Your Guide to Red Wines in Lake Leelanau, MI

Aurora Cellars Introduces You To Red Wine

Red wines are divine with their deep, flavorful taste. Some people get overwhelmed with the many different types of red wines and varieties of flavors. Here at Aurora Cellars in the Lake Leelanau, MI area, we’ve got all you need to know about our superb red wines. We’re known for our knowledgeable staff and welcoming atmosphere. You’ll feel comfortable and special while enjoying and learning about our wine. Whether you’re wine tasting at Aurora Cellars or want to impress your friends at your next social gathering, we’ll give you an introduction to red wines.

What Is Red Wine?

Red wine provides a deep, rich taste. It’s created by fermenting dark-skinned grape juice. The pressed grape juice macerates and ferments with the darker colored grape skins for color, tannin, and flavor boost. The mixture turns into alcohol when yeast converts the grape sugar into carbon dioxide and ethanol. Some of the most common characteristics of red wine include:

• Color – Red wines range in color from deep purple to light ruby.
• Tannin – Tannins boost the wine’s structure, texture, and ability to age.
• Flavor – The different grape varieties produce various aromas of flowers, fruits, spices, and herbs.
• Acid – Acid provides freshness, structure, balance, and acts as a preservative for red wine.

The Allure Of Cool Climate Red Wines

The taste profiles of red wines depend on where their grapes are grown and harvested. In cooler climates, grapes retain their acidity and don’t ripen as much as grapes grown in warmer climates. This helps them have a rich and robust flavor, and a lighter body. Some of the most popular red wines from cooler climates include Zweigelt and Pinot Noir.

Popular Red Wines

Aging like a fine red wine is much more than a saying. The deep flavors of red wine intensify over time, making a bottle taste even better years down the road. From rich flavors of fruit to deep flavors of spices, red wines have a wide range of tastes. Here are some of the most popular varieties of red wines and their most common characteristics:

• Cabernet Sauvignon – It’s all about the tannins in a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The tart wine can be full of vanilla, dark cherries, and spices.
• Cabernet Franc – This rich wine can offer hints of plum, blackberry, and fresh herbs. We enjoy pairing it with grilled lamb or beef.
• Pinot Noir – A glass of Pinot Noir can bring a light taste with a twist of cherries and cranberries. The oaky overtones, rose, and vanilla can give it a boost with a low level of tannins.
• Malbec – A Malbec red wine can have a tart yet spicy taste. Its spices intensify and taste excellent as they age in oak barrels over time.
• Blaufränkisch – This wine is special because it spends 18 months in French Oak barrels to bring out its blueberry flavors and spicy pepper notes. It is minimally manipulated to allow it to bring out its best flavor.
• Zinfandel – A bottle of Zinfandel red wine is known for its flavorful fruits and spicy tobacco tastes. It can have a mid-range of tannins with high acidity without a heavy taste.

What Is a Dry Red Wine?

Dry red wine often has a deep, spicy flavor. It contains no residual sugar from production. To make sweet wines have their unique taste, fermentation is stopped during the process leaving residual sugars. A dry red wine goes through the entire fermentation process, allowing the yeast to consume all sugars in the grapes.

What About Sweet Red Wines?

Most people love the deep or dry flavors or red wines, but many people enjoy sipping a sweet red wine. Some wine lovers indulge in a sweet, tawny Port with its syrupy flavors, while others prefer a medium sweet wine like a Zinfandel. The unique flavor or sweet red fine is thanks to its high sugar content.

What Is Rosé Wine?

Rosé wine is typically made from a variety of red wine grapes, including syrah, grenache, sangiovese, pinot noir, and cinsault. Rosé wine provides a light, fresh, and fruity taste. Its differing shades of pink are due to various maceration methods. It’s typically only macerated for a few hours. The skins are removed, and its juice is fermented once the juice has turned the winemaker’s desired color.

Home of the Best Red Wines in Michigan

We’re proud to be home to some of the best red wines in all of Michigan. Our award-winning red wines are perfectly paired with all types of meats and cheeses. If you’re at Aurora Cellars for one of our decadent wine tastings, a vineyard wedding, or a corporate event, we invite you to try our wide selection of flavorful red wines. Join our Wine Club for exclusive discounts and complimentary wine tastings as a bonus. Book now to schedule a wine tasting.