The two most well-known types of wine are red wines and white wines. They are very different in terms of taste and other qualities, including what foods they are paired with, etc. While both types of wine are made by crushing grapes to obtain their juice and then fermenting it and aging it for a few months at least, red wines differ from white wines in that the grapes still have their skin and seeds when they are crushed.

Most types of red wine, like most wines in general, are made from subtypes of the Vitis vinifera family of grapes (you can find out more about grape types under the “Types of Grapes” tab). The precise color of different red wines depends on the color of the grape skins and can range from very dark red—almost black—to a brighter, more lively red. The color is dispersed naturally during the fermentation process.

Red wines also differ in terms of their “body type,” ranging from light-bodied to full-bodied, and they also differ based on how sweet or dry they are. Bordeaux, the most important French wine region, is world-famous for its excellent full-bodied red wines (you can read more about different wine regions on the “Wine Regions” page, if you haven’t done so already). Full-bodied wines not only tend to taste heavier, but they also have a higher alcohol content. Depending on the type and subtype of grapes, red wines vary significantly when it comes to taste.

Red wines in general have often been credited with beneficial health effects, particularly when it comes to cardiovascular health and regulating cholesterol. To find out more about the benefits of red wine, particularly the relationship between red wine and cholesterol, be sure to visit the “Wine and Health” page above!