Some of the most common red wines are: Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz or Syrah.

Why are these wines so popular?  How did they come about?  And what do they taste

The World's Most Cultivated Grape:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Originally from France, Cabernet sauvignon has spread throughout the world is now grown in almost every wine region.  While Merlot became more popular than Cabernet sauvignon in the 1990s, Cabernet sauvignon is now the most cultivated grape worldwide again but not by much.

As far as wine grapes grow, Cabernet sauvignon is actually a relatively young grape.  In the 1600s, Cabernet franc and Sauvignon blanc were inadvertently crossed to create Cabernet sauvignon.  The vintners found that hybrid grape was a resilient grape.  Cabernet sauvignon had thick skins and the vines were able to withstand poor weather.  Most people believe that one of the major reasons that Cabernet sauvignon is so popular is because it is resilient and will grow in many different wine regions.

The Second Most Common Grape:  Merlot

If you've heard about the cult hit film, Sideways, you might know that the film did a little bit of damage to peoples' view of Merlot.  With that said, Merlot is the second most popular wine grape and the most grown grape in the Bordeaux wine region.  That's nothing to scoff at!

This is for good reason: because Merlot is harvested earlier in the season than Cabernet sauvignon and some other grapes, the tannins aren't as harsh.  You will taste hints of fruits, berries, and currants in the

Another French Grape:  Pinot Noir

Perhaps one of the most attractive grapes in and of itself, the grapes are tightly clustered around each other in a pine cone shape.  The grape is most commonly connected to the Burgundy region of France.

With that said, the major problem keeping this grape from creating a more popular wine is that it is a more difficult varietal to grown and to turn into wine.

Shiraz or Syrah

Depending upon where you are from, you will know this red wine as Shiraz or Syrah.  Countries like Australia and South African call the red wine Shiraz whereas the French refer to the wine as Syrah.

This wine has a lot of complexity to it.  Shiraz or Syrah has a number of different flavors and tastes:

• Berries
• Cloves
• Chocolate
• Smoked meat

With this type of variety of flavors, you will notice that the taste of Shiraz depends greatly upon where the grape is grown and the vintage.

Some Other Popular Red Wines

Just because these wines aren't as popular as the ones noted above, you never know what you will like until you try it.  Check out: