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Looking to branch out and find your next favourite red wine? This handy guide highlights five popular red wine grapes and their most famous wines. From soft, juicy Merlot to bold, spicy Shiraz, your perfect match is just a short read away.
Your next favourite red wine
So, you’ve tried a few red wines and discovered a couple of reliable favourites. An Argentinian Malbec perhaps, or a Aussie Shiraz. But where do you go from here? Well, you could check out our Beginner’s guide to enjoying red wine – it’ll tell you everything you need to get started on a journey of red wine discovery.
But if you want to skip the details and dive straight into the wines, you’re in the right place. For each red, we tell you what it tastes like, what it’s similar to, and where to find the best bottles. So, grab a glass and get ready to find your new favourite.
Five popular types of red wine
1. Merlot
Merlot has long been one the world’s best loved red wine grapes. Its main distinguishing features are a silky-smooth texture and ripe plummy fruit – making it super-easy to drink. In fact, it’s so popular that it’s grown in almost every winemaking country in the world. But head to Chile or Australia if you’re looking for great value and reliable quality.
Most wines made from Merlot will say so clearly on the label. But it’s worth noting that Merlot is originally from Bordeaux, France. Bordeaux reds don’t show the grape on the label, but are made from mostly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Check the back label, or the description on our website, to be sure.
Read our Smart guide to Merlot to learn more.
Is Merlot right for me?
If you’re looking for something soft, fruity and wonderfully easy to drink, Merlot is perfect for you.
What Merlot should I try?
Quaffing: Chilean and Australian Merlots are great value and reliably delicious.
Date night: try a Right Bank Bordeaux such as Saint Emilion or Côtes de Castillon.
Fine wine: Merlots from the top Right Bank Bordeaux regions. such as Pomerol, or from Napa Valley in California, are among the world’s finest reds.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the two main grapes of Bordeaux. Cabernet reds have a firm yet silky texture and typically offer concentrated blackcurrant flavours. These are wines to sip and savour slowly – perhaps with a rich meal such as roast beef or lasagna.
Look out for great value Cabernet Sauvignons from Australia, Chile and South Africa. You’ll often find it oak-aged – adding spicy cedar notes to the rich cassis fruit.
Read our Cabernet Sauvignon wine guide to learn more.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon right for me?
If you’re looking for something sophisticated but drinkable, with a smooth texture and concentrated fruit, give Cabernet Sauvignon a go.
What Cabernet Sauvignon should I try?
Quaffing: Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is a great introduction to this grape.
Date night: spend a little more on good South African or Aussie Cabernet and you’ll really taste the difference.
Fine wine: the best Cabernets – from the Médoc in Bordeaux, the Napa Valley in California, and Tuscany in Italy – are among the world’s finest.
3. Malbec
Can’t decide between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon? Malbec gives you the best of both worlds. The Malbec grape is originally from France – but owes its popularity to Argentina, where it has found a new home. There it produces bold, rich, and wonderfully smooth wines, with flavours of blackberry, plum, black cherry and chocolate.
Look out for bottles from high-altitude Mendoza and San Juan – or go off-piste with something from remote Patagonia.
Read more in our Essential guide to Malbec.
Is Malbec right for me?
Smooth, easy drinking, great with or without food … Malbec is a safe bet for any red wine fan. If you like Merlot, you should definitely try it.
What Malbec should I try?
Quaffing: any Argentinian Malbec is a great place to start.
Date night: choose a barrel-aged Malbec from Mendoza or Patagonia for that extra wow factor – and take a moment to notice the greater elegance and complexity.
Fine wine: at the top end, Malbec can rival fine Bordeaux. H J Fabre’s GGG Malbec, from Mendoza’s super premium Gualtallary region, is sensational.
4. Grenache
You may not be familiar with Grenache – but you’ve most likely tasted it. That’s because Grenache is the main grape in blends from the southern Rhône – including Côtes-du-Rhône AOC and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s also the grape behind our bestselling red, Cabalié – a big, rich fruity favourite from southern France.
Grenache wines tend to be soft and spicy, with red and black fruit flavours. Côtes-du-Rhône reds, which are Grenache-based blends, are smooth and warming, with bramble fruit – always a good bet on a restaurant wine list. Cabalié, our bestselling red, is pure Grenache from ancient vines – and it’s packed with rich, satisfying black fruit. In Spain, Grenache is known as Garnacha – and often produces big, rich reds, too.
Is Grenache right for me?
If you like rich, warming, full-flavoured reds, give Grenache a try.
What Grenache should I try?
Quaffing: a Spanish Garnacha or southern French Grenache will give you plenty of flavour for money.
Date night: spend a little more on a good Côtes-du-Rhone and you’ll be in for a real treat – soft, spicy, with oodles of lush bramble fruit.
Fine wine: the Rhône is the heartland of Grenache – and Châteauneuf-du-Pape is its flagship red. A must taste for any fine wine fan.
5. Shiraz/Syrah
Shiraz (also called Syrah in some parts of the world) is a full-bodied red, loved for its rich, spicy red and black fruit flavours. Shiraz’s style can vary depending on where the grapes were grown. For example, French Syrah often has savoury and spicy flavours, with a lower fruit intensity. Australian Shiraz is known for its heaviness and punchy flavours of black fruit, chocolate and pepper.
Is Shiraz right for me?
Shiraz is such a crowd-pleasing grape that it’s a true treat for red wine enthusiasts.
What Shiraz should I try?
Quaffing: an Aussie Shiraz of course – South Eastern Australia offers great value.
Date night: splash out on a Barossa or Mclaren Vale Shiraz to discover how truly world class Aussie wines can be.
Fine wine: The northern Rhône is home to some of the finest pure Syrah wines in the world. Hermitage and Côte Rotie set the bar for this much-loved grape.
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.
