Red wine is made from dark skinned grapes and the colour is extracted from the skins. The thicker the skin, the deeper the colour.

How is red wine made?
The grape are picked and delivered to the winery, then crushed before being yeast is added to kick off the fermentation. Fermentation is the result of the yeast fermenting the sugars in the grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed to remove the skins and stems, and then left to rest. Some may be aged in barrels or develop additional flavours. It is then bottled and ready for sale.

Which grapes are used to make red wine?
There are literally thousands of grape varieties, however the most common include Pinot Noir, Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz (aka Syrah) and Tempranillo.

What are the characteristics I should expect?
Red wines come in a variety of styles and the winemaking techniques used impact the flavour of the wine as well the as the grape variety itself.

• Lighter styles include Pinot Noir and Gamay. These are a great option for red wine beginners as low in tannins and light bodied.

• Medium styles - these are well balanced and have some body (think of the weight of semi-skimmed milk) and these include Merlot, Grenache and Tempranillo.

• The Big Bang reds are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Expect full body and a richer flavour - not for the faint hearted.

I love red wines made with Grenache, particularly when part of a Rhone Blend.

What is your favourite red wine?