The 25 Best Red Wines to Drink in 2025, According to Top Sommeliers

Hear us out: The best red wines are perfect for sipping throughout the year. From light sparkling reds to earthy, fruit-forward pinots and inexpensive bottles to use for pitchers of sangria, good and great red wines have staying power, even in warmer-weather months like spring and summer.

Similar to whiskey, the reason we associate red wines with winter is they generally have a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) and are fuller-bodied than white wines, making them well-suited to fireside sipping, decadent meals, and savoring with gourmet chocolates. But lighter reds are just right for temperate weather and can pair with barbecue, salads, veggie-forward dishes, and even seafood.

“This time of year, I still love red wine, but I find myself craving something lighter and brighter than I do during the winter months,” says Advanced Sommelier Amy Racine, beverage director for JF Restaurants. “Pinot noir is an excellent grape for this; it's one of the lightest red grapes out there and is especially delicious with a little chill”

Pinot can also pair beautifully with pork, lamb, and pasta. But remember this pairing rule when you’re preparing dinner at home: "The more fat you have on the plate, the more tannin you want in your wine,” says Jay James, master sommelier and president of Benchmark Wine Group.

Meanwhile, the best sweet red wine, like lambrusco, pairs beautifully with Gouda cheese on a charcuterie board. Dry red wine, like a medium-bodied chianti, is versatile and a friendly pairing with pastas, pizzas, and meats. And pinot noir is light-bodied and can pair well with pork and fish.

Our top pick for the overall best red wine to drink now is Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021. It's bursting with blackberry and cola notes and is versatile when it comes to pairing. If that doesn't excite your palate, then we have plenty more popular bottles to try on our list below.

Best Overall Red Wine: Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021

Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is a juicy, ruby red wine that surprises with cherry-vanilla notes, plus some hints of tobacco. A lobster boil or grilled shrimp dish with a pinot noir like this one is a delicious pairing, Racine says. It can stand up to spiced seafood boils or a little smoke from a grill. Around the $30 mark, it’s great for either a casual weekend pour or a special occasion, making it our no-brainer top choice.

Best Sweet Red Wine

Lambrusco, rosso dolce, red zinfandel, port, and sparkling red wine are among the most common and popular types of sweet red wine. Sweet red wine is often a good pairing with bookend courses at a dinner party (think appetizers and dessert). We like moscato as it's often bursting with notes of strawberries and raspberries. Your palate might also pick up on stone fruits like peach or nectarine, making it a match made in heaven with chocolate. Roscato is also a sweet red wine—from Lombardy, a northern region in Italy—that's typified by having a palate of berries and a delicate fizz.

Forbidden Kiss Sweet Red Sparkling Wine

If you’re looking for a sweet red with a touch of fizz, Forbidden Kiss Sweet Red Sparkling Wine is great, says Brian Gelb, vice president of wine merchandising at Total Wine & More. Made in France via the ancestral method, it’s a modern take on a classic style. The carbonation comes from the natural fermentation of sugar. There's no added carbonation or sugar. “This wine pairs brilliantly with a molten chocolate cake due to its natural sweetness, red fruit, and full-bodied sparkling style,” he says.

Quady Red Electra Moscato

Quady Red Electra Moscato has a slight effervescence and is brimming with juicy cherry and pomegranate flavors. It's a fun, sweet red wine to enjoy with chocolate or brownies. The moscato is made with orange and black muscat grapes that are naturally sweet and musky. This moscato could also be used to make a boozy sorbet for dessert. Pour it over a scoop or two of raspberry sorbet in a coupe glass.

Best Red Wine for Sangria

Fruity, boozy, and served over ice, sangria is a great way to enjoy red wine in the warmer months. When you’re looking for the best bottle of red wine for sangria, avoid wines with lots of heavy tannins (like a cabernet sauvignon) because they can clash with the fruity flavors of this Spanish punch.

Bodini Malbec

Bodini Malbec from Northern Mendoza, Argentina, is what Spain Wine Bar uses for the base of its red sangria. “The estate-grown fruit is a surprising value that possesses soft tannins and expressive notes of plum and blackberries,” says Ramon Campos, bar manager of Spain Wine Bar. Beyond the wine, sangrias are often made with a nip of brandy, fresh fruit, and a splash of juice, typically orange. Any leftover bottles could pair with barbecue ribs or pizza.

Campo Viejo Reserva

Ripe berries are the star of the show in this soft and fresh bottle of Campo Viejo Reserva. With a little bit of spice, the Spanish red wine is a no-brainer for sangria (and, at just over $10 bucks for a bottle, you can make a few pitchers for any patio parties you’re throwing).

Best Cheap Red Wine Under $25

You don’t have to spend a fortune on a good bottle of red wine. Some of the best red wines cost between $15 to $30, according to sommeliers. For example, merlots are often some of the best cheap red wines because their grapes aren’t too finicky, making them easier to harvest and keep costs down. They’re approachable, too, falling in the middle of the red wine spectrum in terms of sweetness. But you can find some reasonably priced pinot noirs, cabernet sauvignons, and red blends to keep on hand for parties and host gifts, too.

Conundrum Red Blend

Chill