#Most popular red wine types how to

Try side-by-side tastings to detect differences in vintages or varietals, or taste with your friends and compare notes. Due to the complexity of most good reds, you’ll want to use a larger glass that can really showcase the wine and allow you to swirl, sniff, sip, and repeat. Better still, decant the wine to introduce some oxygen and really open up the aromatics and flavors. With dry reds, in particular, be sure to let the bottle breathe for a while after you open it. But there are a few things you can do to improve the experience. Simply put, there’s no wrong way to go about tasting red wine.

#Most popular red wine types how to

How to taste red wine Image used with permission by copyright holder There are also sweeter fortified wines like Porto or Vin Santo, which do great with funky cheeses. If sweet is your thing, check out sweet red wine styles like Lambrusco or certain types of Valpolicella.

It’s part of what keeps the dry red wine category so varied and interesting. Big, fruit-forward red wine like Zinfandel can seem sweeter than others even when it’s technically dry. Dry wines can confuse people, as sometimes a bone dry red can come off as sweet-tasting simply because of the fruity grape variety involved or the style in which it is made (even if there is no residual sugar). Usually, this is because all of the natural sugar in the fruit is fermented to alcohol. Most red wines are dry, meaning they have little to no residual sugar. Dry versus sweet wine Image used with permission by copyright holder These places are responsible for some fantastic red single varietals as well as blends. Think France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, as well as domestic locales like California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. We encourage you to explore more eclectic regions like Alto Adige or the republic of Georgia but for a first dive into the category, there are a few American states and countries you should keep in mind that reliably turn out quality dry red wine. The twelve below are some of the more popular on the wine map, grown everywhere from the Willamette Valley to South Africa. There are innumerable red wine grape varieties grown throughout the world. Red wine regions Image used with permission by copyright holder Here’s a break down of the massive red wine category and how to thoroughly enjoy it. The Best Wine Country Regions for Outdoor Adventuresġ5 Delicious Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes to Try This Year

Valentine’s Day calls for the very best Champagnes: Our top picks Some whites and Roses are capable, but reds tend to really shine in this department. The zippy whites and refreshing pink wines were great over the summer, but now we need something that can accompany heartier dishes and stand up to holiday meals.

Image used with permission by copyright holderĪt the moment, we’re heading into peak red wine season.

We want you to stick with red wine, not frighten you away from it based on price point. Consider it a handshake that introduces you to some of the more approachable options out there. We get it, vintage Bordeaux or a priceless Super Tuscan can be exquisite, but this guide is more introductory. There are countless options out there but we’re here to break it all down and make it easy for you to enjoy what’s in your glass, especially now as we head into the cooler stretches and reach for reds all the more often. We’re talking Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Tempranillo, Chianti, Pinot Noir, GSM, lovely blends, and many, many more. There are oceans of red wine out there and we’re not talking about the Red Sea.