the differences between white wines, red wines, rosés, and sparkling wines.

Wine is an alcoholic beverage that is created from grapes (Vitis vinifera). The sugars in grape juice are converted into alcohol during fermentation. The alcohol (ethanol) in wine blocks various nerve pathways in the brain. Wine also contains antioxidants that might benefit the heart and blood circulation.

Dry Whites Wines that are lower in sugar are also generally better-for-you. And when we're talking about wine, "dry" means the opposite of "sweet," so according to Slayton, dry whites are another good bet. "At a restaurant, ask for their driest wine.