Your Guide to Red Wine Styles: Choose the Right Red Every Time

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Struggling to choose the perfect red wine? Confused why one Cabernet Sauvignon tastes light and fruity while the next leaves your mouth coated in tannin? On this episode of Everyday Sommelier, host Kristi Mayfield breaks down the complex world of red wine styles into three easy-to-understand categories: fresh and fruity, dry and dirty, and packed with a punch.

Discover how to go beyond grape varietal or wine region, and instead use taste profile, alcohol level, and even food pairing best practices to select a red wine you’ll love every time. Kristi demystifies red wine selection, exposes the myths of sticking to popular brands or labels, and delivers practical tips on decoding bottle information to match your palate and dinner plans.

Learn which varietals suit each style, how winemaking techniques create such dramatic differences, and why understanding the red wine style spectrum guarantees more confidence at restaurants and bottle shops.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: • Exactly which wines fit the fresh and fruity, dry and dirty, and packed with a punch categories—and why those styles matter. • How to confidently describe what you want in a red wine, no matter the occasion or food pairing. • How to avoid the most common mistakes shoppers and wine lovers make when choosing reds. • Simple strategies for pairing red wines with your favorite foods—from creamy pastas to spicy dishes and charcuterie boards.

Key Timestamps & SEO Titles

00:02:33 — Why Your Go-To Wine Style Changes (Understanding Red Wine Complexity)
00:04:21 — Never Make a Bad Choice Again (Spotting Fresh & Fruity Reds by Taste and Label)
00:10:25 — Pair Like a Pro (Best Food Pairings for Every Red Wine Style)
00:12:13 — Cracking the Code on Dry & Dirty Reds (What to Expect & How to Enjoy Them)
00:15:54 — Go Bold or Go Home? (All About Packed with a Punch Reds & Pairings)
00:21:25 — Your Wine Confidence Plan (Applying Red Wine Styles to Real-Life Wine Shopping)

Updated Menu Match by WINE WIZE content to solve wine pairing challenges at restaurants

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