Red Wines

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Bordeaux Blends
• Syrah/Shiraz
• Grenache
• Mourvedre
• Rhone Blends
• Pinot Noir
• Zinfandel
• Petite Sirah
• Tempranillo
• Chianti
• Nebbiolo
• Nero d'Avola
• Primitivo
• Italian Red
• Sangiovese
• Carmenere
• Other Red Wine

There are about 40 important red grape varietals grown in the world today. The major ones are listed below. Generally speaking, as you go down the list the grapes will go from light to full-bodied in texture; low to high in tannin level; lighter to deeper in color (which generally corresponds to perceived acidity); younger to older in ageability. In truth the redness of a wine depends on contact with the skin of the grapes: separate the grape from its skin soon enough after picking and you can make a very white red. For example, most wines made in Champagne are white wines made with a significant proportion of red grapes.

European wines will usually be identified by their appellation; elsewhere wines will be identified by varietal.

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