46 Red wine varieties

Here is a list of forty-six red wine varieties every winelover should know about.  They are all featured in my book What Varietal is That? available in digital or print format.

Red wine varieties you should know about

Here they are unscrambled and alphabetised.  

How may have you tried?

• Agiorgitiko
• Aglianico
• Alicante Bouschet
• Barbera
• Blaufrankisch
• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Carignan
• Carmenere
• Chambourcin
• Cinsaut
• Dolcetto
• Dornfelder
• Durif
• Gamay
• Graciano
• Grenache
• Lagrein
• Lambrusco 
• Malbec
• Mencia
• Merlot
• Montepulciano
• Mourvedre
• Nebbiolo
• Negroamaro
• Nero d’Avola
• Petit Verdot
• Pinot Meunier
• Pinot Noir
• Pinotage
• Plavic Mali
• Primitivo
• Ruby Cabernet
• Sagrantino
• Sangiovese
• Saparavi
• Shiraz
• Tannat
• Tempranillo
• Touriga Nacional
• Trousseau
• Vinhao
• Xinmavro
• Zinfandel
• Zweigelt

See the list of White Wine Varieties Here!

I have chosen these red wine varieties because I think they are important.  They are not necessarily the most widely planted. But they make wines that beginning winelovers should aspire to know about.

Some are important in just one country, for example Plavic Mali from Croatia.  Others such as Cabernet Sauvignon are familiar and ubiquitous.

Wherever you are you should be able to find a good selection of these varieties in your local off-licence, bottle shop, liquor store or whatever you call it.  If you can't, find another place to shop.

An Offer from our online Wine Shop Partner

A mixed dozen, Six whites, Six reds. Different regions, different producers - the ideal way to broaden your vinous horizons. Also available as 2x6 reds or 2x6 whites.

Details here