First things first, red wine is well…red, but why? Its color can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals ranging from grapes that are reddish, deep purple, and even a beautiful blue on the color scale. These grapes give rise to a wine that is color classified with such descriptors as garnet, almost black, dark red, light red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, maroon and the list goes on. It is the grape skins that are responsible for the red wine’s distinct color spectrum. The skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process, allowing the dispersion of both color and tannins. The individual wine’s particular red hue depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin’s pigmentation is in contact with the juice. There are right around 50 key red wine varietals that consistently manifest themselves in today’s worldwide wine market.As with all wines, the particular winemaker will have adequate “say” in the style of wine he will produce.

That said, red wines are often classified by “body-type.” For example, one might say that a certain red wine is “light-bodied” – referring to the mouth-feel and tannin structure. A light-bodied wine will have fewer tannins present and less presence on the palate. These wines tend to be less demanding partners with flavor-filled foods. An example of a light-bodied red wine would be one derived from the Gamay grape varietal, such as France’s famed young red wine: Beaujolais Nouveau. A medium-bodied red wine will contain more tannins than the above Beaujolais Nouveau, but will not have near the pucker power of a high-powered California Cabernet Sauvignon or an Italian Super Tuscan. Typical examples of medium-bodied red wines include Merlot, Shiraz or a Chianti. Full-bodied red wines boast the highest tannin (and often alcohol) content. Prime examples of full-bodied reds are France’s esteemed Bordeaux wines, California’s key Cabs and Italy’s sizzling Super Tuscans.

In general, light-bodied wines tend to “feel” more like water in the mouth. In contrast, “full-bodied” wines feel heavier, more like milk, this effect is due in large part to the higher tannin (and again, alcohol) content.The top red wine varietals that you are likely to encounter are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Grenache.Sometimes, you will hear of red wines referred to by their popular regional names. best wine brands in europeFor example, a "Bordeaux" is a red wine from France that is made primarily from three varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes. best wine to bring back from spainOr move to ordering a wine from Italy and you will often hear of a Chianti- made from the Sangiovese grape varietal, or look at Piedmont's Barolo or Barbaresco wines (both of which hail from the Nebbiolo varietal).best wine brands in europe

Malbec is Argentina's superstar red wine grape and is a rising star in the world of red wine. Curious about which Malbecs to try? Check out some best bet Malbecs here. It happens... red wine spills, stains, and other mishaps. Don't panic, there are several very effective methods of dealing with the inevitable red wine stain, check out the Best Ways to Deal with Red Wine Stains.What are the health benefits associated with moderate red wine consumption?How many ounces are in a "standard" red wine glass?wine bars music nycHow many calories are in red wine?best wine chartWhat are best bets for red wine clubs?the best wine tours in italyWhat is one of the most expensive red wines on the market today?What are the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines under $100?Why is oak such a big deal for red winemakers?

Red wines will put their best foot forward when poured into and sipped out of a wine glass with adequate room. A distinctly oval or egg-shaped bowl that narrows slightly at the top as opposed to a slender flute-like glass is necessary to enjoy a red wine to the fullest . The ideal red wine glass will accommodate between 10-22 ounces of liquid, allowing more room to swirl your wine and better surface area for allowing the wine to breathe a bit. On the serving note, keep in mind that most red wines are at their best when serving temperatures are between 60-65 degrees Farenheit – serve them too warm and the taste of alcohol is overly evident, serve them too cold and they will quickly veer towards bitter and more astringent on the palate.16 Wines For Weight Loss By Dana Leigh Smith From drowning out rowdy barflys to cutting loose with friends, there are tons of reasons to sip some wine this weekend. Why wine, you ask? Because many other alcoholic beverages are simply subpar.

Party cocktails are typically calorie-laden crapshoots and beer can make even the slimmest person uncomfortably bloated. Wine, on the other hand, is reliable. You always know what you’re going to get when you order a glass of red, white or bubbly. (Still prefer stout to sauvignon? Check out our exlcusive list of The Best & Worst Beers for Weight Loss.) While we do love wine, as you’ve likely just gathered, we are also big proponents of drinking in moderation. If you’re not careful, those innocent glasses can add up quickly! To help you stay slim through 2015, we’ve put together a list of 16 wines—nearly all of which are well under 120 calories per glass. And the good news keeps on coming: In addition to being waist-friendly, they're all easy on the wallet and widely available, so you won't have to search far and wide to find them. Sparkling Wines and Champagne A glass of bubbly is festive, light and effervescent. Stock up on a few bottles to get through all of your celebratory affairs.

Everyone looks classier with a champagne flute and appreciates a bottle as a gift! Low Alcohol (below 11% ABV) Yellowglen Sparkling Pink 65 Soft Rosé (Per 5 fl. oz: 65 calories, 6% ABV)Blossom Hill Sparkling Moscato (Per 5 fl. oz: 115 calories, 6.5% ABV) High Alcohol (above 11% ABV)` Lunetta Prosecco (Per 5 fl oz: 110 calories, 11.5% ABV)Laurent-Perrier NV Ultra Brut Champagne (Per 5 fl oz: 98 calories, 12% ABV) Need another reason to enjoy a glass of cabernet? A Journal of Biological Chemistry study found that a compound found in red wine can actually block the growth of fat cells. The drink also has high levels of resveratrol, a polyphenol that helps lower blood pressure and “bad” LDL cholesterol. Light Alcohol (under 13.5% ABV) Cupcake Vineyards Chianti (Per 5 fl. oz: 111 calories, 12% ABV)Blossom Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Per 5 fl. oz: 114 calories, 13% ABV) High Alcohol (over 13.5% ABV) Cavit Cabernet Sauvignon (Per 5 fl. oz: 112 calories, 15.4% ABV)Yellow Tail Shiraz (Per 5 fl. oz: 120 calories, 13.5% ABV)

Everyone loves a light and refreshing sweet white; they make great hostess gifts for those who aren’t big fans of reds, especially for those who have a lot of white carpeting. Light Alcohol (under 9% ABV) The Skinny Vine Thin Zin (Per 5 fl. oz: 89 calories, 7.3% ABV)Yellow Tail Moscato (Per 5 fl. oz: 114 calories, 7.5% ABV) High Alcohol (over 9% ABV) Cavit Riesling (Per 5 fl. oz: 120 calories, 11.6% ABV)Sutter Home Riesling (Per 5 fl. oz: 130 calories, 12.5% ABV) If sweet whites give you a sugar rush, buy a few bottles of the dryer varieties. All of our picks come in under 112 calories a glass. It doesn’t get much better than that! Light Alcohol (under 12% ABV) Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc (Per 5 fl. oz: 88 calories, 9% ABV)The Skinny Vine Slim Chardonnay (Per 5 fl. oz: 86 calories, 8.5% ABV) High Alcohol (over 12% ABV) Cavit Collection Pinot Grigio (Per 5 fl. oz: 109 calories, 12% ABV)Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Per 5 fl. oz: 111 calories, 13% ABV)