WHICH RED WINE? OUR guide TO 10 RED red wine VARIETALS

Which red wine? Not only challenging to say, however likewise difficult to decide, selecting a bottle of red red wine to drink commonly a dilemma. We’ve put together flavour notes as well as food pairings for 10 red red wine varieties we love.

I don’t understand – as well as wouldn’t care to understand – exactly how much time I’ve spent staring at the rows of red wine on the shelves of shops over the years. who understands exactly how numerous times I’ve reached for a bottle only to pull back at the last minute, selling the dummy, feigning the pass.

I understand exactly how numerous times I’ve gone into a store, promptly reached for a bottle as well as left with my purchase.

That’s easy: zero.

Choosing red wine is a deliberation that takes time, scrutiny as well as much chin-scratching.

To assist with the whole process, we’ve put together a listing of red red wine types – varietals if you don’t mind – to ideally speed up your decision-making as well as decrease the possibility of the store owner believing you’re casing the joint to rob it.

10 red red wine types as well as what they’re like

1. Shiraz – big, rich as well as packed with flavour

Shiraz is well-known for its powerful depth of flavour as well as there’s a huge fanbase for these Shiraz ‘monsters’ from locations like the Barossa Valley in SA.

However, there seems to be a relocation to much more medium-bodied Shiraz from locations like the hunter Valley in NSW.

Flavours to expect:

Shiraz typically has red as well as dark berry flavours, chocolate as well as earthiness – particularly as the red wine gets older. There’s typically much more tannin in Shiraz, which makes it drier.

For some recommendations as well as a much more extensive look at this noble grape, inspect out our Shiraz summary here.

Drink as well as eat:

Christina as well as I like a huge Shiraz just on its own, however pairing a full or medium-bodied Shiraz with red meat or a rich tomato-based pasta meal is a great deal of fun. Here’s much more on what food works with Shiraz.

2. Cabernet Sauvignon – bold, spicy as well as popular

Another ‘big’ wine, Cab Sauv is in truth the most liked (and many recognised) red red wine around the world.

This red wine came about in the 17th Century when Bordeaux winemakers crossed Cabernet Franc as well as Sauvignon Blanc grapes to produce this prominent portmanteau wine.

Flavours to expect:

Plenty of strong flavours as well as strong tannins come out of this wine. expect cassis, currants as well as herbs in a great Cabernet Sauvignon, with firm, peppery surface as well as spicy ginger.

Drink as well as eat:

Similar to a Shiraz, a Cab Sauv goes well with rich, dark meats as well as roasts, however likewise blue cheese as well as cigars.

3. Pinot Noir – nuanced, aromatic as well as fashionable

Pinot Noir has discovered popularity recently, proving that palates are moving toward a much more medium-bodied, lighter red wine.

This varietal is likewise understood for its brattiness. difficult to grow as well as turn into wine, Pinot Noir is likewise troublesome in the glass. Amazingly, in the wrong shaped glass, flavours in a Pinot Noir can modification from delicious to formic.

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it myself.

Flavours to expect:

A great Pinot Noir is a lovely thing – as well as even an okay one is quite good! delicately perfumed, as well as flavoured with black as well as red cherry, raspberry, currant, blackberry, as well as vanilla from the oak.

Click right here for much more on Pinot Noir.

Drink as well as eat:

Because of its delicate nature, Pinot Noir goes well with lighter meats like pork or even chicken. It works truly well with a cheese platter or even on its own.

4. Merlot – balanced, fruity as well as plump

A juicy red wine originating in Bordeaux, Merlot is the jolly uncle of the red wine world – though it can be extremely expensive, not to mention supremely tasty.

Flavours to expect:

Wonderfully fruity as well as practically fleshy, Merlot is a delicious medium-bodied red.

Drink as well as eat:

Merlot is a flexible red wine as well as quickly paired with anything from barbecued meats to grilled vegetables. Its sweetness would go well with spicier foods too.

5. Grenache – sweet, peppery as well as under-appreciated

I feel a bit sorry for Grenache. It’s typically discovered in the mighty GSM blend with Shiraz as well as Mourvèdre to make a solid faithful red wine option.

But on its own, Grenache has so much to offer. It’s just a bit harder than many grapes to grow as well as process.

Flavours to expect:

Sweetness, depth as well as pepper greet you as well as keep you business all the method with a glass of Grenache.

Drink as well as eat:

Easy to delight in on its own, Grenache will likewise fit dishes with a bit of spice – though a lamb shank cooked with a touch of star anise is king.

6. Tempranillo – bright, earthy as well as easy-drinking

Straight from the Rioja region of Spain, this red wine has likewise been growing in Australia for a long time now. possibly its pronunciation (“temp-renee-yo”) puts people off!

Because it’s still medium to full-bodied, it’s unexpected exactly how easy-drinking this red wine is.

Flavours to expect:

Lower acidity (which doesn’t imply wonderful btw) as well as flavours full of fruit implies this red wine goes with a great deal of foods, which is what its main function is. however by itself, Tempranillo expresses plum strawberry, cherry as well as herbs.

Drink as well as eat:

Being so quintessentially Spanish, this red wine works tremendously with jamon iberico, mature Manchego cheese and/or roast or barbecued lamb.

7. Sangiovese – sharp, agile as well as fun

Italy’s darling, Sangiovese is likewise making headway into Australia. An elegant, medium-bodied red however with lots of punch, Sangiovese is one of those wines that fits with numerous as well as many situations where red wine is called for!

Flavours to expect:

Find cherry, herbs, tomatoes as well as even some earthy tea flavours in a Sangiovese. Aussie-made versions likewise tend to be fruitier as well as higher in alcohol than their Continental kin.

Drink as well as eat:

This red wine is flexible as well as simple to enjoy. envision what you’d like to have on your table as you dine in the Tuscan countryside as well as that’s what you ought to eat with this wine.

8. Pinotage – earthy, concentrated yet spry

Mainstay of South African wines, Pinotage is a splice between Pinot Noir as well as Cinsaut, which utilized to be called Hermitage. It’s only been around because the mid-1920s as well as was developed to have the flavour profiles of Pinot Noir with the stability of Cinsaut.

Flavours to expect:

Smoky, earthy flavours mix with blackberries, balanced acidity as well as a solid medium body. in some cases there’s a tropical fruit – even banana – note.

Drink as well as eat:

You can treat this red wine the exact same method you would a Pinot Noir, though there’s sufficient power in Pinotage for it to stand as much as richer dinners you’d eat with a Shiraz.

9. Petit Verdot – deep, floral yet full-bodied

Often referred to as a majestic wine, Petit Verdot’s complexity, structure as well as depth makes you question why this varietal hasn’t been much more popular in Australia before now.

This is a should for red red wine enthusiasts.

Flavours to expect:

Crimson colour suggests intense flavours of blueberry, well-built tannins as well as a full body.

Drink as well as eat:

Rich meat dishes, strong cheeses as well as even spicy foods do well with Petit Verdot. It’s solid tannins cutting with heat, complex flavours as well as fat easily.

10. Chambourcin – responsive, approachable as well as berry-driven

Still to make a dent in the Australian market because its arrival in the ‘70s, Chambourcin has the prospective to ended up being extremely prominent here.

Initially rather a wonderful wine, winemakers utilized it to make port or to blend with drier wines, however removing the residual sugars has shown the fruit in its true form.

Flavours to expect:

Big, juicy flavours without the huge body or tannins you discover in Shiraz or Cab Sauv, Chambourcin hides raspberry, plum as well as even cranberry notes in its inky depths.

Drink as well as eat:

Quite flexible to food, Chambourcin can choose a firm or dark meat fish dish, roast poultry or even grilled veggies. It likewise works well with slow-cooked red meats.

Red red wine as well as food is always an simple coupling, however it can be difficult to choose what is the very best match.

Here’s our guidance on red red wine as well as food pairings.

Do you have a preferred red? What do you eat with it… or do you just delight in it on its own?