California Red Wine
There are basically two kinds of wine – red and white (well there is champagne too but that is a whole different story). It has been argued by some wine connoisseurs that California red wine is some of the best in the world.
California has more than 1,300 wineries and they have over 60,000 registered labels. So selecting a California red wine can prove to be a tricky task. We have some information to help you.
There are many varieties of red wine, to name a few we have Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfadel. In California the most extensively planted red wine grape is the Zinfandel.
Red wines are generally heavier and more complex than white wines, because in making the red wine they use the grape, the skin, seed and even some stems.
The general rule of thumb is red meat or red sauces (such as in Italian foods) calls for red wine. White wine is the better choice when serving white meat (fish, chicken, pork) and delicate flavors. See our wine and food chart.
However, we all want to know something about our favorite wine. Would it be considered dry or sweet; light or heavy? Let this be your guide:
Red wines from sweet to dry are: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot.
Red wines from light to heavy are: Merlot, Zinfandel, Chianti, Pinot Noir and Cabernet.
What ever California Red Wine you choose remember the cardinal rule: Serve what you enjoy; and serve it generously!
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