The best red wine to enjoy this Valentine's Day
Ensure the red wine in your glass is as delicious as it can be, with the Good Housekeeping Institute's guide to the best bottles to stock your wine rack with. We've put over 70 wines to the test (not all at once though, don't worry!) and collated the top-scoring reds across all our taste tests — with bottles starting from just £8 — and recommended the best glassware to serve them in.
Best red wine 2025
How do you pick a good red wine?
From the different grapes and blends to growing regions and winemakers (not to mention the best food pairing options), there’s a lot to consider when selecting your perfect red. Here are a few things to bear in mind when tasting.
Grapes
When it comes to grape varieties, you may already know your favourite. If not, understanding what each varietal offers is key. Pinot noir, for example, prefers to grow in cooler temperatures and creates wines with earthy, herbal notes and notable acidity. Shiraz, on the other hand, is mostly grown in moderate and warmer regions, has higher tannins, a little pepper and spice, and forest fruit flavours.
And grapes such as merlot offer something of a middle ground, with medium tannins, acidity and body. Easy-drinking, with a soft finish, merlots are known for their bold, jammy fruits, from cherry to plum and raspberry.
Aroma
Another factor to consider is aroma. From gentle spice to vibrant fruits, a clear, bright aroma is key to a wine’s appeal, and will be dependent on the grape.
Body
Wines range from light to full-bodied. Cabernet sauvignon tends to be at the upper limit, with a higher ABV. However, if you prefer something a little lighter, opt for the likes of pinot noir, which tends to be lighter-bodied and lower in strength.
How should I serve red wine?
This is a matter of contention. A common misconception is that red wine is best served at room temperature. In fact, a few degrees cooler can be better for some styles. Try serving lighter-bodied wines slightly chilled to around 15°C. For a fuller-bodied red, go a little warmer; around 18°C is ideal.
How we test red wine
Our panel — made up of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers — sipped their way through over 70 wines to find the very best. They assessed each wine on its complexity and balance of flavour, as well as its aroma and finish.
So, whether you're stocking up with your favourites, or looking for a new Saturday night go-to, these are the best bottles to buy.
Red
Score: 90/100
Bold and fruity with distinctive notes of black cherry, blackcurrant and plum, testers felt this wine had a lovely depth.
With rich flavours of black olive and tobacco, it would be a great pairing for roast beef.
Club Privado Reserva Rioja
Score: 89/100
Aged for 20 months in American oak, and a further two years in the bottle, this elegant reserva is a beautiful example of a premium rioja.
Brimming with black fruit, a touch of smoke and a hint of liquorice, it was a firm favourite with our testing panel, and a safe choice when stocking up.
Malbec
Score: 89/100
This medium-bodied malbec, which comes from one of Argentina’s oldest family-owned wineries, reflects the vineyard’s desert terroir, with a smooth palate dominated by sweet red fruit, mellow spice and balanced tannins.
Organic Malbec
Score: 89/100
Malbec is a certified crowd-pleaser, and this organic drop is ideal for Valentine's Day. As a medium-bodied red, it’s excellent with turkey, pork and lamb, as well as mushroom-based sauces and blue cheese. Expect forest fruits, a touch of black pepper and subtle spice.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 88/100
Not only did this cabernet sauvignon impress with its powerful palate, bold black fruit, and satisfying vanilla oak, but it's a sustainable choice too. The striking bottle is produced with recycled materials, which makes it a great talking point on the dinner table.
Grenache Vin De France
Score: 87/100
This wine shuns a particular region, instead using grapes from across France to create an easy drinking, well-priced red for everyday. On the nose, there’s a lovely herbaceous element, with tart redcurrant and raspberry coming through on the palate. Try it with stews, steak and soft cheese.
Shiraz
Score: 86/100
Trade in your beloved Aussie shiraz and take a punt on this seriously smooth Portuguese stunner instead. The concentrated, jammy black fruit is undeniable, however this full-bodied red also benefits from the fresh coastal breeze.
Four months in oak adds complexity, via notes of black olive, leather and black pepper and vanilla. Superb!
Cuvée Vieilles Vignes
Score: 86/100
Rich, velvety and spicy, Cabalie is made with fruit from old vines for a concentrated flavour. Although dominated by spicy grenache, there’s also a little carignan in the blend, which adds intense black fruit to complement the lighter redcurrants. Overall, it’s a great match for herb-crusted roast lamb.
Chianti Riserva DOCG
Score: 86/100
Chianti is a classic Italian wine with a loyal following, and for good reason. This hearty, complex red is bursting with raspberries, cherry and a lick of warming spice. Pair with tomato-based dishes or charcuterie.
Seleccion de la Familia Rioja
Score: 86/100
With pronounced cherry, hints of blackcurrant, and spicy black pepper, this is a more youthful style rioja. The vibrant acidity keeps each sip fresh, making this a good table wine for midweek meals.
Rioja Reserva
Score: 85/100
Made from the intensely aromatic graciano grape, testers loved the telltale rich and fruity scent of this reserva. This complexity builds further on the palate, with initial notes of mulberries and leather, supported with the sweet spice and vanilla that comes from oak ageing.
Malbec
Score: 85/100
This impressive red is a steal (a previous vintage was named “Best Malbec of Argentina” at the Wines of Argentina awards). With layers of black fruit, oak, vanilla, a whiff of smoke and a crack of black pepper, if beef is on the menu, this is the wine to pair with it.
Reserve Valle de Uco Bonarda
Score: 85/100
The bonarda grape may not be as well-known as Argentinian malbec, but it’s certainly one to have on your radar. You’ll find a similar fruit-forward palate — think, cherry, redcurrants and blackcurrants — but with added spicy complexity.
The Trilogy Malbec
Score: 84/100
Part of the Tesco Finest range, The Trilogy is made by Catena (widely considered one of Argentina’s top producers), so you know you’re in safe hands here. Pleasingly full-bodied, this bold red will see you through the seasons with warm spicing and a touch of sweet maraschino cherry.
Passione Sentimento Passimento Rosso
Score: 82/100
With black jammy fruit on the nose and notes of spice and forest floor, this Italian merlot-blend is a fantastic example of the 'appassimento’ style of winemaking. Grapes are only picked when they're super ripe, and then left to dry, resulting in a more concentrated flavour.
A real full-bodied beauty with a long silky finish, we'd pair it with roast meat or slow-cooked ragu.
Dogs of the Barossa Shiraz
Score: 81/100
Dominated by damson and dark cherry, if you’re looking for a fruity, dry red, this is it. Black pepper, anise, liquorice and oak keep things moody and interesting. Overall, its well-balanced and full-bodied with a smooth finish.
Rocks Shiraz
Score: 81/100
This shiraz takes a little while to open up, but once it does, you’ll be rewarded with a decadent mix of chocolate, ripe dark fruit, oak, leather and plenty of spice. With depth and complexity, this is one for foodies.
White Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 78/100
Bright and spicy, this wine encapsulates all the flavours you’d hope to find in a good cabernet sauvignon. With thick skins and robust tannins, the grape gives black cherry, blackcurrant, plum, cocoa, menthol and eucalyptus, all of which go handsomely with a good Sunday roast.
M&S Matetic Estela Lunar Pinot Noir
Score: 77/100
Elegant and soft, our panel loved this natural-tasting wine that offers sweet spice, red cherry and a little tobacco. Perfect for a dinner party, it pairs particularly well with a cheeseboard.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 76/100
Mellow and easy-drinking, this Californian red is aged in both French and American oak to give it added complexity. In terms of fruit, there’s blackberry, black cherry and plum, and a little menthol, rounded by a full mouthfeel and some chewy tannins.
Ecology Shiraz Organic
Score: 75/100
Looking to avoid the hangover? An organic bottle of red may be the answer. This biodynamic vineyard takes a hands-off approach, allowing nature to take its course. The result is an aromatic wine, with lashings of spice, juicy red cherry and a touch of chocolate.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 74/100
Containing a blend of cabernet sauvignon grapes from across South Australia, Penfolds has crafted a soft, herbal and fruity red, loaded with vanilla, plum, star anise and a little smoke. Bring out that smoke and pair it with roast beef and all the trimmings.
Extra Special Merlot
Score: 74/100
Pronounced tannins in this merlot lean towards chocolate and vanilla, though you’ll still find the typical plum and blackcurrant. It’s straightforward, but perfectly quaffable.
Private Bin Pinot Noir
Score: 73/100
Villa Maria is a big name in the world of New Zealand wine, and this easy drinking pinot noir impressed the panel with red berries and a hint of mushroom. Perfect with lamb, you could also serve this one slightly cooler on warmer days.
Mud House Pinot Noir
Score: 73/100
Smooth and elegant with a sweet, spicy nose, this fruity pinot noir also has a herbaceous note. It comes from a single vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago region, and would complement duck perfectly.
Veritas Cabernet/Merlot Glasses (set of two)
When it comes to wine glasses, the hand-blown range from Riedel is hard to beat. This versatile set is equally at home as a vessel for both merlot, and cabernet. Chin, chin.
Vinum Syrah/Shiraz Red Wine Glasses (set of two)
If shiraz is your wine of choice, these are the glasses to get the most out of every last sip.
Crystal Elegance Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Glasses (set of two)
The perfect gift for the hard to buy for wine buff — pair with a bottle of our top-rated cabernet sauvignon and await the compliments.
Vinum Pinot Noir Red Wine Glasses (set of two)
Pinot noir benefits from a larger bowl, allowing the aromatic wine to fully develop. These would make an excellent gift for the pinot noir fan in your life.
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