When selecting a fine red wine, there are a few things that can help based on a person’s individual taste and preference. For those that are not wine experts, there are some things that can help you decide which wine to use. When defining a red wine as robust or rich, this will be a red wine that is heavier than a soft wine, which would be defined as less powerful. It’s always good to ask a server or sales person to let you know the wines and give you recommendations.

The most commonly selected red wines are Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are several other distinctive ones that one should consider.

Mourvedre is a red wine grape have the smell of a cherry or plum and has the taste of a berry, but is very smooth and is a red wine that serves well with poultry and beef. Another wine called Malbec is one that has the smell of blueberries and blackberries, has a wet, juicy taste and is a complement with red meats. A fine Italian red wine, Barbera is a full wine, has the smell of cherries and raspberries but is a bit stronger and sometimes has a trace of vanilla. This is used more with mushroom and tomato based sauces. A powerful red grape wine, Tempranillo, is more intense and rich but has a nice invigorating finish and goes well with Spanish foods as well as food grilled. Another well known red wine, Cabernet Franc and has a spicy smell with a bit of violet and plum to it. The flavor mimics dark chocolate with red fruits goes well with Italian foods, poultries, and Greek meals.