Below are The Drink Calculator’s insights on popular types of Red Wine. Do you agree?
// BAROLO // A magisterial wine made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes, and is the namesake of the area in Piedmont, Italy in which the grapes are grown. Barolo is often called the king of Italian wines.
Elements: Full Body | Herbs + Earth | Raspberry + Cherry + Rose | Bone Dry | Dense Tannins
Great For: When you’re feeling somewhat regal
// BORDEAUX // France’s famous red blends from Bordeaux are mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes with a sprinkle of a few other native grapes. Merlot dominant blends hail from the Right Bank, while Cabernet Sauvignon dominant are typically from Left Bank villages.
Elements: Full Body | Black Currant + Cherry | Graphite | High Tannins
Great For: Sitting with friends around any table in any city under any starry night
// Cabernet Sauvignon // Bordeaux is the “OG” of this natural hybrid of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Its regions typically blend Cabernet Sauvignon with other grapes. Single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wines are where Napa Valley really shines.
Elements: Full-bodied | Rich + Robust | Dark Fruit + Earthy | Medium to High Tannins
Great For: A cold night by a warm fire or a Game of Thrones style dinner table with lots of red meat
// MALBEC // originally a French grape, called Côt, but it turned out the grape preferred the hot high-altitude of Argentina’s Mendoza region. It’s almost as if the grape belonged to Argentina all along.
Elements: Full Body | Rich, Dark Fruit | Smooth + Chocolatey | Moderate Tannins
Great For: When you want a team player who has your back in the ol’ pocket book department while keeping large groups happy
// MONTEPULCIANO // Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is made with exactly what you might guess: the Montepulciano grape from Abruzzo, Italy. This super smooth and easy drinking red wine has a seat at the big boys’ table, if only for its gregarious personality.
Elements: Medium to Full Body | Complex Black Fruits | Smooth + Easy | Medium to High Tannins
Great For: When you feel like a king but the night calls for the wine budget of a pauper, and you have a mixed crowd to please
// PINOT NOIR // The Pinot Noir vines of Burgundy were first tended by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages. Pinot Noir ranks as one of the oldest grapes in the world, and the most popular light-bodied red.
Elements: Light to Medium Body | Dry | Smooth + Fruit-forward | Spices + Earth | Low Tannins
Great For: Blending in with your white wine drinking friends at a wine lunch or when you’re channeling Miles Raymond from the movie, Sideways