
Red Wine
Learn about red wine — the range of styles, how it’s made and more ...
What are the types and styles of red wine?
Ranging in style from light and full of finesse to bold and structured, red wine is produced in almost every wine region of the world. Though there are about 35 varieties that contribute to the majority of red wine production, countless native varieties are important not only to local culture, but to the diversity of globally traded wine. Warmer, sunnier climates produce robust and concentrated wines while cooler regions, where long, even grape ripening and thus natural acidities create some of the world’s most elegant red wines.
How is red wine made?
To make red wine, the pressed grape juice is left in contact with its skins—a process called maceration—in order to draw out color, tannins and phenols (compounds responsible for the complex aromas and flavors in wine). Occurring before, during or after fermentation, whereby yeasts turn grape sugar into alcohol, longer macerations in general produce bolder red wines (with a point of diminishing returns). Red wines benefit from a resting period of a few months to a few years in wooden barrels (or other containers) before release to the market.
What gives red wine its color?
Red grape skins give color to the finished wine through the maceration process. In general, shorter time on skins results in lighter red tones; longer time gives deeper red tones. On top of that, each grape type has a unique hue. For example Nebbiolo is typically pale garnet, Merlot is often bright ruby and Syrah can be opaque purple.
How do you serve red wine?
The idea that red wine should be served at room temperature came about in ancient France when the indoor temperatures were likely to be about 60F. Chambre, for “room” in French, described a wine that had been brought to this “room temperature” from the cellar. Today if you don’t have the luxury of keeping your red wine in a proper cellar or wine refrigerator, a trick of the trade is to put the bottle you plan to serve in the refrigerator for 30 to 40 minutes to cool it down to about 55F to 60F for lighter bodied wines and to 60F to 65F for fuller bodied wines. As for drinking red wines, the best red wine glasses have a stem and a bowl large enough to allow swirling without spilling. Aromatic reds fare best in glasses with a wider bowl to allow full release of the bouquet.
How long does red wine last?
Opened, a bottle of red wine will stay fresh in a cool, dark environment for one to two days, maybe longer. Unopened, red wines stay good for one year to several decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning to strategically store red wine, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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Ridge Monte Bello 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Santa Cruz Mountains, California
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Chateau Haut-Brion 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- RP
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Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve 1975Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
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Chateau Lafite Rothschild (torn label) 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
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Les Forts de Latour 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
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Chateau Lynch-Bages (top shoulder fill) 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
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Bodegas Vega Sicilia Unico Tinto 1975Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain
- RP
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Heitz Cellar Fay Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1975Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
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Villadoria Barolo Riserva Speciale 1975Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
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Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1975Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
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Mas Amiel Millesime 1975Grenache from Languedoc, South of France, France
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Berberana Gran Reserva 1975Other Red Blends from Rioja, Spain
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Inglenook Charbono 1975Bonarda from Napa Valley, California