10 Tips With Red Wine

We’ve all heard about the benefits of red wine.
Beyond that, red wine is delicious. (No, I don’t care if I am being biased!) 

If I’m being honest, I want everybody to discover their love for red wine, too! 

So let me share some tips with red wine for beginners & anyone else that might be curious! 

1. Maceration is how long the juice (from the grapes) spends time in contact with the skin of the grapes. Not all that different from how we steep tea in water. The juice and the grape skins can hang out together anywhere from 10 to 40 days for red wine.

2. When tasting red wine, think of ways to connect the taste & experience with memories. Pay attention to what feelings you get when you taste it. Are there any cultural ties that pop into your head? Wine tasting doesn’t have to be all about aromas & notes.

3. Tannins are responsible for the texture of wine. They come from the skin, seeds, stems and oak barrels. 

4. There are three “families” of red wine - light, medium and full. Some examples of light are: Pinot Noir & Lambrusco. Light red wine is considered the gateway red wine. Medium wines include: Merlot & Zinfandel. They are neither bold or light. Full red wines are Cabernet and Malbec. They are heavy and have high tannins. 

5. There are actually health benefits to red wine. Two benefits are due to polyphenols which are antioxidants and protect your blood vessels and your heart, and resveratrol which is an antioxidant that is good for blood pressure and blood clots. 

6. 46% of wine sold in the United States is Pinot Noir and Cabernet. (The other percentages are white at 44% and pink at 10%).

7. The ideal temperature of red wine is 58 degrees to 65 degrees. These temperatures allow for the wine to be at its most expressive temperature for both taste and tannins. For context, the lighter the red wine the colder it should be and the heavier the red wine is the warmer it should be.

8. There are eight primary types/varietals of red wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo.

9. Red wine gets lighter as it ages. The tannins actually begin to soften and leave the wine a more rusty color. 

10. Drink red wine in a large glass - think larger opening than other wine glasses - to allow the wine to open up and capture the taste profile of the wine.

What would you add to this list? 

What are your favorite red wines?