Discover the different types and styles of red wine

08 October 2021

Discover the different types and styles of red wine

Love a glass of red wine – but wish you knew more about what you were drinking? You’ve come to the right place. With its many varieties and variations spread across continents, countries and regions, red wine is versatile, multi-faceted, and truly fascinating. Discover the different types and styles of red wine here.

A Guide to Red Wine

When we pick up a glass of wine, we can employ our senses – sight, smell, taste – to judge whether it’s the right match for our palette. What does it look like in appearance? What notes do we pick up when we take a sniff? How does it taste? These are the important factors that tell us if it will be a good match for our dinner, if it’s what we expected from a particular grape or region, and ultimately, if it’s the right wine for us.

Appearance

Colour

Ranging from light ruby to deep garnet and even tawny in hue, the colour of red wine is influenced by the amount of maceration the juice undertakes with grape skins.

Maceration is a winemaking process that involves soaking grape skins, seeds, and stalks in grape juice to extract flavours, colour, and tannins. It's a key step in the production of red wine. The longer the maceration, the deeper the colour – and stronger the tannins, as picked up by the palate – the wine will have.

Red wine colour spectrum: Purple – Ruby – Garnet – Tawny – Brown

Clarity

A wine’s clarity is indicated by how clear it is. The less clear it looks, the more hazy it is – which will be caused by particles suspended in the wine. Haziness may indicate a fault with the wine, which can be determined by carrying out an examination on the nose and palate.

Intensity

When we speak about the intensity of a wine’s appearance, we mean how much colour the wine has. By holding the glass at a 45° angle and looking through the wine from above, the intensity can be determined by seeing how far the colour spreads from the core to the rim. If the wine is lightly pigmented, it can be considered pale, but if it is intensely pigmented it can be described as deep.

Top tip: Look through the liquid to the point where the stem of the glass meets the bowl. How easily can the stem be seen? This will indicate the intensity of its colour.

Nose

Aromas
A wine’s aromas form an essential part of its enjoyment. They will also indicate the quality of the wine, especially if it is a fine wine.

Although characteristics still vary hugely depending on the style, typically red wine will either exhibit black fruit aromas, such as blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant and plum, or red fruit aromas such as strawberry, cherry and raspberry. Earthy wines may have aromas of tobacco or leather, often caused by oak ageing. Floral characteristics are also more easily picked up by the nose than on the palate.

Top tip: If you swirl the liquid, it will release aromas into the glass. Placing your nose over the rim and taking a short sniff of the wine, pay attention to the aromas’ level of intensity, and other characteristics.

Palate

Wine Body

Whether a red wine is light or full-bodied can have a huge impact on its flavour profile. The ‘body’ of a wine refers to factors including its weight, texture, and richness, which are generally picked up by the sense of touch rather than taste. The fuller-bodied a wine is, the more likely it is to have more intense flavours and a higher alcohol level. High levels of ripe tannin can make a wine feel full-bodied too. Whereas a combination of low tannins and high acidity will make a wine feel lighter-bodied.

Tannins

Tannins come from the skins, stems, and seeds of the grapes used in winemaking. Their technical name is ‘polyphenols’, and they create bitterness and astringency in the mouth – which is also what happens when we taste black tea.

Red wines contain more tannins than white or rosé, due to the increased amount of time the grape juice has been given to macerate in the grape skins and seeds. Generally speaking, the longer the wine is macerated in its skins, and the higher the amount of polyphenols in them, the more tannic it will be. These wines will also be much darker in colour.

Top tip: It’s recommended to age highly tannic wines, as they will develop smoothness over time.

To try a selection of beautifully bold reds for yourself, discover our Big Rich Red mixed case.

Fruitiness

A red wine’s fruit-forward quality is determined by the level of natural sugar present. This is enhanced in hotter countries, where the increased amount of sunshine leads to extra ripening and a higher concentration of naturally occurring sugars in the grapes, resulting in fruitier flavours.

Flavour Characteristics

Generally, the flavours that you experience on the palate will mirror the aromas picked up by the nose. However, by warming the wine in the mouth, additional characteristics may become apparent, or some may be intensified, such as spice.

Red wine types and styles

Red wine is highly versatile and multifaceted in its numerous expressions, ranging from light and elegant to savoury and full-bodied in style. These characteristics are greatly influenced by grape varietal, climate, terroir, and winemaking processes such as oak ageing. The terroir – the environmental conditions the grape grows in like the soil, climate, topography and surrounding geography – in particular plays a crucial role.

Leading red grape varieties

There are hundreds of wine grape varieties that are grown around the world, but far fewer are used commercially. Here we’ve compiled a handy list of the world’s most popular red wine grape varieties.

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the world’s most popular red wine grape. Thick-skinned, it produces a wine that’s rich, robust and highly tannic – ideal for ageing. It’s popular in many red Bordeaux, including those from Médoc, and is usually utilised in blends with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with its intensity balancing their fruity flavours and softer tannins. In Left Bank blends, Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the key component.

Due to its long ripening period, it thrives in warmer climates such as in regions across California and Chile, where it often develops riper fruit flavours. However, being an adaptable variety means that it can grow in cooler climates which gives it more herbaceous notes.

Flavours: Blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, baking spices

Food pairings: Its richness and high level of tannins make Cabernet a perfect match for equally rich food. Think grilled meat or fatty beef burgers to cut through the tannins or other intensely flavoured foods like blue cheese.

Where it’s grown: France, Chile, United States, Australia, Spain, China

Merlot

Merlot is an earlier-ripening grape that produces soft, plummy and fruity wines. Due to its shorter ripening period, it can be grown in cooler climates, which has led to its planting all over the world, whether used as a single varietal or to soften Cabernet Sauvignon blends. It’s the most planted varietal in Bordeaux, a testament to its versatility.

Flavours: Cherry, plum, chocolate, vanilla

Food pairings: Due to its medium body and smoothness, Merlot is a very food-friendly wine. It generally pairs well with lighter meats such as chicken and duck, but for cooler-climate Merlot, pair with roasted vegetables.

Where it’s grown: France, Italy, Chile, California, Australia, Argentina

Tempranillo

This is the most popular grape in Spain – and the main component in their iconic wine, Rioja. Well-suited to ageing for long periods, it’s tannic, with a medium-full body. With tastes ranging from rich to fresh, it produces decidedly savoury wines. Hugely popular in blends, from Spanish Ribera del Duero to Portuguese Port, it’s a versatile and highly-planted grape – the fourth-most planted variety in the world. If made to a high standard, it has the potential to age for over 20 years.

Flavours: Cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco

Food pairings: For bolder styles of Tempranillo, pair its high tannins with fatty meats like roast lamb, steak, and rich beef burgers. For fresher styles, enjoy with tomatoey pasta dishes.

Where it’s grown: Spain, Portugal, Argentina. Less commonly, it is also grown in France, Australia, and the USA

Syrah and Shiraz

This is a small, dark and thick-skinned grape variety known throughout the world by its two names: Syrah and Shiraz. Its given name depends on the climate it grows in; generally speaking, the warmer the temperature, the higher the chance it will become the more intense, full-bodied ‘Shiraz’ – and in cooler climates, it will likely embody the restrained and elegant ‘Syrah’.

Originating in the Rhône Valley of France, ‘Syrah’ is produced both as a single varietal and as part of a blend.

Flavours: Black fruits, black pepper, spice, plums

Food pairings: A cooler-climate Syrah will usually be a lighter, more tart wine whose delicate flavours match well with aromatic roast lamb. Otherwise, a bold, warm-climate Shiraz will lend its richness and tannic finish well to rich, slow-roasted BBQ meats like pork.

Where it’s grown:

Syrah: Sonoma, Washington State, Northern Rhône

Shiraz: Napa, Australia, Paso Robles, Argentina, Spain, South Africa

Grenache/ Garnacha

A round and fruity wine, Grenache (or Garnacha as it’s known in Spain) is full-bodied with high levels of alcohol, giving an impression of sweetness, and also lending itself well to the production of fortified wines. It grows successfully in hot, dry climates, where flavours become jammier, developing into stewed fruits. This hardy grape is especially popular in the southern Rhône Valley, where it is used in rich, earthy wines, particularly Côtes-du-Rhône, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Ageing well, it is also a key player in Spain’s Rioja wines. It balances Tempranillo to add body and structure, with a sweet fruitiness brought out by the heat of the region.

Flavours: Raspberry, white pepper, spice, herbs, black cherry

Food pairings: Grenache’s versatility means that it will pair well with a diverse range of foods. In particular, its spice makes it a great match for roasted meats and vegetables, but its complexity will also stand up to more hearty dishes including stews and meaty casseroles.

Where it’s grown: Southern Rhône, Languedoc, southern France, Roussillon, Spain, Australia

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a very delicate grape, susceptible to diseases and sensitive to climate conditions which can make it more challenging to grow. However, for those who are patient, the payoff is well worth it, as Pinot Noir produces wines with great depth and complexity plus a wonderfully silky mouthfeel. Its flavour differs depending on the growing location, ranging from earthy and floral in Burgundy, to lush and fruit-forward in California.

Pinot Noir is also a style of red wine that benefits from being chilled. Although the misconception is commonly held that red wines should not be served at cooler temperatures, lighter-bodied, acidic wines like Pinot Noir can greatly benefit from chilling, which enhances freshness and brightness. Its fruity flavours and natural acidity are brought out, making it crisper and more vibrant in flavour.

Flavours: Raspberry, cherry, mushroom, violets, vanilla

Food pairings: Pinot Noir’s thinner skins mean lower tannins, which makes it light enough for dishes like salmon en croute or mushroom risotto. However, its complexity and acidity will cut brilliantly through the fatty flavours of duck.

Where it’s grown: France, USA, Germany, New Zealand, Italy, Australia

Explore our carefully curated Chilled Red Wine 6 Bottle Mixed Case here.

Zinfandel/ Primitivo

This is a red wine grape variety that is called ‘Zinfandel’ in California, and ‘Primitivo’ in Italy, where it’s particularly grown in the region of Puglia. Regardless of its name or region, it needs a warm climate to ripen successfully. Ripening can gradually change its flavours from red to black fruits.

In California, red Zinfandel wines – not to be confused with white Zinfandel, a Californian style of rosé – are often matured in oak to soften the tannins and add extra complexity of flavour. Typically they display red and black fruit aromas, notes and flavours of dried fruit, as well as signs of oak ageing such as vanilla and coffee. If this wine is crafted from California’s renowned old vines, the low yields will produce concentrated flavours including earth and even meat.

Whereas, the Primitivo wines that are produced in the warm region of Puglia in southern Italy are often soft, fruity and dry – with controlled yields producing outstanding wines at excellent value.

Flavours: Raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, black plums, raisins

Food pairings: Hearty and bold, these Zinfandel and Primitivo wines make a great companion to grilled or barbecued meats, roasted red peppers, or Cajun chicken.

Where it’s grown: California, Puglia (Italy), Croatia, Australia, Chile

Malbec

This is Argentina’s most important red wine grape variety. Actually native to southwest France, where it’s known as Côt, it’s adapted seamlessly to Argentina’s warmer climate, where the majority of grapes are grown in the high-altitude region of Mendoza.

Expect full-bodied wines with high tannins. Deep in colour, Malbec will typically exhibit black-fruit flavours such as blackberry and black plum. If matured in oak, Malbec will be softer and will have added spice flavours. It can also age in-bottle, with high-quality examples developing flavours of dried fruit and meat.

Flavours: Red plum, blackberry, vanilla, tobacco, cocoa

Food pairings: A classic pairing for Argentinian Malbec is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Argentinian steak. Tannins cut through the intense meaty protein of a fat-marbled steak, by binding onto proteins in the food, allowing you to enjoy the subtler flavours of both the wine and your meal.

Where it’s grown: Argentina, France, United States, South Africa

Sangiovese

A highly important red grape variety of central Italy, Sangiovese benefits from the warm climate to produce concentrated red wines. They are also dry and highly tannic with a high level of acidity. Common flavours include red fruits, such as red cherries and red plums, as well as dried herbs.

Sangiovese is best known for creating the red Chianti wines of Tuscany. Chianti DOCG wines are simple and inexpensive, whereas wines labelled ‘Chianti Classico DOCG’ have more pronounced notes of red fruits and dried herbs, and will often benefit from oak ageing which softens tannins and adds flavours like cloves. This is due to the higher altitude of these vineyards which leads to a long ripening period.

If labelled ‘Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva’, the wine will be subject to stricter ageing requirements, and may even display tertiary characteristics like leather.

Flavours: Red cherries, red plums, dried herbs, tomato, cloves, leather

Food pairings: As a typically medium-bodied, savoury wine, Sangiovese will pair well with herby, tomatoey dishes. If high in tannins, it will also complement roast meat and hard cheeses.

Where it’s grown: Italy (Toscana, Umbria, Campania), Corsica, Argentina (Mendoza), United States (California, Washington), Romania

Hidden gems

Our award-winning Buying Team have been scouring the corners of the globe to source excitingly new styles of wine – including delicious styles from England and Greece.

English Pinot Noir

England also produces its fair share of notable red wines. Although more commonly known as a prime location for producing sparkling wines that would rival those of Champagne, due to its increasingly warm climate and prevalence of clay soils, it is starting to produce excellent red wines too. Pinot Noir is a particularly popular style, due to the UK’s suitably cooler climate.

Greek Red

Greek red wines are also an up-and-coming category in the wine world – and for good reason. Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro are the most planted red wine grapes in Greece, to which they are indigenous. When bottled young, Agiorgitiko is easy-drinking, with aromas of red fruits and soft tannins.

Discover more

We’ve even created a helpful list of our top 10 red wines. But if you want to mix it up a bit and try a few different styles, explore our carefully curated Definition by Majestic Red Mixed Case, which showcases some of the best styles from around the world.