
You all were thrilled about my white grape post on this subject, so here's the reds! (Well, except for the person who tried to debate me on social media that Chablis was not Chardonnay, but that's part of the job, I guess.) Without further ado...
IF YOU LIKE PINOT NOIR: Peeno-nwah-lovers want fresh acid, berry fruits, maybe a little earth, and light tannins . . .
THEN TRY:
BARBERA: This Piedmontese grape is often pushed aside for its neighbor Nebbiolo, but when producers give it some love, it bursts with lip-smacking red fruits. It is lightly velvety, with low tannins, but has presence.
BLAUFRÄNKISCH: From Austria, this grape can be a bit more tannic, but has tons of crisp acidity to balance. Raspberry fruit abounds, and it’s also quite terroir-reflective.
GAMAY: Gamay is known as the grape of Beaujolais: in entry styles, bright notes of bubble gum and strawberries burst from your glass. These can be fresh and fun, but from the Crus (Morgon, Julienas, St. Amour, etc., ) they're often more substantial than you think, with lush dark berries and herbs.
ETNA ROSSO: In Sicily, the local Nerello grapes (Nerello Mascalse, Nerello Cappucio) dominate this complex yet graceful wine. Expect herbs, florals, tart red fruit, and a strong minerally feel from Etna’s volcanic soil. Some can be quite tannic, but they are super elegant.
VALDIGUIÉ: (Val-dig-YAY) Often mistaken for Gamay, this French grape has spry acid and crunchy pomegranate notes.
ZWEIGELT: Another Austrian red, Zweigelt has zingy black fruits and pepper spice. Very easy-drinking and tasty. Jawohl.
IF YOU LIKE CABERNET SAUVIGNON: The king, with structure, cassis and cedar flavors—intense, dense, and immense . . .
THEN TRY:
CABERNET FRANC: CF is related to CS, so shares some characteristics, though it is perhaps a lil’ less intense with a bit more herbs and raspberry.
NEBBIOLO: Italy’s verrry structured “tar and roses” wine, which can be sublime and gorgeous. With high structure but also a lot of finesse, it’s the real “IYKYK” wine.
SANGIOVESE: Sangio can mimic Nebb, but many styles are more approachable; it’s perhaps a bit less austere with more cherry fruit and a denser body.
MERLOT: Cab’s common blending partner Merlot is usually on board to tame CS a bit, but it holds its place on its own; softer and fruitier, Merlot is the yin-yang option here.
TANNAT: pretty much named after its immense tannins, this brooding, powerful blockbuster from southern France (also very successful in Uruguay) is seeing a renaissance.
IF YOU LIKE MERLOT: You want smooth, you want plummy, you want a delish experience without getting punched in the head . . .
THEN TRY:
MALBEC: The star of Argentina, Malbec shows off lush blackberry and dark chocolate notes, and while some top-end versions are highly structured, most are just pretty dang charming.
MONTEPULCIANO: Monte is the classic easy-drinking Italian red. Definitely a crowd-pleaser. Skip the super-cheap ones; while they'll suffice, you'll want a level up for more “there” there.
TEMPRANILLO: Many Tempranillo-dominated Riojas can be heavy-duty, but a lot of younger Temps (designated Crianza or even Riserva) have solid red fruit and cola notes and are well-balanced crowd-pleasers.
SYRAH: Okay, okay, yes—many Syrah/Shirazzes are super spicy and more red-fruited, but I just called one a Merlot in a blind tasting so . . . there ya go. Try one from California, Washington, or Barossa, Australia to hit those blue/black-fruited, rounder notes.
IF YOU LIKE SYRAH/SHIRAZ: She shpicy. She bold. She queen. But sometimes she’s too much of a chameleon . . .
THEN TRY:
AGIORGITIKO: Greece’s rustic, rich, and spicy red. Undeniably strong and earthy. Cab fans can look here too, as a matter of fact. And Nebbiolo-lovers for sure.
AGLIANICO: This southern Italian grape is super savory, earthy, and gamy, with dark fruits, high alcohol, and bold structure.
GRENACHE/GARNACHA: This juicy grape has notes of red cherry and white pepper, with moderate structure though powerful high alcohol, and often shows up blended with our Queen Syrah.
PINOTAGE: South Africa’s homegrown grape is gamy, vivid, and it can be a little funky, but it can also be verrrry sensual.
ZINFANDEL: Sort of the U.S.’s historical grape, Zinfandel is almost identical to Italy’s Primitivo. It bursts with juicy-juicy bramble fruit and can be intense with high alcohol.
IF YOU LIKE MALBEC: Purpley and floral, with some heft, though generally a well-rounded sip. . .
THEN TRY:
BONARDA: Another Argentine grape (sadly overshadowed by our friend Malbec), Bonarda is fruity and balanced, smooth and delightful.
CABERNET FRANC: Some are super-earthy, but a lot of CFs are just scrumptiously delicious, featuring raspberry and dark cherry fruit with an herbal lift.
MENCÍA: This Spanish red grape makes fruity, herby, very purpley wines that have a superb structure. It’s a great grape that really splits-the-diff between quaffable and nerdy.
PETITE SIRAH: When Petite Sirah is firing on all cylinders, it is dense, luxurious, hedonistic, rich, and ripe. Growwwl.

There you have it! Some fantastic reds to seek out. (If I left out your fave, don't come at me! I don't want another social media smackdown haha.) As always, let me know if you need some specific recommendations in your area.
Cheers!
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