Our Complete Guide to Red Wine Trying to choose between serving Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir? You'll be a stellar party hostess with our guide to red wine. Learn the basics about the five most popular types of red wine and the foods they pair well with (we give you recipe ideas), plus helpful tips including how to properly store and serve red wine. Share your take on this idea!Upload your photo here. From Merlot to Chianti, we tell you about the five most common types of red wine and the types of food they go well with. On the next page, we list some of our favorite recipes that pair nicely with each of these wines. It's helpful to keep a simple journal of wines as you taste them to record brands you prefer and pairings that stood out. Red Wine Type: Merlot This common red wine is popular because of its middle-of-the-road character--soft, fruity, and mild. In Bordeaux, France, the native Merlot grape is usually used to blend into other red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, but on its own it carries a smooth and earthy tone.

It's a great wine for entertaining and can be enjoyed with a wide range of foods.Good food pairings: pork, beef, turkey, burgers, and veggie dishesLook for these labels: Clos Du Bois, Blackstone, Forest Glen (California), and Casa Lapostolle (Chile) Red Wine Type: Cabernet Sauvignon Black cherry, cassis, and cedar flavor this bold red wine that has a firm texture and plenty of tannins. The wine's smoothness and flavor concentration pairs well with hearty foods, such as grilled or broiled steak, beef tenderloin, and sausage dishes. Good food pairings: beef tenderloin, prime rib, steaks, sausage dishes, plus full-flavored cheese and stews; lighter versions pair well with anything from burgers to burritosLook for these labels: Beringer Knights Valley (California), Hogue (Washington), Chateau Graysac (Bordeaux, France), and Los Vascos (Chile)Editor's Tip: Tannins, the compounds that come from oak barrels and the seeds, skins, and stems of grapes, can make a young wine taste dry and puckery.

As wines age, the tannins smooth out and add to the wine's character. Red Wine Type: Pinot Noir From the Burgundy region of France, this crowd-pleasing red wine is perfect as a table wine because of its broad appeal. The silky texture and medium body make it versatile, and the juicy fruit and bright acidity complement fish (especially salmon), meat, poultry, and anything with mushrooms. Good food pairings: salmon, tuna, various meat and poultry dishesLook for these labels: Gallo of Sonoma (California), Cloudline (Oregon), and Stoneleigh (New Zealand)Editor's Tip: Serve this refined wine in a large glass with a bulbous shape, which allows more flavor and aroma development. Red Wine Type: Syrah/Shiraz This uniquely flavored red wine, grown in both France (Syrah) and Australia (Shiraz), sports a blend of fruit and spice with a bit of a bite (think dark berries, pepper, and smoke). The flavors vary by price point, with the under $10 versions leaning toward a light and jammy flavor and higher priced versions featuring more body, concentration, and tannins.

Good food pairings: lamb, spice- or herb-crusted beef, stews, burgers, sausages, and anything cooked on a grillLook for these labels: Fess Parker (California), Columbia (Washington), Penfolds (Australia), Red Bicyclette (France)best high end wine glasses Red Wine Type: Chiantiget red wine out of jeans The Tuscan Sangiovese grape makes this classic (and affordable) Italian red wine with a tart cherry flavor. glass of wine cupBottles labeled Chianti Classico contain wine from a specific region in the Chianti zone, and wine labeled Chianti Riserva has been aged longer than other varieties. glass of wine fridayGood food pairings: pasta with red sauce, such as spaghetti or lasagna, and dishes with potent ingredients such as capers, garlic, olives, and lemonLook for these labels: Cecchi, Monte Antico, and Antinorni Santa Cristina (Italy)english beer and wine shop

How to Serve Red Wine Serve most red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots, slightly cooler than room temperature (about 60-65 degrees), and serve lighter reds, such as Pinot Noir, anywhere from 55-60 degrees. the best fruit wine recipesChilling red wine briefly (10 minutes in an ice bucket or 30 minutes in the refrigerator) can help bring it to the temperatures listed above.good wine gift christmasNext, see our favorite recipes to pair with red wine.good wine on amazon Based on the basic wine and food pairing suggestions from the first page, we've chosen three of our top recipes that pair well with each red wine. best coffee shops food and wine

Whether you make these recipes for a special occasion, a party, or dinner tonight, you'll know the perfect red wine to complement your food. Recipes to Try with Merlot: Turkey Burgers with Mustard SauceVegetable Stew with Cornmeal DumplingsBeef-Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipes to Try with Cabernet Sauvignon: Beef & Baby Spuds with Tomato-Olive RagoutCilantro Garlic RibsSausage and Tortellini Soup Recipes to Try with Pinot Noir: Tuna Salad with Wonton CrispsSalmon and RavioliGreen Onion Chicken and Melted Tomatoes Recipes to Try with Syrah/Shiraz: Blue Cheese Stuffed Burger with Red Onion and SpinachGrilled Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple & Papaya SalsaHoney-Mustard Lamb Chops Recipes to Try with Chianti: Olive-Cherry BruschettaMeaty Lasagna BologneseItalian Fried Steak with Roasted Pepper Pesto Want more recipe and wine suggestions for a special occasion? See our favorite romantic food and wine pairings, below.See more food and wine pairings.

Choosing wines and cheeses from similar regions almost always guarantees a good complementary flavor match, but it's also fun to mix things up. We give you a good cheese pairing for five red wines so you can plan a wine and cheese tasting party in no time. Editor's Tip: We recommend purchasing handcrafted artisan cheeses instead of mass-manufactured cheeses (if you don't have a gourmet cheese shop near you, artisan cheeses are sold online). To create a wide flavor palate, choose cheeses from each of the three sources of milk--cow, goat, and sheep. MerlotThis soft, fruity, and mild red wine goes best with Parmigiano-Reggiano, a hard cow's milk cheese that sports a nutty and tangy flavor. Cabernet SauvignonMaytag Blue, a soft cow's milk cheese from Iowa that's crumbly and tangy, pairs well with this bold and tannin-heavy red wine.Pinot NoirPair aged Gouda, a hard cow's milk cheese with nutty and caramel flavors from Holland, with this silky and bright red wine with an earthy edge.