Red wine

Red wines come in a variety of styles, each offering unique aromas, flavours and textures. The choice of grape variety places an important role in shaping a wine’s character. Below are some of the most popular red wine grapes – and their flavour profiles.  

• Cabernet Sauvignon: full-bodied with blackcurrant and mint flavours.
• Malbec: full to medium-bodied with dark, smoky fruit flavours.
• Merlot: medium-bodied with beautifully smooth texture and ripe plummy fruit.
• Grenache: medium-bodied with blackberry and red fruit flavours.
• Syrah/Shiraz: jammy, rich and bold, with spicy bramble fruit flavours.
• Zinfandel/Primitivo: medium-bodied with easy drinking, juicy fruit flavours.
• Cabernet Franc: medium-bodied with ripe red fruit flavours.
• Pinot Noir: light-bodied, aromatic and silky smooth with red fruit flavours.

Red wines are so popular because of their incredible diversity. From big and bold to light and juicy, there’s a red wine style to suit every taste. Below are some of the most popular red wine styles from around the world.  

• Bordeaux (France) – probably France’s best-known quality wine region. Bordeaux reds are typically blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot along with several other local specialities. They can range from juicy, approachable and affordable reds to fine, barrel-matured beauties that can age for decades.  
• Burgundy (France) – the traditional home of Pinot Noir. Burgundy reds are typically light in colour and body, with red fruit flavours. It’s much harder to find a good red from Burgundy at a low price than from Bordeaux – but at the top level these are some of the world’s finest bottles. 
• Côtes-du-Rhone (France) – home to soft, fruity blends of Grenache, Syrah and others. Reliably delicious, and always a safe pick on a wine list! 
• Rioja (Spain) – silky smooth, medium-bodied reds made mostly from Tempranillo, along with other local varieties such as Garnacha and Graciano. Rioja wines are labelled Joven, Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, according to how long they have been aged in barrel and bottle. Reservas and Gran Reservas are a great option if you want a mature red, without the wait. 
• Chianti (Italy) – the most famous red of Tuscany, Chianti offers juicy red fruit flavours in a medium-bodied style. Like nearly all Italian reds, it is made with dining in mind – with a backbone of acidity that cuts through the fat of richer dishes, allowing the fruit to shine. Great with pizza and pasta – and superb with roast or grilled meats. 
• Argentinian Malbec – Mendoza, the most famous and arguably best region in Argentina, is famous for having re-discovered the almost forgotten French variety, Malbec. So much so that Argentinian Malbec has become a style in its own right – loved for its juicy black fruit and subtle smoky flavours. The perfect BBQ wine.
• Aussie Shiraz – you’ll find great reds made from almost every conceivable grape variety Down Under – but Shiraz (aka Syrah) is by far the most popular. The best come from Barossa and McLaren Vale, but you’ll find great-value bottles across South Eastern Australia too. Expect big, bold flavours and rich, spicy blackberry fruit. 
• South African Pinotage – like Shiraz Down Under, this is South Africa’s signature grape. Except it’s even more unique, as Pinotage was created in South Africa, by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault. It creates bold, juicy red wines with dark plum flavours and velvet smooth textures. Delicious reds that deserve more attention.  
• Californian Zinfandel – California produces top-class reds from a range of classic grape varieties, but Zinfandel is its unique offering to the wine world. Californian ‘Zin’ has a fanatical following in the States, with fans being drawn to its rich, dark and hedonistic character and extraordinary range of aromas and flavours.

• Temperature – most red wines should be served just below room temperature (around 15-18°C). This is warm enough to allow the fruit flavours to open out, while preserving the balance and complexity of the wine. Lighter red wines like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais should be served slightly cooler – around 12–15°C to help preserve their subtle flavours and aromas. Learn more about serving temperatures in our handy guide .  
• Decanting –  pouring your red wine into a decanter before serving it can help aerate the wine, releasing its aroma and softening its tannins. Decanting is particularly helpful for robust and tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux, which can benefit from two to three hours to breathe. Read more in our guide to decanting wine.  
• Serving – rich red wines are best served in glasses with large bowls and wide rims. This allows the liquid more contact with air, helping the wine to open out and releasing its aromas. Medium and lighter reds are best served in large bowled glasses with narrower rims. This helps funnel their more delicate aromas to your nose.  
• Storing – keep red wines in a cool, dry space with a consistent temperature. If your bottle has a cork, ensure you store it horizontally as this prevents the cork from drying out shrinking. Avoid placing your wine bottles in areas with direct sunlight as this can turn the wine sour. Find out more tips and tricks for storing wine at home.

Once a bottle is opened, red wine keeps its flavour for about three to five days. This applies to both corked and screw-top wines, so there’s no need for this to influence your purchasing decisions.

To maintain the quality of the wine, ensure the bottle is sealed tightly and stored in a cool place.

Learn more about how long wine lasts after opening.

The date of your red wine delivery will depend on which option you choose at checkout:  

Standard delivery is ideal if you’re buying for yourself or as a thank you gift. We’ll deliver your order within three working days.  

Next-day delivery is a great choice for last-minute gifts, while Named-day delivery is perfect for anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions. Do bear in mind that we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.  

Top tip: for the best experience, subscribe to our Unlimited service. You’ll make a one-off payment of £29.99 which entitles you to free delivery for a year – as often as you like – even on single bottles.

With a Laithwaites wine subscription, you’re can tell us what kind of wine you prefer, and how many bottles you’d like to receive on each delivery. You can then choose how often you’d like to receive your case – every four or eight weeks.

Our wines are covered by a no-quibble guarantee.  

That means, if, for whatever reason, a bottle fails to satisfy, we’ll arrange to collect it. You’ll have the option to either receive a full refund or replace the wine.    

It’s that simple.