Red wine is such an expanded category. Having gotten its name from its color, red wine is available and derived from an assortment of grapes. From red to blue, it’s these grapes that give red wine its taste, feel, and description. The key characteristics of red wine are ultimately what make it ‘red wine’.
Here are the nine different red wine characteristics and qualities:
1. Red Wine Has An Excellent Ability to Age
Red wine ages extremely well. To get the most from its taste, it must be stored appropriately. Temperature affects aging significantly which is why red wine should be stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Red wines are also usually stored in green or brown bottles. This is to protect it from ultraviolet rays. They must also be kept in slightly humid environments. In a setting too dry, the cork potentially can dry out, shrink, and allow oxygen to find its way into the bottle.
2. Red Wine Gets Its Color From Grape Skins
The grape skins are where red wine gets its color spectrum. The skins come into contact with the juices from the grape. This happens during fermentation. Color and tannins are then dispersed.
Red wine’s exact color is determined by the type of grape used as well as the time the pigmentation is in contact with the juice.
3. Red Wine Characteristics Are Divided Into Bodies
There are a range of red wine characteristics. This is why red wine is often classified by body. Light-bodied red wines have fewer tannins and are easy to pair with various foods. Medium-bodied wines have more tannins and have more presence on the pallet. Full-bodied red wines are heavier, have more tannins, and often have the highest alcohol content.
4. Red Wine is Often Described As Either Dry or Sweet
Red wines can also be divided into categories of ‘dry’ and ‘sweet’. Dry red wines are when a grape’s sugars have been converted in their totality into alcohol during the fermentation process Sweet wines are when there is still sugar in the wine.
5. There Are More Than 50 Key Red Wines Available
In the world wine market, you will find roughly 50 red wine varieties. These are popularized red wine types. It is worth remembering that there are more than 1,000 grapes used to make wine.
The most popular red wines are considered Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, among several others.
6. Red Wine Tastes Better in a Larger Glass
Red wines should be poured into and sipped from a glass that is oval or egg-shaped. Ideally, a glass with red wine should be large enough to accommodate between 10 and 22 ounces of liquid. This gives enough room to swirl the wine and gives it space to breathe. This is how you ultimately arrive at your best red wine taste.
7. Red Wine is Best Served at a Temperature of 60 Degrees Fahrenheit
Some red wines are different. The vast majority of red wines are best served at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. When served too warm, the alcohol taste can be very overwhelming. Served at a colder temperature and the wine can taste more bitter.
8. Red Wine Are the Best Dinner Pairing
For most wine lovers, red wine is the type of wine chosen to enjoy with dinner. Red wine characteristics include a firmer structure than many white and rose wines. This means red wine works better when next to stronger flavors.
9. Dry Red Wines Are Best to Cook With
You can cook with a lot of different red wines. Use them to glaze or braise, or even boil pasta. Cooking with red wine, a dry wine works best for savory dishes. For a sweet dessert, a sweet wine’s going to work better.
For the right dry red wine, look at something with low to moderate tannins. You also don’t want to choose a wine that you wouldn’t consider drinking with the same meal. Conflicting flavors can result in a very odd-tasting meal after something’s been cooked in red wine.
