RED WINE

Red wine offers a multitude of nuances and a diversity that Vinatis is committed to helping you discover! From the banks of the Loire to the Australian sun, from the lightest and fruitiest to the most powerful and tannic, red grape varieties are found all over the world. Discover the richness of red wines with Vinatis’ huge selection!

The vinification of red wine

Still red wine is the result of the alcoholic fermentation of black grapes, transforming the natural sugars into alcohol. It is the maceration of the skins with the juice that gives the wine its red colour. The style of red wine depends on the climate, the soil, the grape variety, but also on the work of the producer during the winemaking process:

• The choice of whether or not to destem the grapes;
• The choice of infusion or extraction;
• The choice of whether or not to carry out maturation;
• The choice of containers: wood, stainless steel, concrete or stoneware.

Vin Doux Naturel winemaking

At the point of alcoholic fermentation, a brandy is added to stop the process and preserve the natural sugars. Red wines with the Maury, Rivesaltes or Banyuls appellation, or even Port, are produced using this method.

A grape variety corresponds to the variety of vine plant. In France, there are no fewer than 210!

Pinot Noir

This grape variety, emblematic of Burgundy, is not one of the easiest to grow. It is fragile and sensitive to disease and thrives in limestone soils, in a temperate climate. It generally has a beautiful bright ruby colour and a rounded palate with delicate tannins and aromas of red fruits and spices.
Regions: Champagne, Burgundy, Jura, Alsace, Loire Valley, Central Otago, Marlborough, Oregon.

Cabernet Franc

Probably originating from the Basque country, it is now making a name for itself in the Loire Valley. Cabernet Franc is a grape variety that thrives in moderate climates. It likes light, early-ripening soils made up of gravel and sand, but also limestone hillsides. It produces moderately structured wines with notes of fresh red fruit, but also more vegetal and floral aromas such as pepper or iris.
Regions: Loire Valley, Bordeaux.

Merlot

A star of the Bordeaux vineyards and often associated with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot ripens quickly and is suited to gravelly soils and temperate or warm climates. In the glass, it expresses itself with roundness and delicacy on red and black fruits and sometimes with vegetal notes.
Regions: Bordeaux, Languedoc, California, Tuscany.

Rhône Valley

The Rhône Valley is divided into two parts: the northern part, from the south of Lyon to Valence, and the southern part, which extends as far as Avignon. In the northern part, the red grape variety Syrah dominates the vineyards on the spectacular slopes and terraces of the Côte-Rôtie, Cornas and the Hermitage hill.
In the southern part, the red wines are dominated by the black Grenache grape, which thrives on the rounded pebbles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or on the hillsides and terraces of the Gigondas appellation. The southern Rhône Valley is also a blending region where you may come across Syrah or Mourvèdre. Most of the Côtes du Rhône wines are produced in the southern part.

The Loire Valley, red wines along the waterside

This vast vineyard stretches from the Massif Central to the Atlantic along the Loire River and covers no fewer than 50 AOCs. The wine-growing landscapes are therefore very varied, with an oceanic climate close to the Atlantic coast and a more continental climate inland. The Loire plays a role in regulating the temperature, protecting the vineyards from spring frosts and softening winter temperatures.
The Loire Valley produces red wines that are generally beautifully fresh and well-balanced, often made from Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir in the case of Sancerre.

Bordeaux red wines, exceptional wines

In this vineyard, through which flow the Garonne and the Dordogne, the vines flourish in a temperate oceanic climate.
On the left bank, there are the Médoc and the Graves. The warm gravelly soils allow the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to ripen beautifully, producing tannic and distinguished wines such as Margaux, Saint-Julien or Pauillac. On the right bank, we find the vineyards of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The clay-limestone soils of this bank are suitable for Merlot, which can be combined with a little Cabernet Sauvignon to produce soft, concentrated wines. Between these two areas, the vineyards of Entre-Deux-Mers produce red wines made mainly from Merlot.

Languedoc-Roussillon wines: reds that evoke the south

This wine-growing region has long suffered from a reputation as a vineyard that overproduces mediocre wines. This period is over and the vineyards of the Languedoc offer us a beautiful diversity of red wines. Production is spread over the warm plains, on the relief of the southern Massif Central as for Pic Saint-Loup and Terrasses du Larzac, or facing the Mediterranean like the appellations La Clape or Collioure. The Pyrénées-Orientales also produce red Vin Doux Naturels (fortified wine) with the wines from the Maury, Rivesaltes and Banyuls appellations.

Powerful and racy red wines

If you would like to try a good full-bodied and powerful red wine:

• Saint-Joseph: wine made from the Syrah grape variety in the northern Rhône Valley, with notes of black fruit and violet and velvety tannins;
• Cahors: made from the Malbec grape variety in the South West France with notes of black fruit, cocoa and sometimes undergrowth;
• Saint-Estèphe: wine originating from the Bordeaux vineyards made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties and known for its power and its woody and spicy notes.

To preserve your bottles of red wine, temperature variations should be avoided. A temperature of 12°C is ideal!
Light contributes to the premature oxidation of wine, so choose a place away from the light.
A good level of humidity for storing wine is between 55% and 77%. Dryness can alter the cork, which will no longer be airtight, and cause the wine to oxidise quickly.
The position of your bottles is also important! Keeping your bottles lying down helps keep the cork moist and thus prevents it from drying out.

Which red wine goes with fish?

Red wine and fish can be a tricky combination. The enemy of fish? The tannins in red wine! So choose smooth wines with light tannins, such as the red wines made from Gamay in the Beaujolais region or from Pinot Noir in Burgundy or the Loire Valley.

Which red wine goes with a mixed cheese platter?

The lactic ferments of cheese and the tannins of wine are difficult to combine, but it is not impossible. Here are Vinatis’ ideas for a few combinations to try:

• Côtes du Jura and hard cheese like Comté or Cheddar: the bright fruit of the Trousseau grape variety with the pronounced taste of Comté form a tasty combination;
• Coteaux Bourguignons and Morbier: the light tannins of Pinot Noir with the creamy texture of Morbier;
• Maury and blue cheese like Roquefort or Stilton: a successful pairing with the sweetness and complexity of Vin Doux Naturel and the unique flavours of this cheese

Which red wine goes with raclette?

A generous and gourmet dish originating from Savoy, you can choose wines from the region such as a Savoie-Bugey, made from the Gamay or Mondeuse grape variety.

Choosing a wine is not always easy. If you are looking for the best red wine to accompany your meal or to give as a gift, let yourself be guided by our experts' sophisticated selections! New arrivals, award-winning wines, fine wines, wines from all around the world, best-sellers, organic wines, wines by grape variety, wines by appellation, wine bottles by format (whether magnums, BIBs or more), gems selected by our experts, not to mention our customers' favourites: you'll find selections tailored to your needs! For each of the products, take advantage of the ultra-detailed information on the website specifying the grape varieties, tasting tips and food and wine pairings.
Among our themed selections, you will find several mixed cases featuring wines from the same region, the same appellation, the same estate, or even organic wines, wines by colour, award-winning wines or prestigious cuvées: Discovery gift sets with 3 or 6 mixed bottles to guide you or to review the classics. Do you like fruity, woody, powerful or light red wine? For an impromptu aperitif, a special occasion, to accompany a gourmet dish or a family meal? Let us guide you according to your budget.

At Vinatis, we can't advise you without offering selections to suit your budget! Our biggest bargains, selections under £10, best sales, great deals and low prices! Of course, we take great care to ensure the best value for money, in keeping with our commitment to the winemaker. Tasting after tasting, our experts have unearthed new references to complement the cuvées that we renew with each change of vintage and the vintage wines that are ready to drink or to store. From the intimate wines of small winegrowers to the Grands Crus of leading estates, our experts focus on price and quality!
...As for the Last Bottles and Bin End selection, or the bottles sold with damaged labels, needless to say: everything must go!
All our references are waiting for you in optimal storage conditions. Careful delivery possible all over Great Britain and Europe and smash-proof boxes.

Our experts taste all the wines listed. Only wines unanimously selected for their value for money are presented to you.
Given the wealth of terroirs and grape varieties, lovers of Grands Crus will be thrilled to discover the appellations of France: find your favourite red Burgundy and Bordeaux AOCs, but also red wines from Rhône, Loire, Beaujolais, Corsica... As for the more curious, from one continent to another, you can quench your thirst for the unknown by taking a trip through the wines of the world in a number of stops: our selections of Italian wines, Spanish wines, Californian wines, Chilean wines, Argentinian wines, South African wines, New Zealand wines, Swiss wines and Hungarian wines will get you off to a flying start. A world tour of flavours that could well change your drinking habits. The only constant is the colour of the wine: red!
Don’t wait any longer to live out your passion for wine!