All wines on this list have been tasted and reviewed by VinePair’s tasting panel. We compiled an exhaustive list of our favorite wines this year, then whittled it down to 50 based on quality, value, and availability in the U.S. Merlots have milder flavors and lower tannin levels than other varieties of red wine. Although still a type of dry red wine, they’re sweeter than Cabernet Sauvignons and are made of dark blue-colored wine grapes. Merlots are a fruit-forward wine with plenty of flavors, with spicy and sweet notes that come from aging in oak barrels. Pinot Grigio: Blind tasting: This allows for an unbiased evaluation of the wine and is when the identity of the wine is hidden from the taster. Our panel — made up of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers — sipped their way through over 70 wines to find the very best. They assessed each wine on their complexity and balance of flavour, aroma and finish. We Brits are known for making crisp, elegant sparkling wines to rival Champagne. But did you know our cool climate and fertile soils, particularly in the South West, add up to the perfect growing conditions for some award-winning Pinot Noir too?

The best way to expand your knowledge on wine is to see the growing process by taking a tour of a winery or exploring the vineyard firsthand. California, home to the Napa Valley, is one of the best spots in the world to do just that. Old World red wines generally come from traditional wine-growing regions – think Italy, Spain and France. These styles of wine include Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. Showcasing historic American grapes like Zinfandel and Merlot, we dove headfirst into varieties that no longer get the love they deserve stateside, and came away with a handful of bottles that will surely change your tune about them.

Find your perfect glass of vino with our pick of the best red wines from across the world

Every barbecue requires a solid red wine to stand up to all that flame-grilling. Enter the 2016 Rioja Reserva, a deliciously affordable red that’s ideal with your summer BBQ. CVNE is a family-run wine company established in 1879 and specialises in the wines of Northern Spain. The family pioneered the oak-ageing process for Rioja, thus transforming thin, young wine into the powerhouse of warmth and richness that good Rioja is known for today. Indeed, this bottle has all those qualities and more. The makers recommend eating with juicy sausages and burgers to balance out the dryness, but we also enjoyed it with cheese, charcuterie and chutneys, which worked nicely with the acidity. Those listed above are the most common varieties of wine, but there are plenty more types and varieties of wine to be discovered. How to drink wine Cabernet Sauvignons are rich, robust red wines from the Napa Valley. These wines are full-bodied and are made up of dark fruit flavors mixed with spices and earthy aromas. It’s one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grape varieties and is most commonly aged in French oak. Chardonnay: READ NEXT: Our favourite non-alcoholic wines The best red wines to buy in 2022 1. Sharpham Pinot Noir 2019: Best English red wine

Chardonnay is the most popular wine varietal in North America and is characterized by its medium to full body and its buttery mouthfeel. It combines crisp flavors like apple and pear with citrus aromas and hints of vanilla. Malbec:

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As travel has been restricted during the majority of this year, we’ve taken the opportunity to explore the world through wine. We traveled through Europe, stopping in Spain, Greece, Austria, France, and, most notably, Italy. In fact, three of our top 10 wines this year are from Sicily, a region that impressed us more than any other this year. Fires yet again devastated parts of California wine country in 2020. The immense impact this had on its wine regions and communities emphasizes that drinking wines from the state to enjoy and support its winemaking regions is tantamount. We’ve consumed some lovely bottles from the Golden State, from Merlot (sorry, “Sideways”), to Petite Sirah, to Zinfandel and Chardonnay. These selections show just how diverse and delicious California wine country can be. From grapes and blends, to growing regions and winemakers (not to mention food-pairing options), there’s a lot to choose from when selecting your perfect red.

No time to read through our entire list? We’ve chosen the Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec 2016 as the overall best wine and the Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2016 as the best value wine. The 15 best wines of the year Rank Use your imagination when you’re buying wine for someone who’s willing to think — and drink — beyond Cabernet Sauvignon (the most widely planted wine grape in the world) and Chardonnay (the most popular wine in the U.S.). Go for something unexpected, like a harder-to-find Barolo and Brunello from Italy, or a Spanish Tempranillo-based blend. White wine glasses are typically smaller than red wine glasses, as they don’t need the same surface area to oxidize. When drinking the wine, hold the glass by the stem rather than the bowl. This will help the wine to keep at the same temperature, rather than warming up in your hand. Made by cava giants Codorníu using the same techniques as champagne (the second, fizz-giving fermentation takes place in the bottle), but with different grape varieties in Catalonia’s Penedès region. This is a sparkling wine of surprising character and depth for the money, with lime and toasty notes.Most Sauvignon Blancs are left as dry white wines, with a few brands preferring to leave a small amount of residual sugar for a richer consistency. It’s a crisp and light wine with flavors of citrus like green apple, lime, and vanilla. Syrah: Other top spots in New York are Ventosa Vineyards, with its 23 acres of estate vineyards overlooking Seneca Lake, and Fulkerson Winery, known as the winemakers’ winery and home to 110 acres of grapes. Terminology: the key terms to know when buying wine Appellation: A legally defined and protected geographical area used to identify where grapes for a wine were grown. Selecting our overall best wine was no easy task but this 2016 Malbec is sure to be a winner no matter who’s pouring it. It’s an incredibly nuanced and detailed wine, promising depth and character from every sip. One of the highest-rated wines, it’s a critic’s favorite and a rich, aromatic bottle to delight family and friends over dinner. Sharpham Wine won several medals for its efforts at the Wine GB Awards in 2020, with this fabulously cool 2019 vintage Pinot Noir scooping the Gold. Ripe yet light, it offers classic British wild strawberry flavours, red berries and just a hint of spice that encapsulates the terroir of its South Devon vineyard.

Some of the best wineries to take a tour around include Paso Robles Wine Country, home to award-winning wines, a historic downtown, and breathtaking views, Nalle Winery, part of the Historic Vineyard Society, preserving California’s oldest vines, and Finger Lakes, known for their expertise and great experience for wine lovers wanting a closer look. The easiest way to find the right bottle of wine for you and your occasion is simply to ask a wine expert or sommelier for their recommendations based on your taste. If you’re pairing wines for dinner, tell the expert what dishes you’ll be making. If you’re simply buying a bottle of wine to broaden your horizons, the most important things to state are your price range and flavor preferences.

One of those useful, undemonstrative but quietly incisive and delicious dry white wines that Italians do so well. A wine primarily suited to flattering food – from creamy pasta to lemony grilled fish – but with its own distinctive mix of subtle almond nuttiness, zesty lime and breezy freshness. This is a matter of contention. A common misconception is that red wine is best served at room temperature. In fact, a few degrees cooler can be better for some styles. Try serving lighter-bodied wines slightly chilled to around 15°C. For a fuller-bodied red, go a little warmer; around 18°C is ideal. How we test red wine Arguably better known in its Spanish spelling, for the albariño wines of Rías Baixas in Galicia, alvarinho from a little further south in the Vinho Verde region can be just as compelling. In this case, it’s also better value: appetisingly light and racy with a Lilt-like zip and tang. Discover the best wine pairing for your food favourites with our guide on matching food and wine . How not to waste corked wine