How to Find Red Wine

Finding the perfect wine to fit your tastes all depends upon what flavors and scents appeal to you. Understanding the most common types of flavors in different types of red wine is essential in deciding what you enjoy drinking.

Things You'll Need

• Several bottles of wine, such as pinot noir, cabernet, merlot and zinfandel
• Proper glass for each
• Water to rinse mouth after each tasting

Instructions

1. 

   Red wines are made from different grape variations, and their flavor depends upon what the vines pull from the surrounding environment, region, soil, rainfall and surrounding vegetation, to name a few. Red wine may be sweet, dry or fruity. Each wine varies in consistency and flavors, but not one tastes the same. What you favor depends upon your palette's preferred flavors, both in wine and food. This is an effective way for a beginner to understand what type of wines he likes. I will explain in the next four steps the most common varieties of red wine.

2. Pinot Noir: If you are a lover of lamb, pork, turkey, soft cheese (such as Brie or Camembert), salmon and chicken, pinot noir pairs with all of these nicely. It is very silky on the tongue with a nice consistency. Scents vary from berries to deep spiciness, and the flavors can include truffles, fruits such as cherry, strawberry, plum and other jammy rich fruits; oak, chocolate, game, incense, damp earth, tea and leather. All of these flavors together might not sound appetizing, but a Pinot Noir can go from being a jammy wine with only a hint of leather, to combining all of these flavors for a complex, full-bodied red.

3. 

   Merlot: This red pairs well with most all meats (prime rib and steaks) and pasta dishes, and is known as a "beginner" wine for people trying to discover what they like in reds. It does not pair well with salads and fruit usually. It can come off as being quite heavy, but is thought to be less tannic than cabernet. If you want to explore complex flavors, merlots can possess a combination of dark heavy fruit such as black cherries, black currant, plums, as well as grass, herbs and mint.
   Occasionally blueberry, chocolate and various spices are present.

4. Cabernet: If you are a lover of red meats, cabernet is a good red for you. It also goes well with dishes such as stroganoff, steak, pasta dishes with red or white sauce, duck and salmon. Pairing it with compliments can make an amazing and simple meal. For example, pairing a spicy cabernet with a pepper-crusted steak would suffice nicely. Other flavors include black currant and chocolate, and its scents are woodsy, full of cedar and oak; with a touch of vanilla or coffee. It is silky on the tongue.

5. Zinfandels range from blush-colored to rich ruby colored varieties. It pairs nicely with meals such as pasta with a tomato sauce base, pizzas, grilled meats, BBQ meats and salads, depending upon the heaviness of the zinfandel that you choose.
   The flavors can range from fruity to spicy, but always compatible for a person who longs for a little pepper and zest in their wine. Berry flavors are also usually prevalent.

Tips & Warnings

• These suggestions are meant to help you find out what reds would pair with the flavors you prefer in your food and beverages. It is smart to do further research.

• Do not attempt tastings unless you are 21 years of age.