"Life is too short to drink bad wine," said Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (worth looking up if you don't know who he is), and I tend to agree with him. Don't waste your precious, limited time drinking the plain old ordinary stuff. Drink something good and something with meaning. Yes, some are pricey (if you've got shallow pockets), but there are ways around that. There are also some absolute bargains — even for the most cash-strapped, penny-pinching student of wine. Before you grab another bottle of vin ordinaire, here are 14 red wines that you must try.
But here's what separates a great bucket list wine from a merely good bottle: every wine on this list has a story. First Growth Bordeaux shaped the modern wine world (whether it deserves its price tag is another matter entirely). Northern Rhône Syrah was the secret weapon the top Bordeaux châteaux quietly added to their blends for centuries — they just didn't shout about it. Carménère was presumed extinct for 150 years until a vine detective noticed something wasn't quite right in the vineyards of Chile. Penfolds Grange was so controversial when first released that the winemaker was reportedly told to destroy the remaining bottles. These aren't just wines. They're chapters in a very long, very delicious story.
And no — this doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Yes, First Growth Bordeaux is extravagant, and it's on the list for a very specific reason (see the entry). But Beaujolais will set you back less than a decent meal out. Gran Reserva Rioja delivers a decade of bottle-aged complexity without the wait — or the price tag — of aged Burgundy. Mendoza Malbec is one of the best-value reds on the planet. The bucket list is meant to be ticked off, not just admired from a safe distance.
Ten Second Summary
- Best to start with: Mendoza Malbec or Gran Reserva Rioja — full-flavoured, crowd-pleasing, and excellent value. Beaujolais if you want something lighter.
- Best value on the list: Beaujolais, Mendoza Malbec, Chianti, and Gran Reserva Rioja all punch well above their price — none require a remortgage.
- Most prestigious: First Growth Bordeaux and Red Burgundy are the names that make collectors reach for their wallets — and their chequebooks.
- Best with food: Chianti with Italian food is one of the great wine pairings on earth. Beaujolais goes brilliantly with almost anything. Northern Rhône Syrah loves a piece of red meat.
- Why drink these 14: Because each one has a story — of history, culture, adventure, and the occasional famous face — and life is genuinely too short to keep opening the same safe bottle.
What's on this page
The 14 Best Red Wines to Try Before You Die
- First Growth Bordeaux
First Growth Bordeaux is ridiculously expensive. Many oenophiles drool over the stuff without having tasted a drop. One reason I believe it's important to tick it off your bucket list is so you know you haven't actually been missing out on that much! - Penfolds Grange
Penfolds Grange is Australia's flagship red wine and regarded as one of the World's great wines and the first Grand Cru wine of the New World. - Gran Reserva Rioja
Gran Reserva Rioja has been bottle aged to perfection on release. You get oodles of bottle age complexity without having to wait. - Californian Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (along with Chardonnay and the help of a wee English fella) changed the wine world forever ... and for the better. - A really good red Burgundy
No other wine captures people's attention, taste buds, and wallets as does a really good red burgundy. - Northern Rhone Syrah
The Northern Rhone is the birthplace of Syrah producing dark, full-bodied, bold wines. Back in the day, Bordeaux's top chateau would add some dark, beefy Northern Rhone Syrah to improve their own wines! - Chateauneuf-du-Pape
The legendary wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr reckoned the rich, round, sumptuous and opulent texture found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is virtually unmatched in the wine world. - Beaujolais
Beaujolais can be summed up in three words: Yum! Yum!! Yum!!! It's not an expensive wine but can lift one's mood in an extraordinary way. - Mendoza Malbec
Malbec from Mendoza is one of the darkest, most full-bodied, seductive, velvety, exuberantly fruited red wines you'll ever drink. - Chilean Carménère
Carménère is the variety that helped put Bordeaux on the wine map. It nearly became extinct until a curious discovery in Chile. - Californian Zinfandel
Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay might all have more prestigious reputations in California, but Zinfandel is its signature grape and one that the State can really call its own. - Barossa Valley Ancestor Vine Grenache
Ancestor Vines are ones that were planted in the 1800s. So, they've been alive across three Centuries. They've been producing wine since Queen Victoria was on the throne! They also just happen to produce wines with über ripe, concentrated raspberry flavor and a silky smooth texture that is next level. - Chianti (with Italian food!)
Chianti is the perfect accompaniment to pizza and pasta (...and possibly liver and fava beans!). Chianti goes great with many Italian dishes and can really lift a meal to the next level. - Amarone
Amarone, like Champagne, was never supposed to exist. It was an accident. Yet, it's a heady celebration of the senses: profound, hedonistic, and impressive.
Where to Start
If staring at a list of 14 wines feels a bit much, here's a simple way into it. Start at the accessible end: Beaujolais is a revelation for the price. Mendoza Malbec is a crowd-pleaser that's easy to find in any decent wine shop. Chianti with a bowl of pasta on a Friday night is one of life's uncomplicated pleasures. Gran Reserva Rioja punches well above its weight — and the bodegas have already done the hard work of ageing it for you.
Work your way up through the mid-tier classics: Northern Rhône Syrah, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Barossa Ancestor Vine Grenache are wines that'll stop you mid-sip and make you reassess what red wine can do. Then, when the right occasion comes along, go for the big ones: a really good Red Burgundy, Penfolds Grange, and yes, First Growth Bordeaux. Find the moment. Make it count.
This is a bucket list, not a race. Some people take years to work through a list like this — and that's exactly the point. Each wine here is a doorway to a much deeper rabbit hole: more producers, more regions, more vintages. The 14 on this list are just the beginning.
Best red wines FAQ
What is the best red wine?
The best red wine in the world is — genuinely — a matter of fierce debate. For complexity and collector obsession, Red Burgundy leads most conversations. For power and prestige, First Growth Bordeaux. For value-to-quality ratio, Gran Reserva Rioja and Mendoza Malbec regularly embarrass wines three times their price. The honest answer is that "best" depends entirely on the occasion, the food, and your own palate. That is precisely why this list has 14 wines on it, not one.
What is the king of red wine?
The king of red wine is most commonly said to be either Burgundy's Pinot Noir or Barolo — known as the "wine of kings, king of wines" — from Piedmont, Italy. Robert Parker called Châteauneuf-du-Pape virtually unmatched in texture and opulence. The truth is there are several contenders for the crown, and the answer changes depending on who you ask, which vintage you're drinking, and what's on the table.
Are expensive red wines always better?
Expensive red wines are not always better — and this is worth understanding before you spend your money. Price and quality do correlate up to a point. Beyond that point, you are increasingly paying for scarcity, reputation, and status rather than what's in the glass. First Growth Bordeaux is on this list at item one — partly so you can tick it off and decide for yourself whether it lives up to the mystique. Beaujolais, Mendoza Malbec, and Gran Reserva Rioja are also on this list, and none of them will require a remortgage.
What is a good affordable red wine?
Several excellent red wines consistently over-deliver for the price. Beaujolais — especially Cru Beaujolais from villages like Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent — can be extraordinary value. Mendoza Malbec delivers full-bodied, velvety richness at a fraction of what comparable European reds cost. Gran Reserva Rioja gives you a decade of bottle-aged complexity without the wait or the Burgundy price tag. Chianti Classico is one of the most reliable food-wine pairings at any budget.
Is Penfolds a good wine brand?
Penfolds is one of the greatest wine estates in the world — not just in Australia, but globally. Penfolds Grange, their flagship red, is widely regarded as Australia's finest wine and one of the first New World wines to achieve genuine First Growth-level prestige. Their broader range consistently over-delivers for the price, from Bin 28 Shiraz upwards. If your budget doesn't stretch to Grange, start there and work your way up.
How do I choose a good red wine?
Choosing a good red wine starts with the occasion and the food. For something light and versatile with a meal, try Beaujolais or Chianti. For full-bodied and impressive, try Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Barossa Ancestor Vine Grenache, or Mendoza Malbec. For aged complexity without the wait, Gran Reserva Rioja has already been cellared for you by the bodegas. When in doubt, ask your local wine merchant to point you at something overperforming for the price. They almost always know something excellent that nobody's ordering.
What are the Big Six wines?
The Big Six wines usually refers to the world's most famous and collectable styles: Red Burgundy, Red Bordeaux, Barolo, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Champagne, and — depending on the list — Barossa Shiraz, Rhône Syrah, or Rioja Gran Reserva. Four of the Big Six red styles appear directly on this list, and the others are represented by close relatives. If you're working your way through this bucket list, you are quietly working through the Big Six at the same time.
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