Month: March 2010

When choosing a red wine, there are many different varieties on the market, all coming from different parts of the world and using different types or mixtures of grapes. There are some dry red wines and others that are smoother to the palate and thus more viable for new red wine drinkers. Most red wines go with meat dishes, with some varieties being more palatable with red meats and others with rich red sauces and pasta dishes. Although red wines are not sweet in most cases, as some white wines are, they are still very delicious to eat with desserts, accenting the chocolate or other flavors with the dry and spicy flavor of the wine.

Typical Types

One type of red wine is the sahra or shiraz which comes from a variety of places such as California and France. There are also some varieties that come from Australia, but these are not as commonly seen in the United States. This type of red wine works very well with red meat since it has a spicy flavor to it which accents the flavors of the meats.

Another type of red wine is the merlot, which is commonly used to introduce new wine drinkers to red wine. This type of wine does not have as full of a flavor as the shiraz, and is usually not as dry. It is a good choice to use with a variety of meat dishes, including chicken or fish. A wine that is very similar but has more of a ‘bite’ to it, having more tannins. It is usually used with red meat since it is a fuller bodied wine with more spices to it, and it is made in Australia, France, Chile and California.

A less familiar red wine is the Malbec which is grown in Argentina, but also in France, Chile and Australia. This wine is typically smooth like the merlot, but it can vary in fullness depending on the area where it is grown. The pinot noir is also a very smooth red wine which often has a soft finish to it. Since this is the case, it is a great choice in wine for different fish dishes, especially salmon, and also chicken and lamb.

A red wine that can also look pink in color is the zinfandel. This wine is only found in California and can be a very light wine or a very heavy wine depending on the way it is made. Since there is this variation, zinfandels can go with a variety of dishes, from tomato sauce based dishes to grilled steaks and ribs.