Discover 10 Exquisite Types of Red Wine: Elevate Your Tasting Experience!

Dry Red Wine

How do you know if a red wine is dry? Well, the taste is pretty unmistakable. When a red wine is dry, it is because there is less sugar in the wine. When you take a sip, you will feel your tongue reacting, it will suddenly feel rough. This is the reaction between the tannins in the wine and the proteins in your saliva. Very dry red wines will be more savory or bitter in flavor and perhaps have earthy undertones.

Before cracking out the bottle, you may be able to determine if the wine is dry or not:

• Look at the label. Some winemakers may include terms like dry,” “off-dry” (slightly sweet), or “sweet” will give you a clue. You could also look for information on residual sugar content.
• Familiarize yourself with different types of red wine. For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are often made in a dry style. However, they all can also be less dry if the winemaker has added extra sugar during the winemaking process.
• Sometimes the alcohol content can give you a clue. Wines that have undergone complete fermentation where all the sugar is converted to alcohol tend to have higher alcohol content and are dry. However, this isn’t a foolproof method.

Sweet Red Wine

Opposite to dry wine, sweet wine will have a higher sugar content and usually less alcohol. This is typical because not all the sugar is converted into alcohol during fermentation. The earlier the fermentation process stops, the lower the ABV, and the more sugar remains.

You will notice a very different taste compared to a dry wine. Due to the lower level of tannins, sweet wines tend to have a fuller, rounder mouthfeel. They might feel a bit velvety on your tongue. These wines are more likely to have ripe fruit flavors, vanilla, and other light flowery flavors.

Types of Red Wine Sweetness Chart

Full Bodied vs Light Bodied Wine

Full and light bodied are terms used to describe the feel of the wine in your mouth. Light bodied wines are more refreshing and less intense, often compared to the feeling in your mouth of drinking water or skim milk. Sticking with the milk metaphor, a full bodied wine will feel more like whole milk or cream.

In short, a full-bodied wine refers to the texture and weight of the wine, not its sweetness. A full-bodied wine will have more tannins. Over time, tannins in the wine will soften, leading to a smoother mouthfeel and potentially more complex flavors as the wine matures. All of these things contribute to the ‘fullness’ of the wine. Both Full and light-bodied wines can be either dry or sweet.

Examples of light-bodied red wines include Pinot Noir

Common full-bodied types of red wine include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec.

10 Red Wine Types by Sweetness

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon, pronounced ka·br·nay sow·vuhn·yown, is a type of red wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Originating in France, it is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is now widely popular, perhaps in part because it is an easy grape to grow. Its thick skins contribute to the high levels of tannins, and it is resistant to rot and other diseases.

Cabs are often paired with steak or roasted meat and vegetables, burgers and other rich foods with creamy, buttery sauces. IT also pairs very well with cheeses like blue cheese.

Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol Content

The alcohol content in wine is tightly linked to the region the grapes are grown in. The longer the grape can grow and ripen, the higher the alcohol content will be. In California, this grape is one of the last grapes typically harvested, allowing it to have a higher ABV. Cabernet Sauvignons, from California, Australia and Chile, often have an ABV 14.5%, to 15%. Other regions such as Bordeaux and Tuscany will have a lower ABV typically 13.5% or lower.

Cabernet Sauvignon Calories

Tempranillo Red Wine

Temparnillo Grape

Tempranillo, pronounced tem·pra·ni·luh, is a variety of red grape widely grown to make full-bodied red wines. Native to Spain, the name is derived from the Spanish word “temprano,” which means “early.” It was given this name because this grape ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes. Tempranillo grapes have a thick skin, contributing to the deep color and tannins.

Tempranillo Wine Taste

Tempranillo is a medium to full-bodied red wine known for its rich and savory flavors. The grape itself offers a fairly neutral profile and is often blended with other varieties to add complexity and depth. When young, Tempranillo wines can offer flavors and aromas of red berries and plums. The oak aging process helps the wine develop notes of leather, tobacco, and spices.

Nebbiolo Wine

Nebbiolo Grape

Nebbiolo, pronounced neh·bee·ow·low, is one of the most prestigious grapes used for making Italian red wine, and is renowned for its ability to age. If you haven’t guessed it by now, yep, that means it is also high in tannins.

It is a difficult grape to grow because it buds early and ripens late, making it susceptible to spring frosts and requiring a long growing season with warm, sunny days and cool nights to fully develop its flavors and aromas. This makes wines produced from this grape a bit on the expensive side.

The name “Nebbiolo” is believed to derive from the Italian word “nebbia,” meaning “fog,”. The reference could come from a couple of different reasons. One, it is typical that a fog will envelop the Piedmont hills in the period when the grape is harvested. An alternate explanation is the “fog-like” white film that appears on the grapes during harvest season.

Sangiovese Wine (Chianti Wine)

Sangiovese grapes produce wines that are both robust and savory, with flavors that can range from sour cherry and earthy to floral and spicy, depending on where it is grown and how the wine is made.

Sangiovese Grape

Sangiovese, pronounced, san·jow·vay·zuh, is a grape used in the production of several Italian wines, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The name Sangiovese is derived from the Latin “Sanguis Jovis,” which means “blood of Jupiter.” The grape is thin-skinned, tightly clustered, and tends to ripen late, all of these factors make it difficult to grow, and naturally means these vines prefer warmer climates.

Merlot Wine

Merlot, pronounced mr·low, is a medium-bodied red wine known for its approachable and fruit-forward profile. It is considered a dry wine but has lower tannin levels than a Cabernet, so sometimes it can be perceived as sweet. This type of red wine typically displays flavors of plums, blackberries, and cherries, with a velvety texture and soft tannins.

Merlot Grapes

The Merlot grape produces large berries with a thin skin, which contributes to its lower tannin levels and softer profile compared to more tannic varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Merlot Alcohol Content

The alcohol content of Merlot wines typically ranges between 13.5% to 15% by volume. Merlot wines from cooler regions like France often have a 13–14% ABV. In warmer regions like California, or Australia the grapes have time to achieve a higher level of sugar so the wines can reach an ABV of up to 15% or slightly above.

Merlot vs Pinot Noir

Merlot typically offers a plush, velvety texture with flavors that range from black and red fruits (like plum, black cherry, and raspberry) to notes of chocolate, bay leaf, black tea, and in cases where it’s heavily oaked, vanilla and cedar. Merlot wines are generally full-bodied, with medium acidity and tannin levels.

Pinot Noir is known for its lighter body and more delicate structure, featuring high acidity and low to medium tannin levels. It boasts a broad flavor palette, from ripe red berries (strawberries, cherries, raspberries) to earthy and floral undertones like mushroom, soil, and rose.

Syrah Wine vs Shiraz Wine

Syrah and Shiraz wines are made from the same grape variety, but they often go by different names depending on where they are grown. The wines do end up having different flavor profiles as a result of how they are made.

• Syrah: The grape is known as Syrah in regions like the Rhône Valley in France. These grapes produce a wine with flavors of blackberries, plums, black pepper, and sometimes smoked meat or olives. It often has higher tannin levels.
• Shiraz: This name is commonly used in Australia and some other New World wine regions. Shiraz wines tend to feature riper fruit flavors and a bolder, more robust character but with softer tannins. Australian Shiraz can be as high as 16% alcohol.

Syrah Grape

The grape does have very thick skins, which then produce a wine with firm tannins. Syrah grapes produce wines with a deep, inky color, often so dark that it’s nearly opaque.

Syrah pairs well with a variety of foods. Its bold flavors can stand up to rich meat dishes, barbecue, hearty stews, and a variety of cheeses. The wine’s peppery notes make it a particularly good match for dishes with herbs and spices.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir, pronounced pee·no nuh·waar, is a type of red wine that’s made from the Pinot Noir grape. This particular grape is a black-skinned grape from the Vitis Vinifera species. The name is derived from the French words for “pine” and “black,” alluding to the grape’s tightly clustered pine cone-shaped bunches of fruit and its dark color.

This grape is challenging to grow and make into wine. It is difficult to grow because the Pinot Noir vine is sensitive to a variety of factors in its environment, including frost, disease, and vineyard pests. The vine prefers cooler climates and is famously associated with the Burgundy region of France, although it’s now grown in wine regions all over the world.

The grapes themselves are relatively small with thin skins, which contributes to the lighter color and lower tannin levels of the wine compared to other red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. This thin skin also means that the grape is susceptible to bunch rot and other diseases, which adds to the challenge of growing it.

Pinot Noir Grape

Despite these challenges, Pinot Noir is known for its ability to convey the characteristics of its terroir (or the natural environment where it grows, including factors like soil and climate) in a way that many other grapes cannot.

Though it is considered dry, Pinot Noir produces light to medium-bodied wine with flavors of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. The fruity flavors and lighter body can make the wine appear less dry. Sometimes a word used to describe the wine is ‘deleicate’, do not confuse this with the lack of a complex flavor profile. These wines are often quite complex in flavor.

Pinot Noir Alcohol Content

In the cooler locations of France and Germany, the climate directs a more subdued growth pattern, resulting in Pinot Noir grapes that achieve a modest level of ripeness. This translates to a slightly lower alcohol content that hovers around 12–13.5% ABV (alcohol by volume). In the sunnier locales of California and Australia, the grapes have more time to ripen, which boosts the alcohol content to 13.5–15% ABV.

Pinot Noir Calories

Regardless of the climate, a five-ounce glass of Pinot Noir typically contains around 125 calories, with 4 grams of carbs or less. There are some calorie counts for popular Pinot Noirs. Just remember, that different vintages could have slightly different ABVs.

Zinfandel Red Wine

Zinfandel Grape

Zinfandel, pronounced zin·fuhn·del, grapes are typically small to medium in size, with a thin skin that contributes to a high skin-to-juice ratio. What is really interesting is that the grapes can ripen unevenly, which means at havest time, not all the grapes have the same sugar levels. This can affect how the wine tastes.

Red Zinfandel can be perceived as a sweet wine due to the bold fruit-forward flavors, but, it is a dry wine. ers notes of ripe berries, black pepper, and occasionally hints of sweet spices. Zinfandel pairs well with grilled meats, barbecue, hearty pasta dishes, and spicy cuisine due to its bold flavors.

Zinfandel Alcohol Conent

Zins are known for their high alcohol content due to how the grape ripens with high sugar levels. In places like Central Valley, where there are some of the highest temperatures in California the wines regularly hit 16% to 17% ABV.

Zinfandel vs Cabernet

Zinfandel can range from medium- to full-bodied, with a moderate to high alcohol content (often 14-17% ABV). The tannin levels can vary but are usually less pronounced than in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabernet Sauvignon is generally full-bodied, with high tannins and a notable acidity that contributes to its aging potential. The alcohol content is also high, typically around 13.5-15% ABV.

Malbec Wine

Malbec Grape

The Malbec grape thrives in warm, dry climates, which has allowed it to flourish in Argentina.The high altitude and dry climate in Argentina produces wines that are more fruit-forward and less tannic than their French counterparts. Thought the grape has thick skin, it is vulnerable to vine disease and frost. This is the reason its prominence in France has declined.

Malbec wine typically tastes rich and juicy, making it a favorite among red wine lovers. The sweet flavors of blackberry, plum, and black cherry often make the wine taste sweet when in reality it is a dry red wine. On your tongue it will feel smooth and velvety texture.

Melbec Alcohol Content

Malbecs verge on the high side of average but can vary based on the region. In Argentina, the high sugar levels in the grape result in wines that commonly have an alcohol content ranging from 13.5% to 15.5%. In France, the grapes have less sugar due to the cooler climate. This results in wines with slightly lower alcohol content, typically around 12% to 14%.

Red Blends

Red blends can be on any spectrum of sweet to dry depending on which grapes are used and what the fermentation process is. These types of red wine are made from a combination of different red grape varieties. It is quite common though that even ‘single varietal’ wines are blends. In the US, a wine only needs to have 75% of the main grape to be labeled that varietal.

Blends are often named by the place the wine is made rather than by grape, or, in the US, simply labeled Red Blend.

• Bordeaux – Made from grapes grown in Bordeaux France, this win is typically a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec depending on the region. Flavors include dark fruits, like blackcurrant and plum, along with earthy notes, cedar, and tobacco.
• Meritage – These are wines made from grapes grown in the US, but are Bordeaux blends. The word, a combination of the words “merit” and “heritage,” was created to signify the high quality of the blend.
• Rioja – These types of red wines are made from grapes grown in the Rioja region of Spain and are a combination of Tempranillo, Grenache, and Mazuelo grapes. They have a wide range of flavors, from bright and berry-fruited to deeply savory, often with notes of vanilla, leather, and spice.
• Super Tuscan – Red wine blends from Italy, Super Tuscans use a base of Sangiovese, while others are made entirely from or include significant portions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and sometimes Syrah. Flavors can vary significantly based on the dominant grape used.
• GSM – GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre – a blend of grape varieties that has its origins in the Rhône Valley of France. The wine is balanced by the sweet fruitiness of Grenache, the spicy and dark fruit flavors of Syrah, and the tannins provided by Mourvèdre.

Red Wine FAQs