Types of Dry Red Wines
Dry red wines include such varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Syrah. In all of these wines, the sugar present in the grapes ferments completely, or almost completely, into alcohol. It's the absence of the sugar that makes these red wines dry. When speaking of wine, the opposite of "dry" is "sweet." Does this Spark an idea?
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The Eight Major Reds
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According to the Wine Institute, Cabernet Sauvignon is the main ingredient in blending some of the most highly regarded dry red wines in the world, such as French Bordeaux. The soft, pleasant, uncomplicated flavor of Merlot has made it one of the most popular red wines in the United States. According to a 2007 survey conducted by the Nielsen Company, Merlot accounted for more than 10 percent of wine sales in the United States. Malbec is another easy-to-drink wine that originated in France but has become a mainstay of Argentina's wine industry. Syrah, or Shiraz as it is known in Australia, has a spicy flavor. Pinot Noir has a delicate fruity flavor. Zinfandel is a rich heavy wine, but it is also used to make inexpensive blush wines. Chianti is made from Sangiovese grapes, which produce a medium-bodied wine that has the taste of plums or berries. Barbera is a Italian red with a smooth, silky finish.
Complexity
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According to Basic Wine Knowledge, red wines tend to be more complex than white wines because red wine grapes require a longer growing season. The longer wine grapes remain on the vine, the juicier and more flavorful they are likely to become.
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French Varietals
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Cabernet Franc has an herbal character. It is often used in blending the wines of Bordeaux. Gamay is a light, fresh wine that carries the taste of strawberries. It is best drunk soon after it is bottled. Mourvedre is a medium-bodied red with cherry overtones; in California and Australia it is also known as Mataro.
The Wines of Italy
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Nebbiolo, with its intense flavors of chocolate and prune, comes from the Piedmont region in northern Italy where it is used to produce Barolo wines. Brunello is related to Sangiovese and produces Brunello di Montalcino, which The New York Times praised as "the most prestigious among all Tuscan wines."
A Spanish Red
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Tempranillo is Spain's version of Merlot, a fruity wine with a hint of mineral that you can enjoy on its own or as an accompaniment to a dinner of grilled or roasted beef. It is used to create Riojas, one of the premier wines of Spain.
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