12 Best Red Wine Brands in India Perfect For Every Occasion

Wine can be a better teacher than ink, and banter is often better than books!

One of the best things about writing on wine in a nation that is yet a nascent marketplace is that one gets to revisit the story, again and again, to perceive how things are evolving along. Along these lines, what might pass as a solid propensity, verging on addiction, can be underwritten as a sincere effort to only keep oneself all around informed of what’s running down in the wine galaxy. We still don’t have the concept of vintage wine in India, which implies that even the best of the wine will pretty much taste comparable regardless of the number of years they are stored for. One legit reason for this could be we don’t store wines sufficiently long enough to develop and reflect any difference, however, on the other hand, a few wines are made in a way to display individuality over uniformity. In any case, the nature of wine production in India has been improving consistently throughout the years, as wineries are getting much better at doing their jobs. So here are our top picks of red wines that are perfect for every occasion.

1. Four Seasons Barrique Reserve Shiraz

Rich and vibrant — is what best defines the Barrique Reserve Shiraz by Four Seasons. A complex, full-bodied red wine, this magical liquid is smoky on the palate and gives an earthy flavor in every sip. Boasts of an inky violet hue with a perfectly balanced blend of plummy and ripe blackberry notes, this a wine that every wine enthusiast should get their hands on.

Winery: Four Seasons Vineyards, Baramati, Maharashtra
Manufactured in Region (Country): Baramati — India
Grape Variety: 87% Shiraz +10% Cabernet Sauvignon + 3% Viognier
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1000
Alcohol Content: 13%
Food Pairing: Herbed duck confit, charcuterie, barbequed or red meats, wild mushroom Raghu, and chargrilled vegetables. Mature cheeses like Livarot and reblochon also pair well with this wine

2. The Wolftrap Red

One of the most stunning red wines in India, The Wolftrap Red is a remarkable blend of Syrah and Mourvedre with a subtle amalgam of the white grape viognier that flaunts an indulgent note of spice, smoke, and leather. The wine entices the nose with its rich aroma of ripe plums, blueberries, and spices. The Wolftrap Red exhibits an exceptional balance of aroma and taste and boasts of a really silky texture that is very smooth and well-balanced.

Winery: Franschhoek valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Western Cape — South Africa
Grape Variety: Syrah and Mourvedre
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1992
Alcohol Content: 14.38%
Food Pairing: Enjoy with barbecue, hot dogs, grilled meat, roast beef po-boys, osso buco, boudin, pasta and marinara sauce, and firm cheeses.

3. Big Banyan Merlot

A quintessential red wine, the Big Banyan Merlot is divinely smooth and has an artistic taste of cherries, berries, plums, and pepper. Serve this Merlot absolutely chilled and experience the blissful fragrance of dark cherries, berries, and plums with black pepper and cocoa. The soft and velvety tannins of the wine make it slightly dry with a touch of plummy finish. Pretty easy on the pocket, this medium-bodied wine is perfect for a lazy lunch with light bites and friends around.

Winery: Big Banyan Wines, Nashik Valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Nashik Valley — India
Grape Variety: Merlot
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 750
Alcohol Content: 13%
Food Pairing: Grilled meat and vegetables, game or pasta

4. KRSMA Sangiovese

Sold only in India and not exported, KRSMA Sangiovese is one of the signature labels of KRSMA that has been frequently in the headlines for all the right reasons. This full-bodied red wine is made from the grape variety of Sangiovese that is produced in the hitherto untapped vineyards of Hampi. This fruity, playful red wine has a fruit-forward aroma with a hint of spice and cherries on the palate.

Winery: KRSMA Estate, Hampi Hills
Manufactured in Region (Country): Hampi Hills — India
Grape Variety: Sangiovese
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1800
Alcohol Content: 13.6%
Food Pairing: Hummus bi Lahm and the chicken tomato tartlets

5. Sula Rasa

India’s best reserve shiraz, Sula Rasa is a profoundly complex wine that is stored for 12 months in premium French oak barrels and then further matured in the bottle before bringing into the self. Served best at 16°C, this magical liquid goes well with seafood, barbeque, Gouda Parmesan cheese, and chocolate. For an unforgettable experience, open the bottle and decant 30 minutes prior to being served slightly chilly, and enjoy this special wine at its best.

Winery: Sula Vineyards, Nashik Valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Nashik Valley — India
Grape Variety: 70% Shiraz + 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1495
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Food Pairing: Barbeque dishes, Cheese like Gouda and Parmesan, and Chocolate

6. York Arros

Produced by a young winemaking team, this flagship wine from Maharashtra’s York winery is a limited edition blend of York winery’s best Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. York Arros is a perfect amalgam of 55% of Shiraz and 45% of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is blended, and the extract is aged for 13 months in American and French oak and another 12 months in the bottle to absorb its essence before release. A sip of this elegant red wine and your tongue is greeted with bright fruity flavors of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and cinnamon that leave a pleasant aftertaste.

Winery: York Vinery, Nashik Valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Nashik Valley — India
Grape Variety: Reserve Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon + Shiraz
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 800–1500
Alcohol Content: 14.3 %
Food Pairing: grilled or tandoori meats, steak & cheeses

7. SOL DE CHILE by Syrah Merlot

Featuring a stunning rose color, Sol de Chile is a well-balanced red wine that comes with raspberry and black pepper flavor. Before alcoholic fermentation, the wine is stored in a low temperature-controlled environment to extract the color and aroma. Under the same temperature, it is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts and then left to macerate for a few more days to extract tannins. And finally, the wines are stabilized and filtered carefully to keep integrity before processing for bottling.

Winery: Estate Vineyards
Manufactured in Region (Country): Santiago, Maule Valley — Chile
Grape Variety: Syrah & Merlot
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1189
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Food Pairing: Beef and Venison

8. Myra Misfit

Known to be India’s first unfiltered wine, Myra was launched in 2013 by Mr. Ajay Shetty in collaboration with the Myra Vineyards located in Bengaluru. They launched a premium red blend Cuvee in 2016 from Myra Vineyards called Misfit — a limited edition coveted and sophisticated wine. The blend of Misfit is of a Classic Sauvignon and fruity Shiraz that is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. The wine is purposely not filtered so that it can retain its natural characteristics. Misfit features a strong berry whiff and is considerably spicy & fruity on the palate with an ending note of full balanced sweet.

Winery: Myra Vineyards, Nashik Valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Nashik Valley — India
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1500
Alcohol Content: 13%
Food Pairing: Lamb, meat sauce, pizza, pasta

9. Reveilo — Syrah Reserve

Syrah Reserve is a medium-bodied red wine that comes with robust fruity notes of raspberry and cherry, accompanied by a persistent woody character. The wine is Barrel-aged in French oak, giving it a sparkling ruby tone with purple reflections. It has a long finish and subtle smokiness and can be paired best with barbeque, red meat, pasta, and spicy food.

Winery: Reveilo Winery, Nashik Valley
Manufactured in Region (Country): Nashik Valley — India
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1245
Alcohol Content: 14%
Food Pairing: Recommended with pasta, red meat, barbeque, and spicy food

10. Fratelli Sette

International Wine Writer and Wine Consultant, Mr. Steven Spurrier once stated that — he feels Fratelli SETTE would become the first Indian Icon Wine, just like the Opus One of California. And here we are today! Relatively high on the price front, SETTE is one of the most popular and best red wine brands in India that is known for its rich flavor and a pleasant aroma. Matured in French oak for fourteen months, SETTE is a barrel-aged red wine which is one of the signature blends of Piero Masi’s who is the creator of Fratelli Wines. SETTE stands for ‘Seven’ in Italian, is actually a dream that the seven brothers of Fratelli had, and it came true when the vintage of 2009 delivered an exceptional quality product. Since then, the top one percent of the grapes from the Fratelli’s estate-owned vineyards in Akluj — Pune goes into accomplishing this dream.

Winery: Fratelli Vineyards, Akluj, Maharashtra
Manufactured in Region (Country): Akluj — India
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 50% + Sangiovese 30% + Cabernet Franc 20%
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1600
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Food Pairing: Pizza, barbeque dishes, steak & cheeses

11. Reserve Tempranillo By Charosa

Hails from the Charosa vineyard in Maharastra, this magical red liquid is featuring a fascinating dark ruby color that comes filled with rich aromas of coconut, chocolate, vanilla, and raspberry. Charosa Tempranillo is a well-balanced medium-bodied wine that boasts of the highest concentration of raspberry, strawberry, and plum giving it a warm red fruit flavor that signs off with a smooth finish.

Winery: Charosa Winery, Charosa Village, Maharasthra
Manufactured in Region (Country): Charosa Village — India
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 1500
Alcohol Content: 13%
Food Pairing: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Spicy food, ‘tapas’, grilled red meat or sauteed veggies.

12. La Reserve by Grover Zampa

La Reserve is a well-balanced full-bodied wine with complex layers of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Shiraz, which is aged for 16 months in new French oak. It possesses a flavorsome bouquet of luscious ripe fruits and an exquisite hint of spice with a complex smokey aroma. The soft finish of this red wine features some peppery notes with blueberries and blackcurrant that combines grace and majesty on the palate.

Winery: Grover Zampa Vineyards, Doddaballapur, Karnataka
Manufactured in Region (Country): Doddaballapur — India
Grape Variety: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon + Shiraz
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price of Wine: Rs. 2150
Alcohol Content: 13%
Food Pairing: Roasted red meat, Hard cheese

And that wraps up our personal and well-curated picks of the 12 best red wine brands in India, straddling varied price points and palate preferences, and also promising you not just a great drinking experience, but a delightful meal pairing as well.

I Shall Drink No Wine Before It’s Time! OK, It’s Time.

FAQ’s

Q. How long does it take for homemade wine to mature?
A. It depends. For white, fruit, and light red wines, they should be ready in about six months. For heavy reds with lots of tannins, it might take a year or so for them to mellow out.

Q. What does red wine taste like?
A. It’s delicious. And it depends. Anywhere from bitter to sugary to sweet to fruity. It’s usually made from currants, plums, figs, raisins, berries, clove, licorice, and/or a variety of many more flavors. Just give it a try! You’ll wish you had sooner! If it’s your first time trying a red wine we would recommend a Pinot Noir.

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