Discovering Red Wine and Its Delicious Types
Red wine is the most popular wine worldwide nowadays, just as it was in Ancient Egypt. The oldest known winery is Armenian, dating back to 4100 BC. Even in the Bible, people mention and drink wine, which shows how old and popular this alcoholic drink is. We could all sit back and relax with a good glass of red after a long and hard day. Get your favourite red, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and sit by the fireplace while your heart and body enjoy the benefits of this delicious drink. With over 1,300 varieties of grapes, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect match for you.
Types of Red Wine
When buying red wine, always be open to trying something new. There are many varieties from different types of grapes, flavoured aromas, different aging processes and productions. You’ll be surprised that with every new glass of wine, you’ll get new experiences. You could go with a red from your local Australian winery, an import from Italy, France or USA, merlot, shiraz or pinot noir. So many wines, so little time.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a long-time favourite worldwide. It comes from France’s oldest black wine grape species, Vitis vinifera. It requires cooler climates to grow because otherwise, it’ll lose its finesse and trademark acidity. Because of its richness, pinot noir was planted worldwide, but the best countries to grow this grape are France, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.
When you buy Pinot Noir red wine, you get a dry wine with light to medium red colour. It has bright acidity and silky tannins. You get rich and complex flavours of mushroom, forest floor, raspberry and cherry. If it’s aged in French oak, which some producers gladly do, you’ll also get vanilla and baking spice that brings a full textured wine. Like shiraz, warmer climates produce pinot noir with higher alcohol levels and vice versa. But overall, it varies between 12-15%.
Because it’s a dry wine, Pinot Noir is also low in calories. In one bottle of 750ml, you’ll get 625 calories or 125 calories in one serving of 150ml. You can serve the lighter varieties of this wine at a temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and the fuller-bodied ones at 18 degrees Celsius, this way; you’ll get the best out of it. Because Pinot Noir red wine is fruity, elegant, and has bright acidity, you can serve it with duck, lamb, pork, chicken, salmon. It also pairs well with vegetables, mushrooms and herbs into risotto or pasta.
Shiraz
Shiraz, also known as Syrah, is one of the most popular red wines. It was first produced in France and later planted and produced worldwide. It has aromatic notes of pepper spice, smoke and black fruit. The grapes come from warmer growing climates such as the Rhone Valley of France or Yarra Valley in Australia. Shiraz is bold in taste, has a ruby-purple colour from the red-skinned grapes, and looks terrific. Taste-wise, it offers blueberry and blackberry flavours, smoke beef jerky and bacon combined with pepper spice round up the whole shiraz taste story.
Its alcohol levels may vary from one region to another. If the region is cooler, alcohol levels will be lower (13-14%); if the region is warmer, alcohol levels go up (14.5-15.5%). Shiraz is generally a dry wine. This means that the sugar from the grapes is converted into alcohol with the help of yeast. Because it’s dry, it’s also low-calorie, and a bottle of 750ml has around 625 calories in total. Leaving it for 15 minutes in the refrigerator to reach approximately 15 degrees Celsius will make it perfect for consumption. You can serve it with game, mushrooms, pasta, duck, grilled meat and stews.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the most planted red grapes of the 20th century. It was created by accident when a red Cabernet and a white Sauvignon Blank grape were bred together in the 17th century. This happy accident led to the most famous and versatile wines in history. This plant has small-sized grapes with thick skins and a high tannin level. It’s simple to grow and requires warmer climates with more sunshine like Chile, Australia, Romania, Argentina, Italy and South Africa.
It’s very versatile, especially flavour-wise. It’s acidic and rich with aromas of cedar, mint, cherries and black currants. It also takes oak pretty well, and the woody flavour pairs with notes of tobacco, dried herbs and leather. One strange flavour is the green bell pepper, developed in under-ripened grapes. For the best experience, serve it at a temperature between 15-20 degrees Celsius and pair it with fatty food rich with proteins such as ribs, steak and sausages, but it also works with strong cheeses.
Merlot
The word merlot derives from the French “the little blackbird”. This wine offers a one-of-a-kind tasting experience with its soft and velvety texture. It can adapt to many climates, but its quality will fall behind its quantity if you overplant. Merlot is dry with medium acidity and medium alcohol levels. Because it’s adaptable, it can take many flavours like blackberries, herbs, plums, black cherries and cocoa, with hints of vanilla, clove and cedar.
It can have a deep ruby red colour with a sparkle of brick-orange tones. As it ages, it will lose pigmentation and turn garnet. When it comes to alcohol levels, merlot varies between 13-14.5% depending on the region it’s growing in. It’s commonly made as a dry wine with low calories, such as Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Like every other red wine, merlot has its serving temperature between 15-20 degrees Celsius. You can serve it with white and dark meat types like chicken and pork; it pairs well with pasta, pizza, and burgers.
Health Benefits of Red Wine
All of these types of red wines are not just tasty. Moderate wine consumption has many health benefits:
- In comparison with white wines, darker wines are richer in antioxidants that protect your cells;
- It lowers cholesterol levels;
- Keeps the heart healthy by preventing clotting;
- Regulates blood sugar;
- Helps with common cold;
- Reduces the risk of cancers;
- Can help you control your weight;
- Reduces depression;
- Good for the digestive system;
- It keeps your memory sharp.
In Summary
Drinking red wine can be a true blessing. You have so many choices, so many flavours and combinations. Remember to be a responsible drinker; too much of it can cause organ damage, brain damage, and weaken your immune system.