Your Guide to Red Wine Types: From Bold to Light, and Everything in Between

Learning about the main red wine types is like learning a new language — it gives you the vocabulary to describe what you love.

Each grape has its own character. Some are bold and structured, others are light and graceful. Knowing which red wine types match your taste means you’ll spend less time guessing and more time enjoying.

It also makes pairing easier. Full-bodied wines stand up to richer dishes, while lighter reds shine alongside delicate flavours. Once you understand the spectrum, you’ll instinctively know what fits where.

These are the full-bodied reds — structured, intense, and often with layers of dark fruit, spice, and oak. They’re made for long dinners, hearty food, and slow sipping.

🍷 Cabernet Sauvignon

Arguably the world’s most famous red grape. Cabernet produces deep, dark wines with flavours of blackcurrant, plum, often with a hint of blackcurrant leaf and cedar. Firm tannins and great ageing potential make it a benchmark among red wine types.

Try it with: steak, lamb, or any dish with rich, savoury sauces.

🍷 Syrah / Shiraz

Syrah (or Shiraz) is full-bodied but beautifully balanced. French versions are peppery and savoury; Australian Shiraz tends to be richer, rounder, and fruitier. Both are among the most expressive red wine types for those who like bold flavours and big wines.

Try it with: barbecued meats, game, or anything smoky.

🍷 Malbec

Originally from France but made famous in Argentina, Malbec is plush and juicy, with black fruit, cocoa, and spice. It’s approachable and smooth, making it one of the most drinkable red wine types for everyday enjoyment.

Try it with: burgers, barbecue, or roast vegetables.

Sitting between light and bold, these wines are versatile and food-friendly — often described as “crowd-pleasers.”

🍷 Merlot

Soft, velvety, and fruit-forward, Merlot is the gentle giant of red wine types. Expect plum, cherry, and chocolate notes. Its rounded texture and mild tannins make it easy to love.

Try it with: roast chicken, mushroom dishes, or pasta with tomato sauce.

🍷 Tempranillo

Spain’s premier black grape, grown across northern and central Spain, it’s the principal grape of Rioja. Tempranillo offers red fruit, vanilla, and spice, often with a touch of oak. Rioja remains one of the most reliable and characterful red wine types, balancing fruit and structure effortlessly.

Try it with: grilled meats, tapas, or cheese platters.

🍷 Grenache / Garnacha

Vibrant, warm, and slightly spicy, Grenache wines are known for their juicy red fruit and subtle herbal notes. They’re beautifully balanced and perfect for relaxed dinners.

Try it with: Mediterranean food, charcuterie, or roasted vegetables.

These wines are all about finesse. Light in body but full of nuance, they’re often served slightly chilled and shine with food.

🍷 Pinot Noir

Perhaps the most elegant of all red wine types, Pinot Noir offers delicate cherry and raspberry notes, soft tannins, and silky texture. It’s complex but never overpowering — a wine that invites you to slow down.

Try it with: duck, salmon, or mushroom risotto.

🍷 Gamay (Beaujolais)

Gamay produces joyful, fruit-driven wines bursting with red berries and floral notes. Light, fresh, and easy-going, it’s one of the most uplifting red wine types — often best enjoyed slightly chilled.

Try it with: light lunches, cheese, or charcuterie boards.

Beyond the classics, there are hundreds of red grape varieties worth discovering. Some of the best lesser-known red wine types include:

• Nebbiolo (Italy): Elegant, tannic, and aromatic, with rose and tar notes — used in Barolo and Barbaresco.
  
  

• Cabernet Franc (France): Herbaceous, savoury, and refined, often with redcurrant, green pepper and graphite notes.
  
  

• Zinfandel (California): Juicy, bold, and full of sunshine — ideal for those who like fruit-driven styles.
  
  

• Sangiovese (Italy): The grape behind Chianti, full of bright cherry fruit and earthy spice.
  
  

Exploring lesser-known red wine types is one of the best ways to expand your palate and find hidden gems.

If you’re unsure where to start, think about your preferences in food and flavour.

• Love strong flavours and rich sauces? Choose fuller-bodied red wine types like Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, or Malbec.
  
  

• Prefer something softer and smoother? Try Merlot, Grenache, or Tempranillo.
  
  

• Drawn to lighter, more elegant wines? Pinot Noir or Gamay will likely be your match.
  
  

• Curious and adventurous? Look for Nebbiolo or Cabernet Franc — they reward exploration.
  
  

Remember: your favourite red wine type is the one that makes you want a second glass.

Serving temperature can completely change how a wine tastes.

• Full-bodied wines: Slightly below room temperature (around 18°C).
  
  

• Medium-bodied wines: Around 16°C.
  
  

• Light-bodied wines: Slightly cooler (12–14°C).
  
  

A quick chill — even for red wine — can bring balance and freshness, especially in lighter red wine types.

Also, don’t underestimate the glass. A large, round bowl allows the aromas of complex reds like Pinot Noir or Cabernet to open beautifully.

The joy of wine lies in discovery. Every region, grape, and vintage brings something new to explore. Once you understand the main red wine types, you can start to follow your curiosity — tasting across continents, styles, and producers.

Wine isn’t about rules; it’s about experience. Try bold one week, light the next. Compare a Rioja with a Burgundy, a Malbec with a Merlot. The more you taste, the more you’ll appreciate the stories each bottle tells.

A few beautiful examples that highlight the diversity of red wine types:

This Cabernet Sauvignon opens with enticing aromas of blackberry, bramble, violet and a hint of spice. On the palate, well-integrated tannins and plush fruit lead to a moreish finish.

A delicious and juicy wine! Beautiful intense fresh red fruit, lively and bright. A wine in tune with the times, which has juice, depth, and precision.

Bright cherry, pomegranate and cranberry notes on the nose are underpinned by subtle cinnamon and earthy tones, with a touch of smoke from aging in small French oak barrels. Silky and graceful — a Pinot Noir that captures the softer side of the red wine types spectrum.

Nebbiolo grapes from several tiny plots of vineyards less than a hectare in size, from low yielding vines, hand harvested in October. Barrel aged for 3 years before being bottled and aged for further year in the cellar. 

A beautiful, intense ruby colour with garnet reflections and a complex and persuasive nose with touches of overripe fruit and spices. In the mouth it combines the sumptuous richness of its structure with a surprisingly easy drinkability; the finish is long and commensurate, fleshy sour cherry, with a sweet, intensely minty nose.

If this has inspired you to explore more, take a look at our full range of red wines — from bold, full-bodied favourites to lighter, silky styles perfect for any occasion.

Explore red wines here.