Having dinner at a friends house is fantastic unless you’re a novice connoisseur drinker and asked to bring a bottle. Where to begin… Pinot Noir? Merlot? Cabernet? Or, do you give up and buy a bottle based on the adorable label and name?
Wine is a very complex thing. It takes years to understand tannins (natural compounds found in grape seeds, skins and stems that cause the “pucker” in some wine blends) and the varieties of grapes (there are 7,000+ types!). While there are hundreds of blends of red wine, we’re breaking out the most popular. Ultimately, taste testing different types is the best way to find out what you really like, but this simple overview will help you on your wine journey.
Pinot Noir
- Light-to-Medium Bodied
- Taste: Delicate and fresh; dry; fruits like cherry, strawberry, plum, raspberry; earthy; hints of clove and cinnamon
- Typically slightly pricier due to the effort in growing and maintaining the grapes.
- Pairs Well With: Chicken, lamb, salmon, pork, cheese, chocolate
Zinfandel
- Medium-to-Full Bodied
- Taste: Fruits like blackberry, cherry, raspberry, plum, raisin; peppery; spicy; sweeter
- A lighter body, inexpensive wine great for new or non-wine drinkers.
- Not to be confused with White Zinfandel. Both come from the same grapes but have a different fermentation process.
- Pairs Well With: Poultry, beef, BBQ, pizza, some fish, vegetables
Sangiovese
- Medium-to-Full Bodied
- Taste: Cherry (black and sour); fig; peppery; earthy; spicy; tobacco; dry
- Italy’s most well-known wine.
- Serving slightly chilled can mellow the tannins.
- Pairs Well With: Grilled steak, roasted poultry, aged cheeses, Italian dishes
Merlot
- Medium-to-Full Bodied
- Taste: Dry; fruits like black and sour cherry, plums; hints of cocoa and cloves; peppery; earthy
- One of the only blends of wine to grow in a warm and cool climate.
- Depending on the region the grapes are from will change the taste of the wine. A cooler region will heighten the earthier notes. A warmer region will bring out the fruit notes.
- Pairs Well With: Chicken, beef, pork, cheese, grilled vegetables
Syrah (also known as Shiraz)
- Full Bodied
- Taste: Fruits like blackberry, plum, black cherry; cloves; peppery; licorice; chocolate; smoky; leathery
- The region it’s produced in will influence the final taste. If from France, Syrah will be more peppery. From Australia, it’s full of fruit flavor.
- Pairs Well With: Barbecue, hamburgers, heavy red meat
Malbec
- Full Bodied
- Taste: Fruits like plums, blackberries, black cherry; smoky; earthy; peppery; dry; tart; varies based on the region the grapes are grown
- Origins are in the French Bordeaux region. However, Argentinian blends are extremely popular and many mistakingly view it only as an Argentinian blend.
- Pairs Well With: Red meat, chili, stew, aged cheese
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Full Bodied
- Taste: Fruits like blackberry, blueberry, plum, black cherry, black currants (cassis); peppery; vanilla; spice; tobacco; dry
- Grapes are grown in nearly every wine producing region making it one of the most recognized blends.
- Best consumed with food rather than a glass on its own.
- Pairs Well With: Red meat, strong cheeses