The Best Red Blends to Drink Right Now

Red blends have existed since their origins in winemaking. From casual table wines to notable bottles like the Original Wine Blend Bordeaux, winemakers have been blending wines for centuries. However, red blended wines in particular have grown in popularity this past year due to their complexity and great variability.

In fact, red blended wines are now the second most popular red wine in the United States after Cabernet Sauvignon and dominate their own sector of the global wine market, according to Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the US Wine Industry 2023 report. I keep doing it.

But with so many bottles to choose from and obscure labels, red blends can be tricky to navigate. Here’s everything you need to know about red blended wines. Plus, a rundown of the best smooth-drinking bottles to get you on top of your tasting journey.

What is blended red wine?

The term “red blend” refers to red wines made from multiple grape varieties. Red blends are produced all over the world and vary greatly depending on the grape variety used and where it is grown.

Common grape combinations used to make red blended wines include Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Merlot-Malbec and Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre (usually abbreviated GSM). Others contain more complex expressions. For example, Bordeaux-style red blends are traditionally made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, but can also incorporate Malbec, Carmenere and Petit Verdot.

“It can mean different things,” says Jim Gordon. wine lover’s Senior Tasting Editor. Labels for blended red wines can be difficult to understand because of the many possible combinations.

Generally, red blends are labeled based on their origin, like Bordeaux, or simply as a red blend. According to Gordon, this labeling often helps distinguish between Old World and New World blends.

New World’s Red Blend is a bottle you’ll find in the “Red Blend” section of any grocery store or wine shop. They tend to label things like GSM, red blends, and red wines. This is to avoid naming wines by grape variety, but can be rather ambiguous to the layman.

Old World red blends like Chianti Classico and Rioja, on the other hand, are labeled by their origin. “They’re not labeled with a single grape variety, so they’re all red blends,” Gordon says. is an example of

That’s right, things like Chianti (made primarily from Sangiovese plus small amounts of other black grapes) are often actually red blended wines. You probably won’t find a bottle of Chianti in

In addition, many major growing regions have rules about what constitutes a blend based on the proportions of grapes present. At least 75% of the grape variety should be used. This means that a bottle labeled Cabernet Sauvignon must be made with at least 75% of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, but the bottle contains 10% Merlot of his grapes. very likely to contain Technically It’s a blend even though it’s not labeled as such.

Ready to start exploring different flavor profiles in red blended wines? wine lovers The tasting department shares bottle picks from around the world.

8 best red blends

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for a good blended red wine?

Red blends can take on a wild array of colours, aromas, flavors, structure and aging. So when it comes to what a good blended red wine is, there are no easy answers.

“It’s hard to say because it varies so much from place to place,” says Gordon. For example, Chianti Classico, made primarily from Sangiovese grapes grown in Italy, doesn’t taste like his typical Californian blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Zinfandel.

In general, good red blends are made from quality grapes that balance the five most important elements of wine: sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol and body.

For curious drinkers, red blends can also provide avenues to explore beyond the predictable bottle to products that aren’t simply the sum of their parts.

“Blending is a good way to make a wine more complex,” says Gordon. “It’s often smoother in texture and more interesting to taste.”

Gordon believes red blends are also a great way to experience a particular region’s terroir. “Blending reduces the character of individual varietals, giving you an overall sense of what the wine from that location should taste like.”

How are red blends made?

The grapes used to make the red blended wine are grown, harvested and fermented individually. This differs from field blends, which are made from a melange of different grapes grown side by side in the vineyard and fermented together.

After fermentation, the resulting single varietal wines are combined to create a red blended wine. For more information on how red blending is done, check out our article on why, when and how to blend.

Is red blended wine sweet?

The sweetness of blended red wines depends on the grapes and sugars left over from fermentation or added during the process. Check out the definitive guide to sweet wines to learn more about the role of sugar in wine.

Chill red blended wine?

The ideal serving temperature for red blends, like other red wines, is just below room temperature (55°F to 65°F). For more guidance, check out our guide on the dos and don’ts of chilling wine.

How do you pair red blended wines?

Red blends tend to be bolder on the palate, but some are more full-bodied than others. Because of this, red blends can be difficult to combine. But as a rule of thumb, red blends tend to pair well with rich meat dishes like Easy Oven Baby Back Ribs and vegetarian meals like Pizza Napoletana.

Another approach is to combine red blends with the traditional cuisine of the region. “If you drink Super He Tuscany or Chianti, then Bistecca He Fiorentina,” suggests Gordon. “Or if you’re drinking Bordeaux red wine, nothing beats something like grilled lamb chops.”

Pairing red blended wines with local cuisine is a way to elevate its terroir, as well as a way to elevate the flavors of a culture in a way that can transport you to another location.

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