Different Types Of Dry Red Wine

Think choosing between a few dry red wine types should be easy? Think again! When you're trying to find the best red wine for a dinner party or special meal, you'll probably find the sheer range of red wine choices more than a little daunting.

Step one is knowing the most common dry red wine types you'll encounter when you're out shopping. Read below to learn a bit more about the different types of dry red wine, and what to look for. Or check my Choosing Wine for a Party page for resources on red wines, whites, and pairing wine with food. Here is a list of some very common red wines, including how they're flavored and where they tend to come from. Or you can check this page for an overview of all the common wine types, including white, champagne, and sweet wines.

Barbera Wines

Most of this dry red wine comes from the Piedmont region of Italy, though it is also becoming a popular grape variety in California wines. More aged versions of Barbera tends to be very full bodied (great with heavy food) but with a nice balance of acid. Lighter, younger varieties are medium bodied and fruity.

Cabernet Franc Wines

France and California are both famous for growing this dry red wine type. But this wine is often mixed with other grapes or flavorings, and is not commonly used on its own.

You'll generally find Cab Franc mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot (as with French Bordeoux wines) and occasionally with other varieties for use in Chianti. You'll also find this variety mixed with other grapes in Spanish, California, Washington State, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina.

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

This is one of the most popular dry red wine types there is, and is grown all over the world. The most famous probably comes from France near Bordeaux, but you can find it grown all over the world. This grape is either produced on its own, or blended with merlot, shiraz, cabernet franc, you name it.

The beauty of this wine is how it ages to perfection. It's powerful, full-bodied, and takes on a lot of flavor from the aging process. Some versions of this wine are a bit more subtle, but many are very intense, with a lot of sharp or bitter-tasting tannins. Not a wine for people who don't like the flavor of wine! It also tends to be a bit higher in alcohol, making it difficult to pair with very spicy foods.

Grenache/Garnacha Wine

This is another one of those dry red wine types grown all over the world. The most famous Grenache (or Garnacha in Spain) wines come from California, Spain, and France. The most famous varieties probably cone from Spain.

This dry red wine type has berry overtones and a high-medium body, and is often blended with other varieties of wine to add body and fruitiness to wines. It has a higher amount of alcohol and low amounts of tannins.

Merlot Wine

This is probably one of the most user friendly dry red wine types in the world. Merlot has become an incredibly popular wine in the last decade because it has a low acid content and very smooth flavor. It also has strong berry tones. This wine is grown all over the world, to be made alone or mixed with other varieties.

Merlot tends to be a fruity wine, with hints of plum and currant, and is lower in tannins than more intense reds like Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlots grown in cooler areas tend to be fruiter and more acidic.

Pinot Noir Wine

This variety of wine has always been known as a very finicky grape, but, when well executed, produces lovely, complex wines-- the most famous of which come from France (such as Burgundy wine) and California. This is a delicate wine that, depending on the vintner, will have a variety of flavors. It's generally light-to-medium bodied, and filled with aroma and flavor, ranging from fruity to floral to herbal. This is also one of the wine grape varieties used in French champagne.

Tempranillo Wine

Tempranillo is the quintessential Spanish wine grape, and is the most commonly used grape the famous Spanish wine region of Rioja. Once exclusively Spanish, this grape is now grown in Australia, California, South America, and South Africa, as well.
This is a wine that is either drunk young or aged, and it takes very well to a long aging process. It is often used on its own, especially in Rioja wines, but is also mixed with other varieties all over the world. It can be either light and mild, as in a young Tempranillo, or oakey and intense when aged.

Red Zinfandel Wine

Most wine newbies think Zinfandel is a bad thing-- and only comes in a sweet white. Not true! This grape is also one of the more popular dry red wine types to come out of California. This type of red wine has both spice and fruit tones, depending on how it's produced. Cooler areas produce a more berry flavored wine, while warmer areas produce a spicier wine.

How To Choose The Best Type Of Red Wine

There are many people that would argue that the best red wines are French. However, there are multitudes of others who would argue for a particular type of red wine that is made in Australia, Chile or even California. Finding the best red wine can be different for each individual since people's tastes differ from each other and the type of red wine that is required for a meal really depends on the meal that is being prepared. There are some people who think that the best red wines are those that are sweeter while others would argue for the dry red wines. The best red wines are those that fit the meal, are pleasing to the palates of the people at the dinner table, and fit into the budget of the host.

One of the more popular types of red wine is the merlot. This type of grape tends to mature quickly so that the wine does not have to age as long before consumption and is therefore usually a little less expensive than other types of wine. It is also usually a smoother wine, good for people who are beginning to drink red wines. The merlot is the one of the best red wines because it is so versatile to use. It goes with a variety of different dishes, from red meats, to pastas and even some heavier chicken and fish dishes.

Another type of red wine that is considered the best is the cabernet sauvignon. This type of red wine is dryer than the merlot and has a fuller body to it with more tannins. This red wine is usually used with red meat dishes where the meat is prepared very simply, without sauces or other additions to it. There is also the cabernet franc which has the same sort of flavors as the cabernet sauvignon but is not as well known. These wines all range in price from about six dollars per bottle to over five hundred dollars per bottle, depending on the brand and the age of the wine. This also makes these the best red wines on the market because of the variety in pricing, thus fitting everyone's budget needs.

A pinot noir based red wine is also considered the best red wine, however, the price of these red burgundy wines is more than the wines listed above. The price is often prohibitive to some people enjoying these wines, thus eliminating them from the best red wine category for certain people.

Drinking Red Wine, Enjoying Your Health

Drinking red wine enjoying your meal slowly grasping the feeling of fullness is an effective way to reduce the amount of food you eat without forcing dietary restrictions on yourself. By eating your meal slowly, a feeling of fullness is acquired and the red wine diet can reduce the quantity eaten automatically.

Red wine is abundant in antioxidants such as polyphenol that come with many short term and long term health benefits to look forward too. Since there is no dietary restriction, there is little stress, and what it is easy to continue for a long time is charm.

When talking about red wine what doesn't come to mind is dieting. Instead many associate red wine with a romantic dinner getaway or how the French drink red wine everyday and don't get fat appreciating high longevity rates than other countries.

The red wine diet is a weight-loss method to be skinny while drinking alcohol. During dinner, I have dinner with a cup of red wine slowly. By eating slowly, you are of the amount be reduced to prevent Eating, eating naturally.

Red wine comes with a number of benefits not for your health but also in enriching your lifestyle. In particular, having a glass of wine per meal isn't going to hurt you but actual improve your chances of not overeating. With strong antioxidant for life long health and potassium to drive out the salt it would appear that there are no flaws.

People who like alcohol, I think there are some cases that a diet of "Do not drink alcohol" has become stressful. It is not "alcohol is an enemy of a diet". A nutrient is contained also in alcohol, and many effects can be acquired if it is a proper quantity.

Probably, the greatest advantage of the red wine diet which can obtain a meal deliciously, drinking alcohol and but becomes thinner is the point "there is no stress."

Red wine is said to contain up to 4 times the natural polyphenols than green tea!
Polyphenols are a strong antioxidant that is believed to treat cholesterol related health problems while actively aiding in the prevention of clogged arteries.

In red wine, contains 4 times about green tea polyphenols. Polyphenols have strong antioxidant capacity, prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol; we prevent the hardening of the arteries.

Red Wine Has So Many Benefits For Our Health

A glass of red wine a day has been proven to protect the heart, and recent studies even indicate it could help beat cancer.Some of the health benefits of wine seem to be related directly to the alcohol content rather than the available antioxidants. Alcohol provides cardiovascular benefits and might even help activate the function of wine's antioxidants.This does not mean that more wine is better, however. A single glass of red wine with dinner is plenty to provide health benefits. Too much alcohol can have detrimental effects on the body, including liver damage, and alcohol is also very dangerous for a developing fetus. So enjoy that glass of red wine per day, but be sure to always drink responsibly.

Rich in Antioxidants

One of the reasons why red wine is considered good for your health is because of its high content of antioxidants, specifically the antioxidant reservatrol. Reservatrol is present in the seeds and skins of grapes, which are fermented during the manufacturing of red wine. Reservatrol has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. It’s also a type of phytoestrogen, a chemical that mimics the effect of estrogen in the body. Since most of the symptoms associated with menopause are caused by depleting estrogen, menopausal women may successfully manage their symptoms by receiving plenty of phytoestrogen in their bodies, and drinking red wine regularly is an easy way to do this.

Cancer Prevention

Aside from preventing cancer, reservatrol has been found to be effective in lowering your risk of cancer. It inhibits the formation of malignant tumors, protects the DNA of healthy cells and eliminates existing tumors by cutting off their nutrient supply. Studies conducted in laboratories show that reservatrol also causes cancer cells to undergo self-destruction. So far, this effect has been observed in skin cancer, leukemia and breast cancer.

Drink in Moderation

Even though red wine can bring a number of health benefits to you, it’s still important to keep your intake moderate. Needless to say, excessive drinking can do more harm than good to your health. High blood pressure, liver damage and heart failure risk are some of the health problems you may encounter if you drink too much. Be sure to lead a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and plenty of exercise.

Heart Disease Prevention

The link between red wine and heart protection has been a long-standing one and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support this connection. The reservatrol present in red wine helps thin the blood. When the blood is thin, platelets or blood cells have less chances of clotting together. In the event that blood clots are formed, these clots can become lodged in the veins leading to the heart or brain. As a result, oxygen is blocked and a heart attack or stroke can occur. Reservatrol also lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, two factors which can lead to the development of heart disease. A moderate consumption of red wine has also been found to reduce the risk of future heart attacks for people who have a history of previous heart attacks.

Promotes Dental Health

If you suffer from dental problems like cavities, then you might also want to incorporate red wine into your diet. This is because red wine contains the compound flavonoid, which is also found in apples, tea and cinnamon. Flavonoid prevents bacteria from sticking to the enamel of your teeth. The polyphenols found in red wine are also effective in reducing inflammation which is associated with gum disease.

Health Benefits of Red Wine

The health benefits of red wine have been utilised throughout its history going back approximately 8,000 years. Historians believe that it was first produced in the European and Asian areas - particularly in present day Georgia and Iran. It is made by fermenting different varieties of grapes. There are six main types of red grape varieties that are used to make different types of wines. Of these six types of grape varieties, it is not known which was cultivated first.
Main Types of Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon is a fairly new type of grape used to make wine that may not have been used for wine production until the 18th century. These types of grapes have gained recent popularity in Australia.
Chianti - This grape dates back to the 15th century and is Italy's best known kind of wine.

Merlot - The merlot grape goes all the way back to the first century and is most commonly cultivated in France.
Pinot Noir - Another grape that is common to France. Wine made from this grape dates back to the time period of the Roman Empire and was used by Christian monks.
Sangiovese - This grape is believed to come from Tuscany in the 1700's. Currently it is successfully grown in California as well.
Zinfandel - This grape was discovered in the United States in the 1830's and is currently used for producing wine in California.
Health Benefits of Red Wine
It helps with sleep - while people are usually cautioned about alcohol actually interfering with sleep, red wine which contains a key ingredient called melatonin can help with sleep. This anti-oxidant helps to regulate one's internal clock and besides helping with sleep, melatonin can also help to prevent cancer.
It is good for the heart - consuming moderate amounts of red wine can do a number of good things for the heart. Because it contains antioxidants called flavonoids, drinking red wine can raise HDL levels, which is the good cholesterol that everyone wants; it can also lower LDL levels, which is often described as bad cholesterol. Drinking red wine can also act as a blood thinner which can prevent dangerous clotting.
It may reduce the risk of disease - as mentioned, red wine contains antioxidants that are not only good for the heart but for the rest of the body as well. Antioxidants can actually repair cells that have been damaged by free radicals and can reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, macular degeneration and certain types of cancer.