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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

Med Red offer. Includes two bottles of each of six wines, different producers, different regions, different alternative varieties and blends. Plus a bonus bottle. All at an affordable price.

Details here