There are ten’s of thousand’s of varieties of grapes that wine is derived from. This being true, you are still able to break down the types of red wine into only a slight handful of categories. The first category is Barbera, which with its silky texture and fruity taste such as black cherry or plum, mixes quite well with most evening meals that include a pasta or sauce. A bonus about the Barbera type of red wine is that is has a low acidity factor, meaning that it won’t sizzle the taste bud’s or rouse up that ole ulcer that’s been bothering you.
The next well known category of red wine is called Sangiovese; this is a grape as well as type of red wine. Typically grown in Italy and California, Sangiovese wines make excellent additions to any wine rack and are also most typically mixed with other flavor’s of wine to vary the taste. The taste, which goes quite well over a steak, is said to remind the drinker of cherries, even while maintaining its nutty aroma. Also, that nutty aroma does not necessarily mean that this wine should be sipped with nuts; in fact, it will bring a bitter or sour taste to your mouth if you try.
Another popular type of red wine, as well as my personal favorite, is Zinfandel. The name alone sounds almost exotic in nature, even though this grape is only grown in California. There are literally thousands of types of Zinfandel wines available and the majority of which taste a lot like raspberries or cranberries. The forth type of red wine is another favorite I must share with Zinfandel. And that type is Pinot Noir, a fruity aroma of cherry or strawberry is just the beginnings with this wine. Smooth elegant taste which in turn can be coupled with the perfect meal, and you could have yourself a fantastic evening. This wine is never blended and is extremely difficult to grown. Most Pinot Noir’s for this very reason can be somewhat expensive.
A fifth and certainly not last on the list for types of red wine is known as Malbec. Any variation of Malbec is simply wonderful when coupled with a meal that contains a meat product. For example, duck, quail, steak, pork etc, the smoothness and actual taste of this wine seems to enhance the strong flavor of the various meats’ it could be served with. Though the list certainly does not end here, hopefully this will allow you to gain a better understanding of some of the more basic elements of selecting that perfect bottle of wine.
