Exploring Types of Red Wines

If you’re new to red wine tasting, it can be difficult to discern the differences between each varietal. 

Red wine, with its fruity notes, can range from very dry to very sweet, though it’s often mistaken for a mostly sweet wine. The truth is that this incredibly versatile wine comes in many forms.

We’re exploring all the main types of red wine to help you find your perfect vino.

Wine Tip: See our red wine sweetness chart below for more tasting insight.

What Types of Red Wine Are Dry?

Dry red wines are produced when most or all of the grapes’ natural sweetness is converted into alcohol during the fermentation process.  

1. 1. Cabernet Sauvignon

The most popular red wine in the world and an ancestor of the Cabernet Franc grape, Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold vino with low acidity and powerful red fruit flavors mixed with undercurrents of peppery tobacco and leather. It boasts incredibly structured tannins, the astringent flavors on your tongue after a sip. The boldness results from the grape skins, stems, and seeds having macerated (soaked) in the must (juice) for an extended amount of time. Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with red meats like steak. 

1. 2. Merlot

An easygoing red wine, Merlot is medium-bodied with low acidity and high alcohol levels. Cooler climate varietals will have higher tannins, whereas those from a warmer climate will have lower tannins. Originally from Bordeaux, France, Merlot is an incredibly well-rounded red wine boasting blackberry, cherry, and plum flavors, making it an excellent pairing for decadent chocolate desserts. 

1. 3. Pinot Noir

A light red wine, you might be surprised that Pinot Noir is a complex varietal with balanced raspberry, cherry, and mushroom flavors with high acidity. One of the oldest red grape varieties, Pinot Noir, thrives in cooler climates and originally hails from Burgundy, France. Pair with lamb, salmon, poultry, or anything with mushrooms.

1. 4. Shiraz/Syrah

This type of wine is known for its smokey tannins and full-bodied structure. When its grapes are grown in a warm climate, Syrah takes on jammy textures, licorice flavors, and much softer tannins. Pair with steak and hard cheeses for an indulgent treat.

1. 6. Sangiovese

One of the most famous Italian wines, Sangiovese, is a Super Tuscan varietal. Its grape of the same name is well-known for appearing in Chianti. This medium to full-bodied wine boasts bright cherry, plum, and tomato flavors and low tannins for a smooth sipping experience. Pair with Italian cuisine, specifically those with an herbaceous tomato sauce. 

1. 7. Zinfandel

Often mistaken for a sweet wine, this fruity vino boasts plum, currant, and fig. If you check the wine label, you’ll find that Zinfandel often contains a higher alcohol content of 13.5-17% ABV. Crafted from the same grapes as White Zinfandel, Red Zinfandel is produced like Rosé, with its grape skins left to soak for a more limited time than the other aforementioned wine. Zinfandel is well known as the best wine to pair with barbecue.

1. 8. Malbec

Argentina’s flagship wine is a spicy blend of blackberry, plum, clove, and pepper. Like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this variety is commonly seen in Bordeaux blends. This dark red wine with robust tannins pairs well with burgers, mushroom dishes, and sirloin. 

1. 9. Tempranillo

A Spanish wine varietal with strong blackberry, cherry, and fig notes, Tempranillo is often blended with Grenache in Rioja for a zingy, highly tannic red wine that’s similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. Tempranillo tastes decadent with hearty dishes containing lamb and braised beef.

1. 10. Nebbiolo

The “King” of Italian red wine, Nebbiolo hails from the Piedmont region and is famous for its role in regal blends like Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo contains rich tannins and acidity with rose, cranberry, cherry, and violet notes. It tastes delicious with fatty meats and dishes containing truffles, mushrooms, or tomato sauce. 

1. 11. Grenache

Grenache is the star grape of Châteauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Rhône from France, though it hails from Spain and is equally enjoyable on its own. With savory-sweet notes like spice-infused raspberries, strawberries, black cherry, and anise, this jammy, peppery wine tastes amazing with beef stews and mushroom pasta. 

1. 12. Chianti

This wine is produced from Sangiovese grapes and boasts a marriage of smooth tannins and moderate acidity. Chianti is best known for its dried fruit and spice flavors. It tastes best with traditional Italian cuisine, like pasta and pizza doused in herbaceous tomato sauce.

What Type of Red Wine is Sweet?

Sweet red wines, in contrast to dry red wines, are the result of fewer residual sugars having been converted into alcohol during fermentation. There are also several dessert wines, like Port, which winemakers have fortified with liquor. This combination tricks the palate into thinking the wine is sweeter than it actually is.  

 Below is our list of the sweetest red wines you can find.

1. 1. Port

Port is a fortified wine, meaning that it has been combined with distilled liquor like brandy. This makes its blackberry, raspberry, and chocolate flavors that much more intense, with incredibly high sugar levels and alcohol content. 

First crafted in Douro, Portugal, wine exporters added spirits to wines, ensuring they’d make the months-long sea journey.

Port can be found in four styles: Ruby, Tawny, White, and Rose, with Ruby as the youngest and Tawny as an aged varietal. As Port ages, its light, fruity notes take on a complex caramel taste. This sugary red wine tastes best with most desserts, like chocolate lava cake and apple pie.

1. 2. Lambrusco

An Italian sparkling wine from the Emilia-Romagna region, Lambrusco is a refreshing summer wine with strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, strawberry, and even red beet notes. This wine is incredibly food-friendly, with pairing potential ranging from creamy pasta to shrimp cocktails and balsamic vinegar salads when dry to desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries when a sweeter varietal.

1. 3. Rosso Dolce

With moderately high alcohol levels of 12-14%, Rosso Dolce is another Italian dessert wine boasting a gentle fizz. This wine contains sweet black cherry, raspberry, and red raspberry notes, making it an excellent match for chocolate brownies.

1. 4. Brachetto d’Acqui

This sparkling dessert wine is native to Piedmont and boasts candied strawberry, orange, apricot, cream, and black currant notes. With just 8-12% alcohol by volume, this vino is lower in alcohol making for easy tasting. It’s also impressively sweet, as over half of its overall content is residual sugar. Brachetto pairs best with chocolate mousse, nuts, and summer berries. 

1. 6. Muscadine

Muscadine is a unique dessert wine with strong banana, apple, cranberry, herbal, floral, and citrus flavors. Native to the United States, this red wine type is incredibly sweet, with an impressive 120-150 grams of sugar per liter. 

1. 7. Vin Santo

Also known as “holy wine,” Vin Santo is one of Italy’s most prized dessert wines. Crafted from Sangiovese and Trebbiano, this wine is perfumey with dried apricot, hazelnut, honey, caramel, and tropical fruit notes. It contains a minimum alcohol content of 16% ABV and 27% residual sugars. 

Endless Red Wine Tasting

With numerous red wines for sipping, we hope you’ve enjoyed our list of some of the most popular to help you get started. 

If you’d like to enrich your wine knowledge further, check out our Podcast and Wine Online 101 for everything related to the world of wine.

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