All About Wine

Red Wine

There are about 40 different important red wine grape varietals grown around the world today. The term varietal usually refers to wines that are non-European in origin. This is because most European wines are named after the region in which they are grown, such as Bordeaux, Chianti, Champagne, etc. Outside Europe most wines are named after the grape variety used to make the wine. This is true of red wine as well, such as Cabernet.

Wine can vary in many ways, from light to full-bodied texture; low to high tannin levels; light to dark colors; and in age as well. Actually the color of the wine depends greatly on the contact it has with the grape skin, so if you remove the red grape skin quickly after picking, you will produce a very light colored red wine.

The major types of red wines are Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet/Merlot Blend, Chianti, Dolcetto, Italian Red, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Red Bordeaux, Red Burgundy, Sangiovese, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and others.

The following is a list of red wine types and where they grow best:

Gamay	Beaujolais, France

Pinot Noir	Burgundy, France; California; Oregon; Champagne, France

Tempranillo	Rioja, Spain

Sangiovese	Tuscany, Italy

Merlot	Bordeaux, France California; Washington State

Zinfandel	California

Cabernet Sauvignon	Bordeaux, France California; Chile

Nebbiolo	Piedmont, Italy

Syrah/Shiraz	Rhone, France; Australia

Recommended Red Wine Resources

Wine.com - A great selection of wines from all over the world available by region or wine type. Also has a great gift center and wine accessories section as well.
800wine.com - Select wine by price, occasion, or category. Gift baskets, glassware, and fine sake available too.
GeerWade.com - Select wine by varietal, region, personality, or price. Lots of wine accessories and education too.

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