Whether you're trying a new style of wine, a new varietal of your favorite wine style or you're completely new to all wines, wine tastings will help you identify which flavors, and styles of wine you prefer.
Some nice-to-have things for an at-home wine tasting, include:
- Sheet of paper for taking flavor notes
- Bread for palate cleansing
- Cheese/ Chocolate to pair with wines
But, all you really need to enjoy a DIY wine tasting are great bottles of wine and enough wine glasses for all guests!
If you're planning a wine tasting at home, a great style to start with is red wine!
Red Wine Facts:
- Wines aged for longer tend to have more complex flavors, less acidity, and more mellow tannins.
- "Decanting" red wine is ideal for letting the wine "breath" and open up some flavor notes you would otherwise miss.
- Red wines tend to be served in a larger than normal wine glass. These large wine glasses allow more oxygen exposure.
We've laid out below some tips for hosting an at home red wine tasting, some quick facts to impress your guests and our experts' suggestions for red wines to feature at your DIY wine tasting!
For more tips on how to properly taste wines, head to our guide on How to Taste Wine like a Pro.
What is dry red wine?
You may have heard of red wine being referred to as "dry." The drying sensation is caused by a natural ingredient in red wines called "tannin." Tannin is an acid found in the pigment of grape skins and new oak.
Tannin can be felt in the middle of the tongue, the roof of the mouth and the film covering your teeth and gums, creating an astringent or a drying sensation on the top of your mouth causing your mouth to dry out and pucker. It is actually experienced by the sense of touch rather than by the sense of taste, although excessive tannin can cause a wine to taste bitter. The effect of tannin is best compared to the sensation you feel when drinking strong, unsweetened tea.
Taken from https://www.totalwine.com/wine-guide/wine-tannin
Below are some of our highest rated red wine styles ranging from sweet to dry for your DIY wine tasting at home!
Cabernet Sauvignon
The most planted grape in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted from California to Australia.
- You would say Cabernet Sauvignon like [cah-behr-NAY so-veen-YAHN]
- Cabernet Sauvignons are generally not sweet. These red wines are considered dry with medium acidity.
- Cabernet Sauvignons are best served slightly chilled at 60 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the bottle in your refrigerator for 20 minutes before opening to achieve the ideal temperature.
4+ Star Customer Rated
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most challenging grapes to grow due to its sensitivity to the elements, soil types and other wine making factors. Despite that Pinot Noir is still grown in most cool growing regions, including: Burgundy, France, Oregon's Willamette Valley and California's Russian River Valley to name a few.
- You would say Pinot Noir like [PEE-noh Nuh-waar]
- Pinot Noirs are not sweet red wines, but some feature fruit flavors which lend them an aspect of sweetness.
- Like Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Pinot Noir is best served at 60 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Merlot
The second most popular red wine grape worldwide, Merlot is most widely planted in Bordeaux, France.
- The 't' in Merlot is silent, so Merlot is pronounced [Mher-low]
- Much like Pinot Noir, Merlot is a dry-but-fruity wine.
- Merlot is best served chilled, just like other red Bordeaux wines.
Customers top Merlot picks
Zinfandel
The origins of Zinfandel are somewhat of a mystery to the winemaking world, but no grape is quite as uniquely Amercian as Zin.
- Wines made with Zinfandel grapes can range from dry to sweet, with most sweet Zinfandel wines being late-harvest options.
- Zinfandel can be chilled with most red Zinfandels suggested to be served at 65°, and late-harvest reds served at 45° to 55.
- Zinfandel pairs well with flavorful foods like, barbecue sauce, grilled red meats and saucy tomato dishes.
Malbec
The most widely planted red grape in Argentina, Malbec is fruit-forward and vibrant.
- Malbec wines are generally dry but very fruity in flavor.
- Malbec wines are full-bodied and typically a very dark red.
- Malbec is pronounced exactly as it looks [Mahl-beck]