Red Wines

Red wines are made by allowing the juice to macerate on the skins helping to extract plenty of intense flavours, colour compounds, and tannins. This is why red wines often have a bolder flavour profile and colour than many white wines. It is common to leave red wines to age in oak barrels for an extended period to soften the tannins and add extra complexity and polish. You can buy red wines and pair them with charcuterie, barbecued and grilled red meats, and hearty tomato-based pasta dishes.

Key Red Wine Regions

Famous red wine regions include Burgundy in France which is known for its elegant Pinot Noir and Bordeaux which produces prestigious red blends that can age for decades. Other important regions for red wines are France's Rhone Valley, Napa Valley in California, the Barossa Valley in Australia, Rioja and Ribera del Duero in Spain, and Barolo and Tuscany in Italy from where you can buy the best red wine.

Red Wine Grape Varieties

Red wines are normally made from black grape varieties, although some may include a small amount of a white grape. For example, Ch√¢teauneuf-du-Pape reds which often have some Grenache Blanc or Roussanne. The most famous varieties used for red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo. There are also hundreds of lesser-known indigenous grape varieties such as Blaufrankisch from Central Europe, Touriga Nacional from Portugal, and Dolcetto from Italy.