The Makings Of A Good Dry Red Wine

Dry Red Wine is simply wine that has a low residual sugar content (below 1 gram per liter) after final fermentation.

Simply stated, if all the red grape sugars have been converted to alcohol after final fermentation, then the wine is considered to be dry.

All red table wines that you find in stores are typically dry and have less than 1.4% residual sugar.

A key component in a great dry wine is the level of tannins present. Tannin in wine is what creates that dry feeling in your mouth when you drink it. Tannin is present in the skin, stems and seeds of the grapes. These wines differ in their qualities greatly depending on several factors. They are the wines that are typically purchased by wine investors and stored in wine cellars for proper aging and ultimately increased value when sold. To learn more about the role of tannins and aging please visit tannins and red wine.

Dry Red Wine List
Which Is Your Favorite

Dry red wines have traditionally been the red wine lovers first choice. With their aging capabilities, they can result in wines with different bodies and heaviness and alcohol content. Each grape variety listed below can very greatly in the final wine produced depending on the wine makers techniques. This is why this type of red wine is my favorite.

When trying to find the red wines that I enjoy the most I also get such a wonderful education on the area where the grapes were grown and then the exact techniques individual winemakers used in producing the final bottle. To learn more about the most popular dry red wine types click on each individual link. Oh and by the way, don't forget to read up on my favorite type, the Sangiovese!


1) Cabernet Sauvignon



2) Syrah/Shiraz


3) Sangiovese



4) Zinfandel


5) Bordeaux Reds

What we enjoy the most about dry wines is the complexity in their flavor. Many wines of this variety have multiple flavors that you can smell and taste. They are not just composed of a single fruit flavor.

For more information on complexity of wine and to sharpen your tasting skills please visit our wine tasting tips page.

When you are ready to get serious about wines and score them with consistency which ultimately makes your wine purchasing predictable then visit Red Wine Tasting Scorecard.

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