Do you want to know a secret? Light red wines are more than just Pinot Noir and Gamay. There are so many overlooked grape varieties to try; and, exploring them all is an adventure itself!
If you’re new to the wine community, or you want to introduce a friend to the wonderful world of wine, light bodied red wines are a great place to start. If you think the best light red wines are only for summer sipping, think again. These versatile wines can be enjoyed all year long, and are just as at home among your Thanksgiving wine line-up as they are with your BBQ.
But, that’s not all. You can find good bottles of lighter red wine for under $30, and you can find really, really good wines in this category for under $40.
Pro Tip: All of these wines are great candidates to serve as chillable red wines.
Craving a red wine that’s light and refreshing? Let’s dive into the irresistible world of light bodied red wines!
What is a light red wine?
Light red wines are a style of red wine that is fruit-forward and easy to drink. When sipping these wines, it’s common to taste bright red fruit like raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, and pomegranate. Juicy red fruit is sometimes accompanied by hints of spice or damp forest floor.
The color of these wines varies – some light red wines look like a dark rosé, others are translucent red, and some grapes create deeper shades of garnet. Elegance and lightness are also achieved by keeping the alcohol level of the wine between 11% and 13.5%, and using grapes that have low tannins and moderate to high acidity.
Gamay
If you don’t know where to start when trying to find the best lighter bodied red wine, reach for a bottle of Gamay. This French grape, which you may also know as Beaujoulias, has a unique ability to captivate just about anyone’s palate.
Gamay, the OG glou glou wine, tastes like bright red fruit (strawberries, cranberries, cherries) layered with a soft earthiness, and a fresh acidity that ties it all together.
Pro Tip: Gamay may also be labeled Gamay Noir.
Counoise
Usually used as a blending grape in its native Châteauneuf-du-Pape, more and more winemakers are creating outstanding, single variety light red wines from this dark hued grape. Counoise tastes like your favorite mulled wine spices marched through a snowy field. There’s depth (spice and pepper) to these wines, but they also have refreshing raspberry and strawberry characteristics too. It may seem like a complex contradiction, but Counoise is vibrant, energetic, and intriguing.
Trousseau
Trousseau is a rich, light-bodied red wine that tastes like cherries, wild berries, and enchanting, moss-covered forest floor. This Jura grape, which also goes by the Bastardo in Portugal, is an excellent alternative to Pinot Noir. Besides its deep fruit flavors, what’s great about Trousseau is the wine’s structure. The tannins are approachable, but sturdy enough to pair with foods as varied as BBQ, roasted chicken, soups, and stews.
Pinot Noir
Light-bodied Pinot Noir is a timeless wine with a huge following thanks to its silky palate and inviting red fruit flavors. Notes of soft forest floor and woody mushrooms add a pleasant depth to some variations. Pinot Noir is always a crowd-pleaser, and it’s available everywhere.
Grignolino
Vibrant, fruity, and light: Piedmont’s Grignolino grape produces lively light-bodied red wines that are hard to stop sipping. Grignolino is one of the lightest red wines you find. The wine can be so light that almost looks like a rose, or it can be a translucent ruby hue. A glass of Grignolinio has notes of red berries, strawberries, and cherries interlaced with hints of summer herbs and even white pepper. Serve with a little chill to savor all of the wine’s fresh acidity.
Valdiguié
Valdiguié tastes like biting into a plump pomegranate seed, and then sipping pure cherry and blackberry juice. In the glass, Valdiguié is almost a plum-colored purple, but don’t let that fool you, because this is still an elegant light red wine. And, the acid in this grape is so bright that you might need to put on your favorite pair of shades while you sip.
If you want to take a walk on the wild side, Cruse Wine Co. makes a gorgeous Valdiguié pet nat.
Cinsault
When you think of Cinsault, picture juicy berries – strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and a palate that’s fruit-forward, but without being too heavy or sweet. Cinsault, pronounced sin-so, is a low tannin, aromatic red wine that has lovely perfumed qualities, a touch of peppery spice, and is always easy-drinking. Many low-intervention and natural winemakers use Cinsault in their glou glou red wine blends.
Freisa
Easy, breezy Freisa hails from Italy’s Piedmont region, just like Grignolino. Freisa is a playful red wine that tastes like big, juicy strawberries dipped in a cool, Alpine meadow stream – Freisa actually means ‘strawberry’ in Latin. This wine has a sunny personality that some critics call mesmerizing. This variety might be the trickiest to find on the list, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked.
Poulsard
A pale ruby red in the glass, Poulsard is charming, uncomplicated and has a palate that is crisp and juicy. Of all the light red wines on this list, Poulsard is the most ethereal. Poulsard tastes like cranberries, ripe strawberries, tart pomegranate, hibiscus, and a delicate swirl of spice.
How to Pair Light Red Wines
Light red wines are food friendly and pair with charcuterie boards, salmon, trout, grilled or roasted chicken or duck, and turkey. If you’re preparing a vegetarian meal, try these wines with sauteed tofu, veggie burgers, cauliflower “steak”, or grain bowls.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you find a bottle you really love, don’t overthink the pairing, just crack open that bottle and try it!