Light-bodied red wines are pale in color and have very light tannin. The classic light red wine is Pinot Noir but Gamay Noir, also known as Beaujolais, is another great wine in this category.
Medium-bodied red wines offer tons of flavor with balanced, zesty acidity that complements a wide variety of foods. A few familiar varieties from this family include Grenache, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Zinfandel.
Full-bodied red wines are the deepest, darkest and most tannic of all red wines. Tannin might sound weird, but the tannin in wine binds to proteins in our saliva and it has a palate-cleansing effect. This is why a bold red wine pairs so wonderfully with steak. Varieties include Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec.
