Barbera is the second most widely planted red grape variety in Italy though it is most common in the Asti and Alba regions. Barbera grapes produce rich, red wines with strong fruit flavors and aromas, especially black cherry. Other characteristics of wines made with Barbera grapes include low, mild tannins and high acidity which produces a crisp taste. Barbera wines are traditionally aged in large casks which impart little oak flavor, but some today are aged in small French oak barrels, leading to strong oak flavors.

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Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in California; Photo © tarale

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are among the most widely grown, widely know, and widely enjoyed grapes for red wine. The flavors and aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon wines include vanilla, currants, and even green bell pepper if made form underripe Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Other characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon wine include high alcohol levels and strong tannins. These strong tannins make it easier to age Cabernet Sauvignon in cellars for many decades.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the youngest grape varieties around — it originated in the 17th century when Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc were crossed. Wine makers grow Cabernet Sauvignon almost everywhere in the world that red wine grapes are used because the variety is so hardy: the grape skins are thick and strong while the vines resist disease and rot.

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Gamay grapes grow especially well in the Beaujolais district of France where they are used to produce Beaujolais wines. Although the Gamay grape itself has lots of tannins, the resulting Gamay wines are characterized by fairly low tannins. Wines made from Gamay grapes have fresh, fruity flavors like strawberry and raspberry and aromas of pears.

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Grenache Noir grapes in Santa Barbara, California; Photo © Josh McFadden

Grenache grapes originated in Spain where it is called Garnacha, but Grenache is the name by which the grapes and resulting wine are most commonly known. Grenache wines have flavors and aromas of strong fruit, raspberries, and a bit of spice. Other characteristics of wines made from Grenache grapes include weak colors, soft tannins, and high alcohol content. Grenache tends to be most closely associated with the southern French region of Rhone where it is grown widely.

Although Grenache are red grapes which produce a red wine, the wine itself is so pale that it is commonly mixed with much darker wines. Grenache also tends to be rather low in flavor while being high in alcohol, two more good reasons for blending with other grape varieties. It is, however, possible to create red wines from Grenache grapes that have good color, complex flavor, and interesting texture.

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Malbec Grapes, Robert Mondavi Winery; Photo © IanL

Malbec grapes originated in France and play a big role in the wine production of Argentina. The flavors and aromas of wines made from Malbec grapes include blackberry, cherry, plums, and chocolate. Other characteristics of Malbec wines include inky-black coloring, soft or high tannins, and high acidity. Malbec wines aren't as popular as wines made from other red grape varieties, but their popularity is growing as wine drinkers seek out new and different wine experiences.

Malbec continues to be used in the creation of Bordeaux blends in France because it provides both strong color and strong tannins but as a varietal in Argentina it produces much softer tannins and stronger fruit flavors. For a time Argentinian wine growers replaced most of their old Malbec vines with vines of more "marketable" grapes, but now that the rest of the world has discovered how good Malbec varietal wines can be Argentinia is back in the Malbec wine production business.

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Merlot Grapes; Photo © Ollylian

Merlot grapes produce a red wine with flavors and aromas of black cherry, berries, plum, chocolate, and some herbs. Merlot wine is popular with people trying to get accustomed to drier, more complex red wines because of its other characteristics, like low tannins which make it easier to drink than other reds wines. The softer characteristics of Merlot with the fruity flavors make it a red wine that's well-suited to lighter foods that won't overwhelm the flavors of the wine.

More experienced wine drinkers sometimes see these characteristics as disadvantages and prefer Merlot when mixed with other, more complex red grape varieties — especially those that are harsher alone and can benefit from softening. Nevertheless, it is possible to create complex, interesting wines from Merlot grapes.

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Nebbiolo grapes are grown primarily in the Piedmont region of Italy where they can produce great wines; outside of Piedmont, though, the grapes produce mediocre wines at best. Nebbiolo has complex flavors and aromas, including roses, cherries, truffles, and mints. There can even be hints of tar, tobacco, and leather. Other characteristics of wine made from Nebbiolo grapes include high tannins, high acidity, and high alcohol content. Nebbiolo wines take on orange tinges when they are aged.

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Pinot Noir grapes; Photo © dstutz

Pinot Noir wine is produced from red grapes but it is much lighter in color than other red wines. Pinot Noir flavors and aromas include roses, fruits, black cherry, berry, and currant. Other Pinot Noir characteristics include high acidity and low tannins. Pinot Noir's flavor depends heavily where it is grown and how the wine maker treats it, so a good winery can produce exceptional wines. However, Pinot Noir is finicky and can produce poor wines even when the wine maker does things right.

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Because Pinotage is a unique South African grape variety that only seems to grow well in South Africa, most wine drinkers haven't had as much experience with it as they have with other red wines. The situation for Pinotage is made worse by the fact that South Africans have a love it/hate it relationship with Pinotage: some enjoy its unique flavors while others disdain it because it's not European enough. Pinotage wines are characterized by the cherry fruit flavors of Pinot and the earthiness of Rhone Cinsault.

Pinotage grapes were created in 1925 and Pinotage wines didn't appear on the market until 1941, making it one of the youngest wine varieties around. Created from a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (Cinsault in Rhone), you have to be careful when picking a Pinotage because quality can vary. In the hands of the right wine maker Pinotage can be a great experience; but if handled incorrectly Pinotage wine can turn out badly. You stand a better chance of getting a decent Pinotage by spending a little more on it.

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Sangiovese Grapes in Tuscany Italy; Photo © Francesco Sgroi

Sangiovese grapes are common in the Tuscany, are the most planted red grape variety in Italy, and are popular for the production of Chianti wines. Sangiovese flavors and aromas are strong in fruit, especially tart cherries, with floral notes. Other characteristics of wines made from Sangiovese grapes include firm tannins and high acidity. The exact flavors and aromas of any particular Sangiovese wine depends heavily on where the grapes are grown and how the wine maker creates the wine.

Sangiovese literally means "blood of Jove" and this was one reason why many have believed that Sangiovese grapes are among the earliest cultivated by the Romans — and perhaps were even cultivated by the Etruscans. Modern DNA research has found that Sangiovese grapes are a cross between Ciliegiolo grapes from Tuscany and Calabrese Montenuvo grapes from southern Italy. Today Sangiovese grapes are used to produce a variety of wines throughout Italy.

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Shiraz Grapes; Photo © chrisada

Syrah grapes, known as Shiraz in Australia, produce full-bodied, long-lived, fruity wines. Syrah/Shiraz flavors and aromas include peppers, berries, currants, and even chocolate. Syrah grapes originated in France's Rhone valley and their use in wines is traced back to the Romans and Greeks. Syrah is usually bottled alone as a varietal wine but can be blended with other grapes like Cabernet and Grenache. Syrah wines have some of the strongest, most distinctive flavors and aromas of any red wine.

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Tempranillo wine grapes;
Photo © VinoFamily

Tempranillo is a famous Spanish grape variety used in many rich Spanish red wines. Tempranillo is marked by strong fruit flavors and aromas. Other characteristics of Tempranillo include deep color, weak acidity, medium to strong tannins, and moderate amounts of alcohol. Tempranillo grapes are frequently blended with other grapes, but the flavor and color can be better when Tempranillo is bottled as a varietal wine. Tempranillo is usually aged several years in oak barrels before serving.

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Zinfandel Grapes in Amador County, California
Photo © Anachronist

Zinfandel is a red grape which produces red wines with strong flavors and aromas of berries. The berry flavor and aroma of Zinfandel wine can be so strong that some consider it 'jammy' in character Many are familiar primarily with White Zinfandel which is a blush version of Zinfandel, not a true white wine. Other characteristics of Zinfandel grapes include high alcohol content, strong tannins, and slightly spicy flavors.

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