You are not alone in loving a good wine. Glasses and racks all around the world get filled with red wine every year. There are well over 50 different types of red wines out there to explore and enjoy. These range from rich, powerful palates, to lighter and more fruity styles. Here is a short list of the 15 most popular types of red wines from all around the world.
When it comes to red wine there is no one size that fits all. There are so many aspects you need to consider, including taste, occasion, and price while choosing a red wine. It is, therefore, important to understand wine labels which can quickly help you to figure out the one you are likely to enjoy.
Take The Grape Escape
Certain red grape varieties are notorious for having bold flavors and high tannins. It is even more exaggerated if they are coming from a warm climatic region. Moreover, a wine from a particular French appellation may have certain nuances that are atypical of that particular region.
Light-colored red wines generally tend to be younger wines. They are normally defined as light-bodied or medium-bodied. Deep ruby and garnet red wines are usually medium or full-bodied. This post is meant to help you guide you through to red wines to find out more about them.
Red wines are typically classified as either dry or sweet. They are categorized through the level of sugar that remains following the process of fermentation. It is normally classed as a dry wine when residual sugar is low at the end. Whereas higher sugar levels in wines ensure they remain sweeter to taste.
15 Red Wine Types & Styles
The most popular types of red wines are usually made from grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Shiraz, and Zinfandel. Many red wines like the favorite ones we have listed here are referred to by the grape variety from which they are produced. There are other popular types of red wines as well that are named after the region where they have been produced, rather than their grape variety. Most prominent in this category is Rioja.
Barbera
This grape variety originates from Italy. It is a fruit-driven red grape that has seen a surge in demand over recent times. Barbera typically produces full-bodied wines with high acidity and low tannins.
Over 80 percent of the global cultivation of Barbera grapes happens in Italy. This country by far is the largest producer. Other countries are also catching up fast with the success of this grape story and upping production. Winemakers in Slovenia, just across the border, are taking advantage of similar climatic conditions and producing some great examples of their own. Argentina and California far away are growing smaller amounts of Barbera as well.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Tuck into a bottle of Barbera to find a fruit-led flavor profile. It comes along with prominent notes of blackberry, dark cherry, and strawberry. However, this red wine is not often aged and is instead enjoyed young. This is why oak-aging flavors are usually limited in this wine type. Nevertheless, this red pairs very well with Italian food. It is normally a good way to go and this wine is no exception. Just think about a meaty bolognese or a classic meaty feast pizza.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is one of the most popular types of red vines in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its bold and powerful reds. This wine is full-bodied and relatively low in acidity alongside being rich in fruit flavors. This grape variety is a very meaty vino. It also has high tannins which when combined with thick skin have a great potential for aging.
Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Cabernet Sauvignon is generally blended with other varieties of grapes. These include Merlot to create Bordeaux blends. Thanks to its versatility, this grape has gone on to be cultivated in many other wine regions across the world. It is nowadays also found in Australia, Chile, South Africa, and Spain.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Tasting notes of Cabernet Sauvignon wines can vary across the world. Some notes will be consistent regardless of the region where they were grown. You can expect the wine to display intense, dark fruit flavors like blackcurrant and cherry, alongside notes of chocolate, eucalyptus, and tobacco in oaked varieties. Mainly because of these deep, rich flavors, it is important to pair Cabernet Sauvignon wines with foods that do not overpower your meal. A great match for this red wine would be a burger or a juicy steak. This wine is also excellent with strong cheese cuisine or indulgent dark chocolate desserts.
Carménère
This grape variety is a less common variety. However, it is certainly worth being on any wine buff’s radar. It produces some outstanding wines and is a predecessor to some of the better-known red grape varieties like Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Carménère is known as a difficult grape to cultivate. It produces medium-bodied, fruity wines along with high acidity and noticeable tannins imparting a smooth mouthfeel. However, this style can slightly vary depending on the region where they are grown.
Carménère is most commonly found in Chile. It loves the hot climate here and is the signature grape variety of this country. Chile is the world’s largest producer of Carménère grapes. Other countries that have joined the race include the eastern regions of Italy, along with Argentina, New Zealand, and the USA which produce lesser amounts.
Flavors & Food Pairings
The wines produced by Carménère are full of red and black fruity notes that come along with a distinct smokiness when conditions are right. Herbal notes in the wine also come through on the nose along with a touch of dark chocolate on the palate. The well-rounded nature of this wine denotes that it is versatile when it comes to pairing with smoky barbecued foods and spicy Mexican meals. Or strong cheeseboard dishes which make a great match.
Gamay (Beaujolais)
This grape variety is capable of producing very elegant wines. Gamay is most commonly found in blends named after the French appellation of Beaujolais. These wines are light in both, color and body. They are usually low in tannins, low in ABV, and have a high level of acidity. Taking advantage of the freshness in grapes, Gamay is best enjoyed young. However, this extremely rare red wine can also be served chilled.
Gamay is best suited to the granite-based soils of the Beaujolais region. Its origins lay well within the French border earlier. But now winemakers in Switzerland are also producing some great single varieties of Gamay wines that are light and fresh. Other cooler climatic regions in Canada and New Zealand are also getting into action.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Gamay wines are well known for their bright fruit flavors of blackcurrant and raspberry. They come along with red cherry aromas on the nose. This wine also has many floral notes as well including violet tones commonly found followed by earthy undertones. When it comes to pairing with foods, Gamay is a great all-rounder. It is particularly pleasant to crack open a bottle of Gamay on Christmas Day. It pairs very well with the mild turkey flavor along with peppery potatoes and cranberry sauce.
Grenache (Garnacha)
This one is definitely an unsung hero of the wine world. Garnacha grape variety is used in both stunning blends and stand-alone wines. Grenache wines typically are medium-bodied, light in color, and high in alcohol.
Grenache or Garnacha is mostly grown in Old World wine regions. Understandably France, where it originates is the front-runner. Spain nowadays is also a big producer. Moreover, New World regions like Australia and the USA are also beginning to take it on as the main players.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Grenache wines typically have fruity notes of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry along with cinnamon on the palate. However, flavors can vary depending on the region where the grapes come from. Nevertheless, notes of orange peel and red grapefruit are pretty common along with slightly spicy notes. Grenache wines pair very well with flavorsome dishes packed with herbs and a little spice. Mexican meals would be a great match. A mild curry is also perfect for a lower-alcohol Grenache wine. Just make sure that you serve it slightly chilled. It will help in easing the heat of the food.
Malbec
Think of big, juicy wines when you think of Malbec. They are ideal for big, juicy steaks. This full-bodied red wine comes with high tannins and high ABV. They are deep, rich reds that have a wonderful depth of flavor and are great for aging as well.
Originating in France, Malbec is still prevalent in the world-famous Bordeaux region. Nowadays it also seems to be thriving in the sun-soaked vineyards of Argentina. Other New World regions starting to turn out some truly impressive Malbec offerings include Australia and New Zealand.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Malbec wines are packed full of dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum. They are powerful and rich along with notes of pepper and tobacco that linger throughout towards a long finish. Sweeter notes of vanilla may also come through on the palate in the New World styles. Nevertheless, this red is a perfect match for any rich meaty meal. The high tannins of this wine will easily overpower food. So, pair it with a bold and flavorsome dish that can handle it. Including steaks or spicy dishes is a good idea. Lighter and medium-bodied varieties of this wine can also be paired with tuna steaks.
Merlot
This is an easygoing red. It is known for being both, an extraordinary wine on its own and a great wine to create blends. Merlot typically produces a well-rounded, medium-bodied wine with low acidity and relatively high ABV. Cooler climatic varieties of Merlot have slightly higher tannins. Whereas the ones from warmer climates are full of fruitiness alongside lower tannins.
Merlot also originates from Bordeaux. However, it has now become widely grown across the globe. In both, the New World and the Old World regions. Nevertheless, France still remains the go-to place for this variety. Moreover, there are some really great Merlots coming from Australia and Chile as well.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Merlots are similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. They can vary in taste across the world. Packed with fruity flavors of blackberries, light red fruits, and plums, this red wine comes with notes of chocolate and fruit cake. Notes of spices and vanilla also come through with aging along with a velvety smooth texture. Pairing this red wine with food is a pretty simple proposition as Merlot is a good all-rounder. However rich dishes tend to work better with this red. Try duck and lamb or perhaps a roasted dinner.
Nebbiolo
This is another bold red that may not be at the top when it comes to favorite reds. It is merely due to the fact that it is relatively unknown to most of the world. The Nebbiolo grape variety originates from Northern Italy. It produces some powerful, full-bodied wines with high tannins. However, these wines remain relatively pale in color.
Nebbiolo grapes are most commonly grown in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. They are extensively used to produce Barolo wines. These grape vines can be extremely fussy when it comes to climatic cultivating conditions. Nebbiolos are happiest on a hillside in the sun with clay or silt-based soils. They are rarely grown outside of this region for this particular reason. When it comes to the rest of the world, this grape variety has been taken on by very few winemakers. There are a handful of producers in Australia and California as this challenging variety only thrives in very specific geographical locations.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Nebbiolo wines on the nose are a bouquet of red fruit aromas with floral undertones of rose. With grippy tannins and flavors of leather on the palate, they tend to cling to your mouth. Followed by powerful notes of cherry and coffee, this red is not for the wimpy. Nevertheless, this vino pairs very well with food. You can think of rich, oily foods when it comes to that. Rustic Italian cuisines like bold pasta with rich sauces, drizzled in olive oil are a good choice. Then there is something a little more oriental like the Asian or Chinese fares that pair perfectly with this red wine.
Nero d’Avola
This is yet another grape variety that is widely unknown. Nero d’Avola is a classic grape type that is predominantly cultivated in Sicily. It produces deep wines alongside a strong body with high tannins at a medium level of acidity. These wines were commonly used as blenders in the past to add body and color to mainland wines. However, nowadays they produce some great wines of their own.
Nero d’Avola vines thrive in the eastern part of Sicily. It loves the elevation where cooler temperatures help them to reduce the alcohol levels. It is no surprise as such that this unknown grape variety hasn’t been taken up by many new world winemakers. Nevertheless, there are a few vineyards across the world trialing this vine variety in Australia and the USA. Maybe it will be able to make a mark in the days to come.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Nero d’Avola reds are bursting with deep rich flavors of black cherry, liquorice, and tobacco. This full-bodied red wine is usually aged and exploding with bold flavors. However, some of these are kept fresh and young with less intense notes and lighter flavors of red fruits and plums. This wine pairs very well with food. Just think of standard red wine pairings of barbecued meats and rich beef stews with Nero d’Avola.
Pinotage
This is a man-made grape variety that was first created in South Africa, Pinotage is a combination of Cinsault and Pinot Noir. And what an incredible mix! Pinotage produces rich, full-bodied wines with light to medium tannins. With low acidity and intense flavors. This red is a lovely, easy-drinking wine.
This grapevine still remains almost exclusive to South Africa. It is the second most planted grape variety in the country. Fortunately, Pinotage nowSys can also be found growing in very small quantities inside Australia.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Pinotage wine is packed with dark fruit flavors. It shows some hints of red berries. Older Pinotage vines produce rich and spicy vinos with savory flavors. This red wine results in a complex palate of leather and liqorice. It is full of character and leaves a long finish. You can ideally pair this wine with rich meaty dishes that can withstand the full-bodied nature. Also think of steak venison, or even a hearty stew if you like.
Pinot Noir
This vino is notoriously difficult to grow. However. the results can be exceptional if you are willing to put in some hard work. Pinot Noir wines are light-colored, medium-bodied wines that have low tannins, Yet they are full of juicy fruit flavors. This red wine is also commonly used in making sparkling wines including Champagne.
Pinot Noir is known for being cultivated in the Burgundy region of France. Moreover, New World countries have also taken this on including Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. The warmer climatic conditions of these countries generally tend to produce full-bodied versions of this wine.
Flavors & Food Pairings
You can expect smooth red fruit flavors like raspberry and strawberry with earthier tones to finish when sipping this wine in a glass. The New World varieties, however, provide less earthy notes alongside more sweet fruit flavors. Pinot Noir wines pair very well with food, and they are versatile too. Try juicy pan-fried duck or any other game birds. Grilled salmon is really a good choice with a lighter variety and lower tannin wines if you want to go for fish.
Sangiovese
This is yet another grapevine that is difficult to grow and work with, It has gained a bad reputation over the past. But things are beginning to change now and Sangiovese is gaining acceptance. This wine style however varies depending upon where the grapes have grown. Normally, this red produces medium-bodied wines with high tannins that are very high in acidity. It is better when consumed young, although some wines are best aged for around 4 to 7 years of time.
With over 150,000 acres under plantation, Sangiovese grapes are best known for being grown in Italy. This fussy grape is pretty hard to come by outside of Italy. Only some very small amounts are being produced on the coasts of California and Washington in the United States.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Sangiovese wines are packed with earthy flavors. You can expect to find cherry and fig on the nose, along with cranberry and plum on the palate. Hints of leather and spicy tones are added to the wine with light oak. It provides a more savory nuance. This unique red pairs well with food. You can think of herby chicken or tomatoey Italian pasta. They will help balance the savory notes in the red wine.
Shiraz (Syrah)
This is another popular black grape variety cultivated across the world. It is known as Syrah in Old World countries and Shiraz in the New World. Shiraz wines are known to have full body, high tannins, and medium acidity. Due to its thick, deep colored grape skins these wines display a deep purple hue. Moreover, despite being the same grape variety the wine style varies between the Old World and the New World. Syrah is more earthy in the Old World regions, while Shiraz is fruit-driven in the New World.
Originally Syrah is from France. It is still considered the king of the Northern Rhône. This area is internationally recognized as producing some of the best and most expensive Syrah grapes. With hot climate areas like the McLaren Vale, Australia is the biggest producer of this grape variety in the New World. It is well known for producing top-quality, fruit-driven Shiraz.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Syrah wines in the Old World are known for their herbaceous notes with hints of black pepper and spice. Aging however adds leathery tones to the drink. On the other hand, New World Shiraz is lighter and filled with blackberry notes alongside sweet licorice and tones of vanilla. The richness of this wine makes it a great match to go along with foods like burgers, ribs, and BBQ chicken wings. Hard cheeses also pair well with good acidity in the wine.
Tempranillo
This thick-skinned red grape is the fourth most widely cultivated variety in the world. Tempranillo is the most-grown grape type in Spain where it originates. It produces medium to full-bodied red wines that are ruby in color when young. Subsequently, they turn more garnet due to aging. High tannins in the wine reasonably complement levels of acidity and high ABV. This variety is most commonly used as the base for producing the world-famous Rioja blends.
These grapevines thrive in the scorching heat of luscious wine regions in Spain. But they love the cooler nights outside of Spain. Tempranillo can also be found in Portugal as well as in hot South American regions like Argentina and Chile. A perfect climate also exists for this popular grape variety in the southern regions of Australia.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Tempranillo wines are complex and generally consist of deep layers of flavor. You can particularly find bold notes of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry in younger varieties. Moreover, aging usually adds notes of leather and tobacco as well. The finish however is normally long and smooth. It creates a deliciously drinkable wine. Younger varieties of this red work well with slightly more delicate dishes like mushroom-based dishes. The aged varieties of this classic red wine have an intense flavor. They pair extremely well with barbecued meat or steak.
Zinfandel (Primitivo)
Most commonly found across ponds, this is a grape variety full of history. It produces some sensational wines. Zinfandel is a full-bodied, rich, and reasonably powerful red with a high alcohol content alongside medium tannins and a bang of acidity.
Zinfandel is most often found soaking up the Californian sun. It is a slightly sweeter grape variety that thrives in the warm climate. Despite originating from Croatia, there are other places in the world as well where it can be found. Zinfandel gained the name Primitivo in Italy during the 18th century. These grapevines are also found in areas of Southern Australia.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Expect dark fruit flavors of blackberry, and blackcurrant alongside a touch of raspberry while indulging in a glass of Zinfandel wine. These red wines produced in warmer regions will display notes of black pepper and smoke as well. Thanks to the richness and sweetness of these wines, they are a great match for meaty meals that are big on flavor or come with a little spice.
A World On Rioja Wines
Made from Tempranillo grapes, Rioja is mainly known for its red wines. This region is well-known for having wines that age for a long time. Rioja wines are mostly blended with smaller amounts of wines made of Garnache, Graciano, and Mazuelo grape varieties. Nevertheless, these wines are rich and crowd-pleasing reds. They are also enjoyable when young although capable of aging as well.
Riojas wines are split into four classification levels namely Crianza, Genérico, Gran Reserva, and Reserva. However, all Rioja wines are dry wines and can conveniently converted into a fruity and easy-drinking style.
Flavors & Food Pairings
Rioja wines generally are medium to full-bodied with pleasing sweetness and balanced tannins. With low acidity and medium to high oakiness, they display rich flavors of dark berries and herbs. They go great with roasted leg of lamb, shellfish paella, and wild mushroom risotto. Made for special occasions, Rioja wines are also excellent with chestnut soup, duck confit, roasted squab, sautéed mushrooms, and winter or fall stews.
Wine & Dine
It is not always pleasing to consume wine by the glass alone. Red wine can also be used as an ingredient in your food. Or go for a red wine sauce with your dinner and still derive equal pleasure. Red wines also have a host of associated health benefits like in the treatment of headaches, reducing calories by killing the appetite, and more.
No matter where you are from, if you are a wine lover you can always use it for a pleasant time by consuming it in the right amounts. It is delightful to know that wine enthusiasts around the world can mend their ways and live a disease-free life by drinking a glass or two of red, red wine.
