
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.
- Red Wine1144
- Cabernet Sauvignon276
- Bordeaux Red Blends198
- Pinot Noir143
- Other Red Blends82
- Merlot78
- Syrah/Shiraz74
- Nebbiolo68
- Tempranillo55
- Sangiovese54
- Zinfandel51
- Rhône Blends18
- Barbera8
- Tuscan Blends8
- Cabernet Franc6
- Petite Sirah6
- Other Red Wine4
- Aglianico3
- Corvina2
- Grenache2
- Pinot Meunier2
- Montepulciano1
- Pinotage1
- Blaufrankisch1
- Grignolino1
- Refosco1
- Sagrantino1
- Non-Vintage654
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Ornellaia Masseto 1996Merlot from Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- WS
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Caves Sao Joao Poco do Lobo Tinto 1996Other Red Blends from Portugal
- RP
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Jones Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
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Tenuta Luce 1996Tuscan Blends from Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Tenimenti d'Alessandro Il Bosco Syrah 1996Syrah/Shiraz from Tuscany, Italy
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Flora Springs Rutherford Hillside Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
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Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
- RP
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Dominus Estate 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Yountville, Napa Valley, California
- RP
- JS
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Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Lynch-Bages 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- WS
- RP
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Chateau Leoville Barton 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- WS
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Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- WS
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Chateau Leoville Poyferre 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Haut-Brion (stained label) 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
- WS
- RP
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Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Proprietary Red 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California
- RP
- WS
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Joseph Phelps Insignia 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California
- RP
- WS
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Bernardus Marinus Estate 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Monterey, Central Coast, California
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Chateau Lafon-Rochet 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
- RP
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Quintessa 1996Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California
- WS
- WE
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Chateau Clerc Milon 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
- RP
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Chateau Petrus 1996Bordeaux Red Blends from Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
- WS
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Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 1996Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Domenico Clerico Barolo Percristina 1996Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
- RP