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- FranceGrenache-based blendBig Brother to bestseller Cabalié with more punchy richness from old-vine fruit. Handy wine-box size£44.00 per bottleQty boxes:
- FranceRed blendPlatinum-winning, top-vintage Bordeaux, with "dark chocolate, red pepper and delicious pure fruit"£14.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£16.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalyMontepulcianoLots of ripe, juicy plum fruit in this cheery, bright Montepulciano red from Italy's Abruzzo£11.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£12.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- South AfricaShiraz-based blendPinotage and Shiraz make a delicious dark fruit marriage in this weighty Cape red from Gerhard Swart£11.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£13.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalySangiovese-based blendBest of Chianti and Bordeaux in one in our fabulous ‘mini Super Tuscan’ from the Barbanera family£13.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£14.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- AustraliaShirazA whirlwind of flavours in this juicy Shiraz. A strong customer favourite from good mate, Bob Berton£10.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£11.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalySangiovese-based blendVelvety, cherry-scented Sangiovese blended with Cabernet Sauvignon for compelling richness and depth£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ArgentinaCabernet-based blendThe superb Reserve edition of Opi's velvety-rich Waxed Bat, packed with black fruit and oaky spice£16.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£18.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ChileCabernet SauvignonOur bestselling Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, with generous ripe blackcurrant character. Great value£9.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£10.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalyCorvina-based blendA vibrant red from the well-heeled town of Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda. An Italian classic£11.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£12.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- FranceMerlotAn exciting new style Bordeaux, brimful of luscious plum and cherry fruit with glossy curves. Lush!£9.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£15.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- More Beaujolais please! The silken French classic is rocketing up our sales charts£77.94 £94.941 case (6 bottles) - £12.99 per bottleSave £17.00Qty cases:
- £57 off RedHeads Oz cult classics – “wines that have to be tasted to be believed” (Robert Parker)£179.88 £241.911 case (12 bottles) - £14.99 per bottleSave £62.03Qty cases:
- ItalyAncellotta-based blendRosso Incognito, the unknown red, made from the rare Ancellota grape. Lots of plum and black cherry£11.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£14.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- PortugalTouriga NacionalPortugal’s bramble-packed red from star winemaker Jaime Quendera. Full-flavour yet lighter alcohol£9.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£10.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- SpainTempranilloSuperb, 7-year-old, Single Vineyard Reserva from a top ranking family bodega. Mellow, long, complex£17.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£19.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalyCorvina-based blendDark cherry and mocha red, topped up with a dash of Amarone from Italy’s 2019 ‘Winery of the Year’£12.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£14.49 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- AustraliaMerlotRich, 94-point, double-Gold-medal Merlot with lush plum fruit, from Australia's Johnny Q!£13.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£14.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- More Beaujolais please! The silken French classic is rocketing up our sales charts£155.88 £184.881 case (12 bottles) - £12.99 per bottleSave £29.00Qty cases:
- ItalyNegroamaroFlagship Riserva from this five-time 'Italian Winery of the Year'. Rich, iIntense, barrel-matured re£20.70 per bottle when you mix 6+£23.00 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- ItalyRed blendDense cherry and dark chocolate notes in this superb Ripasso Classico Superiore from Valpolicella£14.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£16.49 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- BulgariaShirazA juicy, bright-fruit Shiraz, not from Australia, but Bulgaria’s under-the-radar Thracian Plains£8.99 per bottle when you mix 6+£9.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- South AfricaShiraz-based blendA new, velvety-smooth, berry-filled Cape red from South Africa's bee-happy Journey's End£11.49 per bottle when you mix 6+£12.99 per bottleQty bottles:OR
- A collection of spicy Shiraz that proves it’s the biggest red of all!£107.88 £161.881 case (12 bottles) - £8.99 per bottleSave £54.00Qty cases:
Like white wine, all types of red wine are made by crushing harvested wine grapes. Then, winemakers add yeast and sugar to start the fermentation process—this is when the grape juice becomes alcoholic.
What gives red wine its vibrant colour depends on many factors, including the climate in which the grapes were grown, the natural colour of the grape skins, whether the wine has been aged in barrel or bottle and how long the grape skins were left to soak in the grape juice.
The grape skins are left to soak during fermentation, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months. The longer the grape skins soak, the darker the wine.
Red wines come in an array of styles, flavours, and textures, each offering a unique flavour. Some of the most popular red wines are:
Cabernet Franc – with its medium body, this wine is full of ripe, lively red fruit flavours.
Cabernet Sauvignon – a full-bodied red, known for its high tannins and robust black fruit flavours.
Malbec – full-bodied and firm, Malbec offers tart, dark fruit flavours.
Merlot – this medium-bodied, fruity red wine is known for its soft texture and smooth finish.
Grenache – a plush, medium-bodied wine that’s brimming with bright red fruit and citrus aromas.
Pinot Noir – a light-bodied wine celebrated for its bright acidity, silky red fruit and earthy undertones.
Syrah / Shiraz – jammy, rich and bold, this wine has complex layers of earthy notes and dark fruit flavours.
Zinfandel – this medium-bodied, easy-drinking wine is full of juicy fruit flavours.
Red wine is described as 'dry' when almost no residual sugar is left after fermentation. All wines are left to ferment – this is how they get their alcohol. But the longer the grapes are left to ferment, the more of the grape’s natural sugars are converted into alcohol.
As a result, dry red wines lack the sweetness that you might find in other types of wine. They also contain a higher alcohol percentage – between 13.5–15% ABV – which creates a denser flavour and more pronounced texture. Some popular dry red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Tempranillo.
Red wine is described as 'sweet' when high levels of residual sugar remain after the grape juice ferments. This is a deliberate strategy because the sugar gives it its characteristic sweet flavour. The shorter fermentation period also means that there is less time for the sugar to convert into alcohol. As such, sweet red wines tend to have lower levels of alcohol – usually less than 10% ABV.
Most red wines should be served slightly below room temperature. This helps to preserve the balance and complexity of flavours, and it highlights the wine’s unique characteristics. Lighter and more delicate red wines, such as Pinot Noir and Beaujolais, typically benefit from a slightly cooler temperature (around 12–15°C), to preserve their subtle flavours and aromas.
By contrast, fortified wines like Port and Madeira are often enjoyed at warmer temperatures, around 18–20°C, to enhance their richness and complexity.
You might also consider decanting your wine before serving. This process aerates the wine, releasing its aromas and softening its tannins. Decanting is especially helpful for robust and tannic wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux, which can benefit from two or three hours to breathe. Medium-bodied wines, such as Merlot and Chianti, require a shorter decanting time – one or two hours will do – while lighter and older wines might only need 30 minutes or so.
For glassware, opt for red wine glasses with larger bowls and wider rims, which allow more oxygen in and concentrate the wine’s flavours. Fortified wines, like Port and Sherry, have their own glasses, which are much smaller.
Red wines are best stored in a cool, dry space with a consistent temperature. If it has a cork, keep it on its side. Also avoid placing the bottle anywhere where it will receive direct sunlight because it can turn the wine sour.
Once a bottle is opened, red wine keeps its flavour for about three to five days. This applies to both corked and screw-top wines, so there’s no need for this to influence your purchasing decisions. To maintain the quality of the wine, ensure the bottle is sealed tightly and stored in a cool place.