The 5 Best Dry Red Wine Types

Did you know... when fermenting grapes to make wine, sugar in the grapes gets consumed by yeast. If the process is stopped earlier, then the wine is sweet. If 99% or more of the sugar is consumed, then the wine is dry. This makes the wine less sweet, but has nothing to do with it’s alcohol level or with how dry it makes your mouth. That's the process of making Dry Wine. 

best dry wines

Here are five of the most popular red dry wines, listed with their flavors, aromas, and names so you can pick what most suits your taste!

  1. Sangiovese (Italy)

This is a worldwide newly trending wine. Italy's Chianti is a single variety grape wine that mostly grows in Tuscany, and, more generally, in central Italy. 

Sangiovese Wine

Neither big, nor light, Sangiovese has the taste and smell of violets, plums, and red cherries, with high acidity. Young Sangiovese has strawberry flavor and a little spiciness. It also has a brief smell of tea leaf, and is medium in tannins. Remember, Tannins can be very damaging to enamel, so always carry around Wine Wipes to remove it, without interfering with your palette.

Examples: 

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Prugnolo Gentile, Sangiovese Grosso, Brunello di Montalcino, Nielluccio, Rosso di Montepulciano, Morellino, Rosso di Montalcino


  1. Cabernet Sauvignon (Global)


This is most popular grape among Americans and is grown greatly in Bordeaux, France. It is a variety of red grape that has thick and long-lasting skin.


Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark colored wine that is high in acidity and tannins (combat with wine wipes). It also has more than 13%  alcohol, so it might be a good idea to drink it with food.

Best Cabernet Sauvignon

It might taste like green pepper, tobacco, green olive, herbs and cassis. It also might give a slight taste of vanilla and of sweet fruits such as cherries. 
his wine is usually mixed with Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes.


  1. Tempranillo (Spain)


Thought to be around 3000 years old, Tempranillo is a famous grape of Spanish wines and is used in making wines around the region.


To a beginner, this might be mixed up with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. It might taste like leather and tobacco or as cherries, depending on it’s age. It is a medium bodied wine. 


Examples: Abundante, Cencibel, Tinto de Madrid, Tinta del Pais,Tinta de Toro,Tinto Fino, and Ull de Llegre.

 

  1. Pinot Noir (France)


Originally French, this wine is one of the most expensive as it is one of the oldest grapes. As the French name suggests, the wine is made from black pine grapes. It has a special color that is in itself a joy. Keep red wine stains off your teeth while you enjoy your favorite relaxing Pinot.

Red Wine Tannins

Light on the mouth and with little tannins, this strongly fragrant wine could smells of red and black cherries and plums, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries, blackberries, truffles, fresh mushrooms, gravel, and savory spices. 

Examples:

French Burgundy, California’s Carneros, Monterey, Russian River, Santa Barbara, and Santa Lucia.


  1. Syrah (France, but originally Iranian)


Although known to be French, Syrah was originally invented in what used to be the capital of the Iranian Impire, Shiraz. It was then brought to Rhône. 


The taste of Syrah, or Shiraz varies depending on the weather conditions in which it was grown. It is adaptable and can be light and fruity or heavy and spicy. But it’s a strong grape and the main flavors of its wine are blackberry, boysenberry, pepper, clove, and plum. It is strongly fragrant, 


Northern Rhône wines are often mixed with black fruit, or are mixed with white grape Viognier to be softened. In places such as Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, the wines taste more like tobacco or earthy smokey flavors. However in the Southern Rhône, Syrah would have a spicy pepper and plum. To reduce acidity and fruitiness, Grenache is sometimes added.

Why is Dry Wine So Beloved?

Dry red wine is easily accessible as it is not confined to certain regions. It’s popularity (not in the U.S as in Europe) comes from the belief of it being healthier, as it contains no sugar. The latter is another reason for it’s common use in cooking as well. Pick up your favorite Red Wine, and let your taste buds and food pairings take you on a new adventure. Make sure you take along some Wine Wipes to keep the tannins from staining your teeth red, so you can enjoy all of your favorite reds with a smile.




Guest Article written by: Seera Akra