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Read on to find out what the main types of red wine are and what they taste like, so you can choose with confidence.
One of my first experiences of drinking red wine was at Uni. Close to our digs was a row of seven-day supermarkets, an excellent Jamaican bakery, and a tiny independent wine shop.
Its cheapest offering was a Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon. A little rough maybe, but it was glorious, tooth-staining stuff, packed with jammy red and black fruit. We didn’t know what Cabernet was. We barely knew where Bulgaria was. But we couldn’t get enough of it.
Then we had a problem. We’d found a red we liked, but how did we find another? With so many confusing producers, regions and grape varieties, trying something new seemed overwhelming. And risky. But we couldn’t keep drinking Cabernet without major FOMO.
But you don’t need to worry about that. Because our Red Wine Beginner’s Guide tells you all you need to know to start exploring the wonderful world of red wine.
Red wine basics – understanding the label
The biggest barrier to confidently choosing a red wine that you haven’t tried before is understanding the label. And this isn’t helped by the fact that wine labels don’t all tell you the same thing. But fear not – we’ve made it simple for you.
Your five-step guide to understanding a red a wine label:
1. The brand name
The brand name of the wine doesn’t relate to where it’s from or what the grapes are – it’s just a well-known brand that you know and love. There will be more information if you read the smaller print, but the brand will be most prominent. For example:
Cabalié: Laithwaites’ No.1 biggest-selling red. The blurb on the back will list the grapes and tell you it’s from southern France – but customers keep coming back to this red because they love its big, rich, bold flavours.
2. The estate name
The estate or property name is similar to a brand – but is tied to a specific property or winery. For example:
Château La Clarière: This is our own estate in Bordeaux. Any wine labelled Château La Clarière must be made at this property.
3. Grapes
Many wines display the name of the grape variety (or varieties) most prominently on the label. So if you know you like Merlot, you can explore other Merlots without having to read the small print on the back. For example:
Opi Malbec: Laithwaites’ bestselling Malbec is from Argentina. The winemaker name (Opi) is pretty prominent – but a quick glance is enough to know that it’s a Malbec.
4. Regions
Traditional European red wine regions such as Bordeaux in France or Rioja in Spain, tend not to put the name of the grapes upfront on the label. They rely on the consumer (that’s you) to know that Bordeaux is mostly made from Cabernet Sauvignon and that Rioja is mostly made from Tempranillo and Garnacha.
5. Ageing
Red wines can be bottled young and fresh for drinking soon after the vintage or matured for years in oak barrel – and anything in between. For most red wines, the vintage will be displayed on the label. Some will also have words like Réserve or Reserva (depending on country), usually indicating that the wine has been aged in oak. Rioja has a very fixed and clear labelling system for ageing, as we’ll see in a bit.
Using the label to help you choose a red wine
For brand names and estate names, your best bet is to explore and find brands and producers that you trust. At Laithwaites, we make this easy for you, as our most popular brands (Cabalié, Black Stump, Opi Malbec) have hundreds – and even thousands – of online reviews. This means you can quickly see what’s popular and get an idea of what the wine tastes like.
However, understanding what different grape taste like can really help you choose your next favourite. And knowing which grapes are found in wines from different regions will help too. Love Merlot? Then you might like a Bordeaux red too.
Let’s look at grapes first.
Some popular red grape varieties
Merlot
Known for its medium body, smooth texture and ripe plummy fruit, Merlot is one of the world’s most popular red grape varieties. If you’re completely new to red wine, Merlot is a great place to start. It’s grown in pretty much every wine producing country – but Chile Australia, and France are great places to start your journey.
Malbec
Malbec is another hugely popular red grape, and for similar reasons to Merlot – it is simply super-easy to drink. Another very beginner-friendly grape, Malbec offers dark fruit flavours, often with hints of cherry and chocolate. The best affordable Malbecs come from Argentina and are great with grilled meats – especially from the barbecue.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon wines typically offer concentrated blackcurrant fruit flavours, often with more complex notes – such as bell pepper, mint and spice. Cabernet wines are less beginner friendly than Merlot and Malbec – but very rewarding when you get to know them. Look to Australia, France and South Africa for good value, representative examples.
Shiraz/Syrah
Syrah is a French grape, but it has become so strongly associated with Australia that it’s better known as Shiraz – that’s what the Aussies call it. If you like the smooth character of Merlot but you’d like something with a bit more spice and warmth, Shiraz will hit the spot. A good Aussie Shiraz will deliver bags of flavour and doesn’t need to be expensive.
Tempranillo
Tempranillo wines tend to be lighter in body than most – but that doesn’t mean they are less intensely flavoured. With their ripe cherry and strawberry flavours, Tempranillo wines can be very beginner-friendly. But if you like big, rich wines, they may not be for you. The best affordable Tempranillos come from Spain, Chile and Australia.
Sangiovese
Like Tempranillo, Sangiovese tends to be medium or lighter bodied with red fruit flavours. It’s perhaps a little softer, with bright cherry fruit and a little spice. It is a fantastic food wine – and especially good with Italian dishes like Spag Bol or Pizza. The best affordable Sangiovese comes from its home country, Italy – but the Aussies do some great ones too.
There are many more grape varieties – but these are the ones you’re most likely to see on a label. Next, let’s take a look at some popular red wine types as defined by region.
Some popular red wine styles
Bordeaux (aka Claret)
Bordeaux is the biggest wine region in France and makes everything from everyday drinking reds to some of the most expensive bottles in the world. Bordeaux reds are made mostly from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – so if you like these grapes, it’s worth giving a try. Younger, more affordable Bordeaux reds (or clarets) tend to be juicy and fruity and equally good with or without food. By combining the two grapes (sometimes along with a few others), Bordeaux winemakers can produce beautifully balanced wines. What this means in practice is that they are deliciously easy to drink.
Côtes-du-Rhône
The main grape of Côtes-du-Rhône is Grenache – which isn’t listed above as you don’t very often see it on a wine label. Many Côtes-du-Rhône reds also feature a good splash of Syrah. The resulting wines are beautifully soft, with warming bramble fruit and spicy notes. Like Bordeaux reds, they are great with or without food. Côtes-du-Rhône reds are also extremely reliable – and a very safe bet on a restaurant wine list.
Rioja
Rioja is one of the UK’s favourite wine styles and for good reason. They are made mostly from a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha – which is what the Spanish call Grenache (see above). Rioja’s wines are labelled strictly according to age – going from youngest to oldest: Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. From Crianza onwards, they must be aged on barrel and bottle before release, so Riojas are a very good way to explore more mature styles of red wine without having to cellar them yourself.
Chianti
Chianti is Italy’s most famous expression of the Sangiovese grape. It isn’t as popular as it once was, which is a shame as it’s a fabulously food-friendly red. Good examples offer intense cherry fruit perhaps with some liquorice notes. If you like medium-bodied reds with intense flavour (like Rioja), give Chianti a try.
Beaujolais
France’s Beaujolais is perhaps less well-known than the styles listed above, but it deserves a mention as it’s a lovely easy-drinking, beginner-friendly style. It’s made from the Gamay grape, which produces soft reds with bramble fruit flavours. While being easy to drink, Beaujolais reds can offer some more subtle, complex flavours – such as minerally or perfumed notes. An often-overlooked style that’s well worth exploring.
P.S. To help you on your journey, here are some common wine terms you might encounter:
Common red wine terms
Acidity – The natural tartness in wine that gives it freshness and balance.
Ageing – The process of allowing wine to mature, either in barrels or bottles, to develop its flavours and textures.
Aromas – The scents found in wine, often categorised as fruit, floral, spice, earth, or oak-related.
Balanced – A well-proportioned wine where acidity, tannins, fruit, and alcohol are in harmony.
Body – The weight and texture of wine in the mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied.
Bouquet – The complex aromas that develop in a wine as it ages.
Complexity – A wine with multiple layers of flavours and aromas that evolve with time.
Decanting – The process of pouring wine into a separate vessel to aerate it and separate it from sediment.
Dry – A wine with little to no residual sugar, meaning it is not sweet.
Earthy – A flavour characteristic that includes notes of soil, mushrooms or forest floor.
Finish – The lingering flavours and sensations left in the mouth after swallowing wine.
Fruit-forward – A wine dominated by ripe, fruit flavours rather than tannins or oak.
Full-bodied – A wine with a rich texture and high alcohol content, often bold and intense.
Legs – The streaks of wine that run down the sides of the glass, indicating alcohol content and viscosity.
Mouthfeel – The texture of the wine in the mouth, such as silky, velvety or rough.
Oak-aged – A wine that has been matured in oak barrels, imparting flavours like vanilla, toast and spice.
Tannins – Naturally occurring compounds from grape skins, seeds, and stems that create a drying sensation in red wine.
Terroir – The unique combination of climate, soil and geography that influences the characteristics of a wine.
Vintage – The year in which the grapes were harvested to make the wine.
Velvety – A smooth and soft texture in wine, often used to describe well-aged reds.
Understanding these terms can enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of red wine, whether you're a casual drinker or an avid enthusiast.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
