The different kinds of wines sold can be numbered by the hundreds. They refer usually either to the country where it is produced, or of whose product it is an imitation, as Port, Sherry, Hochheimer, Madeira, etc., or to the variety of grape from which it is made, as catawba, riesling, zinfandel, etc.

No generally recognized classification is made except into white or red wines according to their color; and into dry or sweet wines according to their content of sugar. The general name of champagne is given to effervescing wines.