Learn More about Dry Red Wine Types

10 Jun Learn More about Dry Red Wine Types

Across the globe, wine drinkers enjoy drinking their dry reds. You will find there is no dearth of varietals in red wines and many of them are extremely popular and widely-consumed. Red wine is so popular, largely on account of its drinkability & accessibility.

Apart from that, it complements a wide range of foods and this versatility is another reason why so many people gravitate towards reds. Most collectors prefer wines with aging potential. These wines have quite a firm tannin structure that mellows over years of careful cellaring.

Some wine drinkers prefer reds that have lush fruits & integrated tannins, and can only be served when the wines are still relatively young. The most popular types of dry red wine (that come from across the world), you are most likely to find at local wine/grocery stores are:

Bordeaux-Style Wines

These are very well-structured, tannic, lush reds and contain different grape varietals that are typically found in the Bordeaux wines from France; however winemakers from across the world make these wines. Primarily, the grapes that you will find in these Bordeaux- styled wines are:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Merlot
• Carménère
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot

Generally, these wines are very complex and tannic and have a dark-fruit core. They have aromas and flavours such as tobacco, cherry, stone fruits and leather etc. Since most of these wines have a tight tannic core, they also age very well; and pair very well with fatty read meats like steak etc. These wines are produced in a number of regions across the globe and the most well-known producers of these wines include – Bordeaux, Tuscany, California, South America as well as Washington State.

Rhone-Style Wines

The grapes used in making these wines are commonly found in the Rhone region in France, and the most commonly-used grapes are:

• Syrah
• Grenache
• Cinsaut
• Mouvedre
• Viognier
• Roussanne
• Marsanne

You will find a lot of smoky, spicy and highly-fragrant flavours that also have bold fruit flavours in them. The different aromas and flavours you can expect to find are stone fruits, peppers, smoked meats, cherries, spices and nutmeg etc. Depending on how tannic their core is, most of these wines age very well; however, they have excellent flavours in their youthful state as well.

These wines pair very well with cured & smoked meats, dark meat poultry as well as game meats and braises. In addition to the Rhone region, there are excellent examples of these wines from regions such as Australia, California, Priorat, Spain, and Washington State.

Burgundy-Style Wines

These types of wines always use only a single grape – Pinot Noir! You will find wines that are unctuous & powerful or silky & smooth, based on the regions in which these grapes have been grown, as well as the winemaker’s style. The wines have flavours such as tobacco, cherries, berries, mushrooms etc. Despite the well-integrated, soft tannins these wines contain, they age pretty well and pair well with dark meat poultry, lamb, duck, mushrooms and salmon. Outside of Burgundy, 2 regions excel at making Pinot Noir- Oregon & California. Australia and New Zealand also have good Pinot Noirs.

The other popular dry red wines that are easily accessible are the full-bodied, powerful and zesty Zinfandel, the fruity and medium-bodied Chianti, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Barbera, Gamay and Petite Sirah.

Finding the Perfect Dry Red Wine

With so many flavour profiles and varieties available in dry red wines, finding one that you really like is largely a matter of trial and errors. If you have already tried some and haven’t really zeroed-in on a flavour that wows you, you should just keep trying. Chances are you will find more than one favourite. You will find that there are so many different styles of dry red wines that you are sure to find something that matches your preferences & budget.

For any information about wine cellars and cellaring wine, call Signature Cellars at 02 9340 7515. Alternatively, simply use this contact form to connect with us and we will get back to you shortly.

Thanks for reading,
Neil Smallman
Signature Cellars
02 9340 7515