Any wine enthusiast will tell you that wine collecting is not just acquiring ANY wine. Beyond preference, wine collectors acquire wine bottles which will make their collection unique from others. Most of the time, the wine collection is deemed substantial, if not complete, when essential wines are already stacked sideways in one’s custom wine cellar.

For wine collectors and enthusiasts who are fond of inviting guests over for dinner or hosting wine tasting parties, it is a must to have some essential wines in your wine cellar. This is because one should be ready to have a particular wine on hand to pair with a particular dish or menu.

One cannot just pull out randomly any bottle from the wine cellar. Doing so will neither enhance nor complement the dishes served. Worse, it may ruin the gustatory experience. Below is a list of red wines that wine collectors must include their custom wine room and their characteristics.

Must-Have Red Wines in Vancouver Wine Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular among red wines. It originated from Bordeaux, France but is now grown in many wine producing regions around the world.

It is full bodied with dark fruity flavors. The variation in flavor is dependent on the region where the grapes are harvested.

Cabernet sauvignon has the characteristics of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, warm spice, and black cherry. As it is full bodied, it is best paired with red meats, pasta in heavy red sauce, lamb dishes, rich flavored cheeses, and sometimes, dark chocolates.

Merlot is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux region in France. It is used as a blending grape but it can also be used as a varietal of wine. It is dark blue in color and has fruity flavors similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.

However, Merlot wines are generally medium bodied and have fruity flavors of cherries, blueberries, blackberries, plum with black pepper, and cocoa tones.