10 Reviews: Best Red Wine for Beginners (Apr 2024)

Paul Draper, the winemaker, is a legend. For more than 50 years, Ridge Vineyards’ senior winemaker battled bravely against French opponents in the “Judgment of Paris” wine tasting in 1976, earning numerous major medals and almost single-handedly bringing recognition to the California zinfandel grape. Consider this 2017 bottle of zinfandel from a world-renowned winemaker who has elevated the variety to legendary status if you’re looking to dive head-first into the lovely world of wine. Fruity and peppery, this bottle is hard to put down.

Zin that drinks like a cab. Bright and almost a little tangy. This was excellent and paired really well with Sunday red sauce.

by Nate Rulis

“GundBun” (Gundlach Bundschu) is a well-known Sonoma winery with six generations of winemaking experience and 160 years of history. Beginners in the wine world should familiarize themselves with GunBun’s wine lineup, as well as the festival’s yearly (and fantastic) Huichica Music Festival, which will resume after the pandemic is over. Outside Lands is the more crowded opposite of events like these, which include fantastic wine from GunBun and a stellar musical lineup. Despite its high price, the 2018 Mountain Cuvee is an excellent merlot-based mix.

4.0 A very nice red blend from Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon. Black fruits oak nicely balanced paired with pasta red sauce and a salad. [...]

by Cartagena Rum

To begin with, most red wines are quite dry. A dry table wine’s seeming sweetness is really a result of the wine’s ripe, fruity tastes, which are common in dry varieties. Okay, so there may be some sugar left over, but it required a different lesson. It’s a French mouthful and a magnificent pinot noir: Lupe-Cholet Comte de Lupe Rouge, 2013. Burgundy is one of the world’s most renowned wine-producing areas, and this wine is a good place to start. If you’re looking for a gentle introduction to the world of dry pinot noir, this bottle of fruity pinot should do the trick.

The scent of luscious plums, cherries, and dark chocolate permeate Six Grapes. With a long, lingering aftertaste, it’s a sophisticated wine with a superb structure. Originally created by Graham, Six Grapes is a rich, delicious wine sourced from the same vineyards as his Vintage Port. When the wine is softly filtered and bottled, it is an average of five to six years old, having been made from two or three harvests. After nearly five years in the barrel, Six Grapes is ready to drink. Keeping it in the refrigerator or a cold, dark spot is the best way to extend the life of this wine, which is made possible by the t-cap closure. Serve it in a six-ounce size glass so that you can fully enjoy the wine’s scents and flavors. As a rich and decadent dessert in a glass, Six Grapes goes especially well with dark chocolate.

Intensive cherry, black currant, and blueberry scents fill the air as this magnificent Italian red wine opens up. There are flavors of juicy cherry fruit, chewy tannins, and a touch of herbs on the tongue, which leads to a long and satisfying finish. The wine experts believe that this Tuscan Red wine La Ricolma would be a perfect pairing with the following dishes: beef, lamb, veal, chicken, and cured meat.

The 2011 La Ricolma is a huge, dense wine that very much reflects the personality of this hot, dry year. Black fruit, plum, licorice, game, smoke and chocolate all inform this decidedly potent Ricolma. It's a vintage built on textural richness more than aromatics. [...]

by Antonia Galloni

A family vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley has been a dream come true for Charlie and Lorna Wagner and their son Chuck Wagner for more than four decades. Today, Caymus is producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon for the third time in its history. With a purple-black tint in the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent choice for novices who want to learn about Cabernet Sauvignon. Mocha, vanilla, and anise are among the aromas that greet you at first sip. It has a sensuous finish and a mouthwatering palate of dark cherry, black licorice, and plum.

Grenache’s popularity has waned since it was formerly the second most cultivated grape in the world. Its potential to make exquisite wines, on the other hand, has not changed. Known for its candied red fruit notes, Grenache also has black pepper and cinnamon in the blend. One of the most well-known hails from Priorat, a region in Catalonia, Spain. The savory cherry, hickory, and balsamic scents of this contemporary Garnacha wine greet the nose. Licorice, blackberry, and toasted oak notes abound on the tongue, with a savory aftertaste.

Amazing. Floral nose, dark fruit, coconut, roasted nuts on the palate. Mouth coasting finish, with spice that just won't quit. Love it. Drinking perfectly right now.

by Peter Taylor

To begin with, the wine’s purple-red hue gives way to the aromas of herbs, berries, and spices. An austere palate allows for the development of complex and nuanced tastes. In Lini’s Lambrusco Metodo Classico, a still Lambrusco is manufactured and then a second fermentation is sparked in the bottle, resulting in a sparkling wine that is similar to champagne. Afterward, the wine is matured on its lees to create the appropriate richness and character. A glass of Lini Lambrusco is the ideal accompaniment to Emilian cuisine. Because of this, it may be used in a broad range of cuisines, from Asian to Mexican to traditional American. Many of the world’s best sommeliers turn to Lini wines when pairing oysters with wine. And many think that it’s the best wine for barbecues.

Deep berry colour with foamy bubbles. Strong Red Fruit aromas on the nose with some prunes and molasses. Tart cranberry like juice with medium acidity and a long finish. Great for lunch pairing on a hot day.

by Omar Bandy

The color of this wine is a pale crimson, and the aromas of red fruit and flowers fill the glass. Tastes like raspberries and luscious strawberries with a light, refreshing finish. An excellent medium-bodied wine with upfront, juicy fruit and silky texture, as well as mild tannins and delicate structure, is on offer here. It has the classic Pinot smells and flavors of red cherries and wild strawberries, but it also has an excellent, long-lasting aftertaste. Red meats, pork tenderloin, and soft cheeses go well with this wine.

Super dry. Great taste and aftertaste. One of the first wines I've rated and still one of the best Entered on Feb 18, 2016. Manually transferred from old phone.

by TONY V

Castello di Verduno has been producing wine in Barolo for hundreds of years. Barbera is a grape from the area that is simple to drink, and it is produced there with the same care and attention to detail that is given to the best Italian wines. Raspberries, pomegranate, and clove are some of the Barbera d’Alba’s flavors. How to drink it: Pour into a chilled glass. Serve with a red sauce dish to complete the meal.