Welcome to All About Red Wine
...THE Guide for Red Wine Lovers

Drinking red wine is one of my passions. The variety and complexity of wine is exciting. This also makes it confusing and a little mysterious at the same time.

For years, I tasted wines and shared my favorites with friends. Their excitement to find a great wine was the basis for this site.

I am a regular wine lover, just like you. I enjoy tasting with friends, sampling at parties and buying wine I'm not familiar with -- all in an effort to learn more and discover something new.

All About Red Wine is for all wine lovers. On the pages of this site, you will find a wealth of information on wine, but in a way that is not intimidating. My goal is to arm you with the information you need to select your next wine with confidence.

Before we begin, take a minute to pour a glass of wine -- red, I hope! -- then sit back and enjoy your journey of discovering new wines, regions and much, much more!

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Research the Different Types of Wine

Even though there are hundreds of types of wines, there are only about 50 or so that are widely grown and distributed. Uncover some new wines and learn a little more about your favorites.

• All Types of Red Wine: If you are just staring out or want an overview of all the different reds, this is the place to start. Find mini-sections with basic facts about some of the most common reds. Each section has a link to a more in-depth review of the wine. Take some time to look around and then start to dig in on the reds that interest you.


• Cabernet Sauvignon Wine: This takes you directly to the kings of the reds, Cabernet Sauvignon. You will find a detailed overview of this popular red including common flavors & aromas, its history and top wine tasting regions.


• Merlot Wine: Although everyone considers Cabernet Sauvignon as the most common, Merlot wine is one of the most grown reds in the world. Discover the qualities of this fruity wine that make it famous. You can also find tips on how to serve Merlot, the best regions for it and food pairing ideas.


• Pinot Noir Wine: Tough to grow, but light and sophisticated is how I describe Pinot Noir wine. It is a wine makers dream and enemy at the same time. Explore this strawberry laced red including its history, high quality wine regions and pairing tips.


• Syrah Wine: Big and bold is just one description of Syrah wine. How is it different from Shiraz wine? Uncover the truth on the differences between the two and what makes them both so popular.


• Zinfandel Wine: Another big and bold red is Zinfandel. These reds are packed with fruity flavors and hints of spice. Find out more about this red wine including a little about its history and some of my favorites.


• Grenache Wine: This lesser known red is -- surprisingly -- another one of the most grown reds in the world. Learn about its history as a blending grape and it revitalization as a single variety wine.


• Sweet Red Wines: The popularity of sweet wines comes and goes. Many people are looking for higher quality sweet wines and how they are different from dry reds. Learn some key information on sweet red wine including several terms that help you determine the level of sweetness by reading the label.

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Explore Info On Serving, Storing, Stain Removal & More

In addition to the varieties of wine, there are several other red wine related topics covered here. Uncover tips for serving, storing and stain removal. Plan a wine tasting party and more.

Storage & Serving Tips: What is the proper way to store wine for a long time? What about storing an open bottle? Read on to find the answers to these questions and more tips for storing and serving wine.

Red Wine Stain Removal: Red wine stains -- what a pain! Not any more -- find solutions to remove those pesky stains using some simple household items. In addition, find some other top wine cleaning solutions to have on hand.

Wine Tasting Party Ideas: Want to know how to have a killer wine tasting party? In this section, learn how to plan your budget, set up the party and determine the number of bottles you need per person.

Wine Terms: Ever get confused about certain wine tasting terms? What are tannins? What is a French AOC? Learn the meaning to common wine tasting terms so you get the most out of articles and other wine related information.

Wine & Health: This is a tricky topic. Every day, there seems to be new information -- sometime contradictory -- about wine and health in the news. Read up on the latest research.

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Travel to Popular Wine Regions

Although I love tasting wine, my passion for travel might be even stronger. What could be better than going to a wine region to taste wines?

Travel to some of the top red wine tasting regions. What reds do they produce? How long have they been growing wines? How do I get there? How do I get around? Find the answers to these questions and more on the wine region pages.

Napa Valley Vacation Guide	Fine French Wine & Wine Regions	Sonoma Wineries & Wine Regions
Bordeaux Fine Wine & Wine Regions	Oregon Wineries & Wine Regions	Washington Wineries & Wine Regions

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So -- What Exactly is Red Wine?

Reds are made from grapes that are red, purple or blue in color. They get their color when producers leave the dark colored skins on during the wine making process. This is different from white wine where the skins are removed before the wine making process begins.

Wine has been around for thousands of years. Until recently the process to make red wine, no matter what grape was used, was always pretty much the same. In the 1940s, wine makers began to experiment with the wine making process. Today, you find a variety of different wine making techniques. This change has lead to the unique combinations of taste, aroma and flavor in each wine you try.

Another thing that distinguishes a red from a white it that reds have tannins. This comes from the skin on the grapes. Tannin gives it the ability to age longer than white wine. It also allows the wine to continue to improve during the aging process. The tannin comes across as a dryness in the wine. You can taste this or -- more accurately -- feel this dryness in your mouth when drinking a red.

You may have noticed the wine is categorized as having one of three body types: light bodied, medium bodied and full bodied. The body type does not refer to how the wine tastes, instead it gives you an idea of its overall depth and structure.

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Your Resource Guide

Use this site as a tool to help you select the wines that are right for you. Learn the basics of each varietal, try out some of the recommendations and then come back to learn more. Also, I welcome your comments, questions and recommendations on your experiences with wine tasting, visiting wineries and anything else related to wine.

Take some time to look around and come back often to learn more. I will continually update the site with new releases, recommendations and other important information. Bookmark this page and come back to visit again soon!

Cheers!