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Wine Styles – Red Wine

There are 5 basic wine styles: red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine and dessert wine. Every Australian wine can be classified into one of these five types.

Red wine is produced from red, black, purple or blue grapes. White wine can also be made with red grapes, but the colour in red wine comes from the contact the juice has with the red grape skins during the process of fermentation. Rosé style wine is produced by leaving the juice in contact with the red grape skins for just a short time so that the wines develop a pink blush.

While their colour varies greatly, red wines don't differ in flavor as much as white wines. However, because of the presence of tannins (which also come from the grape skins), the flavours of reds tend to be deeper.

The majority of Australian reds are rich full flavoured styles which are generally produced in the warmer wine regions. However the reds produced in the cooler climates, such as the Canberra region, tend to give a more delicate lighter wine style.

There are many types of red grape varieties, but the most abundantly grown in Australia are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Other grape varieties include Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. Each grape variety produces different flavours, aromas, and even textures. In addition these characteristics are also affected by the climate and soil where the grapes are grown.

Here’s what to expect from some of the different red varieties that Australia grows:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Considered by many to be the noblest of red grapes, probably due to its pride of place in many of the world's wine regions. The grapes have a strong blackcurrant flavor, and are often used in blends. Grown throughout Australia’s wine regions, these wines are rich and well structured and benefit from further ageing in the bottle.

Shiraz
This was one of the first vine varieties to arrive in Australia in 1832. The plantings thrived, and its character changed depending on the region in which it was grown. No other grape has such a uniquely Australian character with its mulberry, spicy flavour. It has traditionally been blended in both cool and warm climates with Cabernet Sauvignon and is also blended with Grenache and Mourvedre in warm climates. Shiraz grapes produces full-bodied, rich wines that age well, but are also appealing when drank soon after bottling.

Merlot
This grape is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. It has soft, black cherry and blackcurrant flavours and a velvety softness. Fine examples of Merlot blended wines are available from the warmer inland regions, and unblended Merlot is becoming more common. It produces a soft dry red often described as plum like. In cooler climates unblended Merlot tends to take on more savoury flavours with firmer tannins.

Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a fickle grape to grow and performs best in a cool climate. When young the wines tend to have berry and currant flavours, while mature pinots are more intense. The best styles of all come from vines with a little age, which haven’t been harvested too heavily, and from wines matured in oak barrels.

Australia has abundant sunshine that enables grapes to ripen to perfection. Whatever the requirements of a particular red grape variety, there is a part of Australia that can accommodate it needs.