Beginners Guide to Red Wine

You don’t need to know all about red wine to confirm that you love drinking it. Perfect for the winter months, a classic red wine is also a popular drink at every celebration with over hundreds of kinds of red wine available. Summarising all that you need to know about the red wine is not going to be effortless – yet, we are going to try. 

Essential Types of Red Wine

The essential types of red wine are light-bodied red wine, full-bodied red wine, medium-bodied red wine, and in some cases, dessert wine. The history of red wine in particular is long, originating around 6000 BC from regions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. 

Drinking wine was (and still is) a part of some religious practices, cultures, and rituals. This alcoholic beverage which is prepared with fermented grape juice generally includes an alcohol content ranging from 12–15%.

While there are many categories of red wine, the most popular ones are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Shiraz. Let’s explore them in detail.

Pinot Noir

Image Credits: Taylors Wines

Intensity: Light

This particular type of grapes is identified to cultivate best in colder climates. Pinot Noir is acclaimed for its fruity aroma which consists of cranberry, raspberry, black cherries and so on. It’s a lighter style of red wine, so you can combine this red wine category with pretty much all varieties of food. When you pour it into the wine glass, you’ll note a charming light red or a pale ruby colour to the drink.

Merlot

Image Credits: Dee Vine Estate

Intensity: Medium

Although this grape might not be exceptionally favoured amongst wine lovers, it is still one of the most commonly grown grapes in the world. Yummy plum and mocha notes bring along a silky and velvety character. Deeper in flavour, a merlot is usually blended with another familiar collection of red wine grapes named Cabernet Sauvignon to lighten it up.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Image Credits: Tyrrell’s Old Winery

Intensity: Medium Full

This distinct variety of red wine grapes is also appreciated as the ‘King of Grapes’. Often fused with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon wines are normally dry and have a greater content of alcohol in it. One of the most aged red wines across the globe has a fruity aroma and flavour to it which combines eucalyptus, blackberries, mint, cedar, cigar, and blackcurrant.

Shiraz 

Image Credits: Tipple.com.au

Intensity: Full Bodied

A shiraz is a rich but easy wine to drink that is popular here in Australia. The flavour and aroma of a shiraz typically includes smoke, sweet blueberry, coffee, pepper, plum, and clove. Shiraz incorporates high tannins and medium acidity and makes it a superb food pairing with grilled meat.

To best enjoy a glass of red, take your glass of red wine. Before you gulp it down, let it sit in your mouth for a bit. Let your taste buds blend with the red wine to figure out the flavours and combine them with the aromas you took up earlier. Texturally is it dry or like syrup? Take a moment to enjoy a nice glass of red wine (whichever style suits your fancy). It’s the perfect warming drink for the winter months!