Find Your Perfect Match With The Best Red Wine Options
McKenzie Hagan | May 14, 2020
Discovering the best red wine is all about tastes. Some people like it sweet and others like it dry. Some prefer the richness of full-bodied red while others find themselves coming back to the easy drinking of an airy, light-bodied red. The red wine your best friend falls head over heels for might not necessarily be your jam. Each wine is unique with its own tasting notes and aromas to draw in your senses.
There are hundreds of tasting notes for every taste bud. From almonds and berry fruits to cherry-like and velvety, theres a red wine out there for you. Here, well break down the best red wine options and help you choose the ones youll like most based on your preferences.
Sauvignon Blanc And Verdicchio
The central eastern Italian region of Marche produces some of the most under appreciated white wines in the world, from a grape called Verdicchio. Its bright, crisp, citrusy flavors make it the perfect wine for lovers of Sauvignon Blanc. Verdicchio is grown in vineyards close to the Adriatic sea, and can have a slight salinity, which pairs perfectly with seafood. It also works well as an aperitif. Slightly drier than Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, it is a closer match to Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé, and will be a welcome addition to any white wine lovers cellar.
The world of wine is vast. For those willing to explore outside their comfort zone, there are wonderful and new experiences on the horizon. Hopefully, after trying some of the wines mentioned above, you will be rewarded with a new favorite region or grape. Grab a glass and enjoy!
How Science Saved Me From Pretending To Love Wine
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I was in my late forties when I finally admitted to myself that I wouldnever love wine. As other women fake orgasms, I have faked hundreds ofsatisfied responses to hundreds of glassesnot a difficult feat, sincemy father schooled my brother and me in the vocabulary of wine from anearly age. Confronted with another Bordeaux or Burgundy, I could tossaround the terms I had learned at the dinner table , then painstakingly direct the wine straight downthe center of my tongue, a route that limited my palates exposure towhat it perceived as discomfiting intensity.
That admission was a sad one, because my father, the writer CliftonFadiman, who had died a few years earlier, loved wine more ardently thananything except words. He judged wine contests, supplied introductionsto wine catalogues, and co-wrote an entire book aboutwine. No other food or drink gave him as much sensory pleasure no otherpursuit made him feel farther from the lower-middle-class neighborhoodsof immigrant Brooklyn from which he had worked so hard to escape. Eversince he had offered me watered wine , when Iwas ten, Id believed that if I was truly my fathers daughter I wouldlove wine, too.
I sniffed the wine. I couldnt smell any of those things, except earth.
What did these foods have in common with the way wine tasted to me? They were all too strong. And to whom didfoods taste too strong? Supertasters.
She counted five papillae.
Ewwwwwwwwwww.
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Red Wines To Try If Youre A Non
Although white is a better option to start with, you might want to dive right into the deep end and find your favorite red. If thats the case, our advice is to start with a simple option.
As your palate for wine develops, you can move to the more complex wines. A few great starter reds include the delicious options listed below.
Malbec Wine : What It Tastes Like And What To Pair It With
McKenzie Hagan | October 13, 2020
Opening up a bottle of Malbec at a dinner party can make you feel like youre that cool wine lover who goes off the beaten path. While Malbec is a globally loved wine, its nowhere near as popular or well-known as Merlot or Pinot Noir but that wont stop us from loving it. Famous for its deep purple color and spicy, savory flavors, Malbec wine is a perfect option for those who love strong flavored wine with plenty of body.
You may be interested in Malbec wine, but do you know what makes its flavors so intriguing? From its fascinating, cross-continental history to the best way to serve this deliciously full-bodied wine, this article will have you browsing the Malbec section when you make your next wine run.
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How To Serve Malbec Wine
Contrary to popular belief, red wine isnt always best served at room temperature. Malbec wine is no exception. Before serving Malbec, try popping it in the fridge for half an hour. This should cool it to just below room temperature, and will allow you to experience Malbecs full depth of flavor.
Because Malbec is a full-bodied wine, choose a wide-bowled glass. A glass with a wide mouth will allow you to experience the intense fruity aromas of the Malbec, while the large glass should soften the spicy tasting notes and balance the savory flavors.
Finally, Malbec is a wine that benefits from . Before serving your bottle, pour the wine into a decanter and leave it for 30 minutes. Not only will this get rid of any sediment found in the bottle, but decanting your Malbec will aerate the wine and make the flavors and aromas more vibrant upon drinking.
How To Experience Wine
We have only touched on the most common wines. You will run into many others. The best way to experience wine is to order a glass, breath in the aroma then take a sipdo not gulp. Explore what it tastes like and the way it makes your tongue feel. Every wine will have a different affect. Make sure you make note of the wines you try and the ones you really like so you can find them again. Not every bottle of the same kind of wine will taste the samesome are wildly different. If you have the opportunity to do a wine tasting, do it. It will really help you to understand the flavors and find the types of wines that best suit your palate.
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Best Sweet: 2019 Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: Italy | ABV: 7% | Tasting Notes: Raspberry, Strawberry, Red Cherry, Rose Petal
This northern Italian sparkler is festive, fun, and irresistibly tasty. Made from a red grape called brachetto, it smells and tastes of candied fruit and fragrant flowers. Its similar in style to moscato, but with red berry fruit rather than citrus and tropical notes and is a gorgeous cranberry hue in the glass. Banfis bottling is the gold standard for this attractive, elegant style of wine, with its raspberry, cherry, and strawberry fruit and a perfume of rose. Its perfect on its own or as an accompaniment to dessert, especially when paired with rich, creamy dark chocolate treats like mousse or ganache.
White Wine As An Ingredient
White wine is regularly used as an ingredient. Its acidity balances well with fat, taking away excess heaviness. This acidity also refines the meat or fish and it helps to break down the fibres of the meat to make it tender. The role of white wine is similar to that of lemon juice used under the same conditions: once verjuice also fulfilled this function. The vinegar combines acidity with a burning sensation that gives recipes where it is used a bittersweet side characteristic.
As a means to balance the fat, white wine is involved in the preparation of sauces such as ravigote sauce, béarnaise sauce, , etc. The drippings of cooking juices is also a role that white wine can be used in made with a sweet white wine and giving a sour-sweet or sweet-salt sauce. In cheese fondue the liveliness of dry white wine is balanced with the fat of the cheese. The freshness of the wine as a table drink contrasts the heat of the fondue.
In its power to soften the protein fibre is used. Sometimes it can even happen in cooking such as in Italian-style tuna carpaccio.
A common rule by gourmets is to serve at table the same wine that has been used in cooking.
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Baeckeoffe cooked in white wine.
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Mussels in white wine and chips.
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Chicken marsala.
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Best Red: 2018 True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: California | ABV: 14.2%| Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Blueberry, Cedar, Cola
For beginners who know they love a full-bodied red, its impossible to go wrong with California cabernet sauvignon. This plush, rich bottling comes from the Central Coasts Paso Robles region, known for a warm, dry, and sunny climate thats ideal for producing ripe, user-friendly wines.
The True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best values youll find there, with powerful dark fruit flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and plum accented by vanilla, spice, cola, and toasty oak notes. The tannins here add structure but are not too drying, and a splash of acidity keeps this big wine from feeling heavy or overpowering.
Where Does The Malbec Grape Grow
Malbec is synonymous with Argentina. In fact, before Argentina started growing it in the 18th century, Malbec was considered a low-quality grape that was only suitable for blending.
Today the Malbec grape takes up three-quarters of Argentinas vineyards and is considered their most important grape.
While the Malbec grape originated in France , the Argentinian Malbec is the most celebrated. The two taste very different while an Argentinian bottle is plummy and soft in texture, a French bottle is quite tart and savory.
There are three notable wine regions in Argentina producing the best Malbec:
- Mendoza
- Leather
- Black pepper
Warm-climate Malbecs, such as those produced in Argentina, South Africa, or Australia, exhibit dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum. Cool-climate Malbecs, like the ones produced in France, have a more black cherry quality with hints of raspberry.
Malbec wines are also celebrated for tasting smooth and chocolatey on the tongue. They are low in acid but have a lot of structure. Some would even call them a meaty-tasting wine.
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What’s The Bulleit Of Wine A Few Picks
Picking an actual wine and feeling confident you’re getting a decent bottle is, of course, a major barrier for anyone. We’ve been wondering: What wines are similar to Bulleit Rye, as in: affordable, widely available, and generally regarded as good?
It’s a difficult question to answer, since annual variations in climate, grape quality, and a dozen other factors make the year-to-year quality of a wine vary more than a grain-based alcohol. That said, our research indicates these picks are worth consideration as safe, reliable value for your dollar:
Whites
- Chardonnay: Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve California Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc: Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier
- Sauvignon blanc: Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling/Pinot Gris/Moscato blend: Hugel et Fils Gentil Alsace
Reds
- Cabernet sauvignon: Beringer Founders Estate California Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot: Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot
- Zinfandel: Bogle Old Vine California Zinfandel
Less Likely To Give Headaches
When you get a headache after drinking wine, the culprit is likely histamines rather than sulfites. The grape skins contain this compound, and white wines have lower histamine levels than reds because they’re made without the skins.
Wine is known to cause allergic reactions in some people because it contains histamines. Histamines are naturally produced by fermentation, so if youre not able to metabolize them, there will be an immediate reaction like a headache or facial flushing. But if you still prefer to drink reds, you can consider taking antihistamine beforehand.
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What Does White Wine Taste Like
White wine is usually the easiest place to start to grow your taste for wine. Often the sweeter the wine, the better. In the world of wine, sweet is the opposite of dry. If you choose to develop your palate, youll likely move into drier whites, then start exploring reds. You will always want to refrigerate white wine, serve it and drink it cold. White wines are often used as aperitifs before a meal and drank in between meals and with dessert. There are several entrees that white wines also pair nicely withas a simple rule of thumb, think white wine with white dishes, such as white meat/fish and white sauces.
Best Wines For Beginners: Easy
Starting out in the world of wine can be bewildering. For many, wine is an acquired taste, and uninitiated palates may need to start with lighter wines in order to learn to appreciate the various flavors in the wines before moving forward. Fortunately, some wines are great “break-in” wines that can kick start a lifelong appreciation of this wonderful beverage.
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Best Light Red: 2019 Marcel Lapierre Vin De France Raisins Gaulois
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: France | ABV: 11.5% | Tasting Notes: Blueberry, Strawberry, Red Cherry, Pomegranate
Most peoples first experience of the gamay grape is with Beaujolais Nouveau, a lighthearted French specialty typically consumed young and usually reminiscent of sweet soda pop. But gamay can make excellent light-bodied, dry reds that strike a fine balance between playful and serious, like this carefree quaffer from renowned late winemaker Marcel Lapierre.
The organic fruit for this wine comes from prime Beaujolais real estate, but the bottling is classified as a French table wine because its made from young vineswhich is part of what makes it so refreshing . Bright, vivid flavors of blueberry, cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, and cranberry make this light, fruity wine remarkably easy to drink.
Best White Wine For Beginners
It really is a matter of personal preference of whether or not you begin your wine drinking experience with reds or whites, but generally, it’s best to begin with white wines. The reason for this is because white wines are lighter bodied and easier on the palate than reds. Here are a few great starter whites:
- Pinot Grigio: One of the most user friendly white wines on the market, Pinot Grigio wines are light bodied and crisp, both in finish and flavor characteristics. Give Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio a try.
- Moscato d’Asti: This slightly frizzy, off-dry wine from Italy is a delight. It has flavors of apricots and almonds, and offers a crispy sweet and juicy sip that tickles the nose as you drink it.
- Riesling: This wine ranges from dry to very sweet, but is almost universally loved for its crisp citrus and mineral flavors, bright acidity, and light body. Try a German Riesling, or enjoy a bottle from Washington State such as the Columbia Cellermaster’s Riesling.
- Sauvignon Blanc: This is a crisp, refreshing light bodied white with simple flavors that include kiwi and citrus. It’s also a wonderful summer wine because it is so refreshing. Try a bottle from Kim Crawford.
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How To Describe The Taste Of Wine
So, to recap: red wine is red because it was fermented with the skins, making it more tannic. White wine has less tannin, and is more acidic. Dessert wines have higher alcohol content and are usually sweeter, and sparkling wine has bubbles.
Easy, right? Of course not. Stopping at red vs. white wines would be like ending a discussion on vehicles at cars vs. trucks. If were going to peg the kind of wine that you enjoy drinking, were going to have to get a bit more specific. Yes, that means were going to have to talk about how a wine tastes.
This is where wine drinkers lose most of us. There is perhaps nothing more subjective about humanity than taste, and trying to find common ground when talking about wine seems ill-fated from the start. But in spite of the glut of snobby descriptors for wine that youll stumble across, there are a few terms that mean pretty much the same thing to everyone.
Best Ros: 2020 Pratsch Ros
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: Austria | ABV: 11.5% | Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Watermelon, Peach, Raspberry
Rosé has been having a moment for a while now, so there are many great options to choose from in a wide range of styles. For beginners, we recommend a light, dry style with lots of fresh, vibrant fruit, like this high-value gem from Austria.
Its made from the zweigelt grape, a locally popular variety that is known for bright berry flavors accented with a hint of black pepper, reminding us a lot of pinot noir. Succulent strawberry, watermelon, raspberry, peach, and pear notes are lifted by vibrant acidity and a hint of hibiscus perfume in this refreshing pink wine that makes a perfect companion to parks, picnics, and pools.
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Choosing The Right Bottle
The US produced over 800 million gallons of wine last year. There are almost 10,000 wineries in the US generating 18% of alcohol sales and $665 million in revenue. We consume, on average, almost 3 gallons a year per person. Thats a lot of vino!
Full-service, high-end restaurants have industry-experienced professionals who offer guidance and make suggestions. The first thing youll be asked is, Red or white? Most of us consume wine at home and have little or no expertise. When endless options abound, how do you choose the right wine?
