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Red blends have been around since wine began. This catch-all term applies to red wines made with two or more grape varieties blended together, which often helps create a balanced, complex wine. In Europe, the specific components of each blend are often dictated by appellation systems, so each region has its own traditional style: Bordeaux blends typically feature some combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, whereas blends from the Southern Rhône showcase Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (commonly referred to as a GSM blend).

In countries outside Europe, there aren’t strict rules dictating which grapes should go in which wines. In the U.S., the red blend category is a testament to our pioneering spirit and boundless creativity. It allows winemakers to take risks with blending grapes and, when successful, create something never seen before. There are examples of this in the list we compiled below, in unexpected combinations like Zinfandel and Pinot Noir from Sonoma or Lemberger and Saperavi from the Finger Lakes.

As the category evolves and matures, we’re seeing a new generation of innovative winemakers experimenting with red blends in South Africa, Australia, and even Peru. Here are 26 of the best red blends to try in 2025.

Why You Should Trust VinePair
How We Taste
How We Compiled This List
Best Value Red Blend
Best Splurge Red Blend
Best Red Blends Under $25
Best Red Blends Under $50
Best Red Blends Under $100
Best Red Blends Over $100
FAQs

Why You Should Trust VinePair

Every year, VinePair conducts dozens of tastings for our “Buy This Booze” product roundups, highlighting the best bottles across the world’s most popular wine and spirits categories.

Within this scope, VinePair’s tasting and editorial staff samples thousands of bottles every year. This ensures we have a close eye on what’s new and exciting. Crucially, it also provides us with the context needed to distinguish the simply good from the truly great, whether from a quality or value-for-money perspective — or both.

Ultimately, our mission is to offer a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking. Learn more about VinePair’s tastings and reviews department here.

How We Taste

We believe in tasting all products as our readers typically would: with full knowledge of the producer and — importantly — price. Our tastings are therefore not conducted blind.

VinePair’s tasting panel evaluates every wine on its aromas, flavors, structure, balance, and quality. We also consider whether or not the wine showed typicity for its specific grape or region.

How We Compiled This List

In order to provide our readers with the most comprehensive and thoroughly tested list of the best red blends to buy, VinePair invited producers, distributors, and PR firms working on their behalf to send samples for consideration. These bottles were submitted free of charge — producers didn’t pay to submit nor did VinePair pay for the products. All were requested with the clear understanding that submission does not guarantee inclusion in the final list.

For the red blends roundup, we assigned a score to each product on a 100-point scale based upon the quality and intensity of its aromas, flavors, texture, and finish. Then we reviewed all scores and compiled an editorially driven list that meets our criteria of 26 best red blends to buy right now. Each wine was assessed on quality, price, and availability to compile the final list.

Best Value Red Blend

Le Chant Rouge 2020

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Keep an eye out for South Africa when shopping for red blends. Outside of the U.S. this wine region is really coming through with expressive, balanced blends. They are often a great introduction to the style, delivering soft, approachable wines with ample fruit and structure, often in the weekday wine price range.

Le Chant keeps it simple. It makes one red and one white, showing off the Stellenbosch style with a touch of French flair. This delicious kitchen-sink blend that features Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc with smaller inclusions of Shiraz, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Petit Verdot has a lively nose with savory green bell pepper and black pepper notes running through the dense fruit. The palate offers brambly berry notes and more herbaceous tones with a well-balanced mouthfeel.

Average Price: $22
Rating: 93

Table Of Contents

Why You Should Trust VinePair

How We Taste

How We Compiled This List

Best Value Red Blend

Le Chant Rouge 2020

Best Splurge Red Blend

Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion Napa Valley Red Wine 2021

Best Red Blends Under $25

Damiani Wine Cellars Sole e Terra 2021

Best Red Blends Under $50

Newfound Wines Gravels Red Wine 2022

Bumgarner Winery Elle 2020

Copain Estate Red Wine 2022

Ridge Vineyards Frediani Ranch 2022

Boschendal Black Angus 2021

Viñas Queirolo Intipalka No. 1 Gran Reserva 2019

JMC Cellars Livermore Valley Vintners Collective Red Blend 2021

Best Red Blends Under $100

J. Lohr Cuvée ST. E 2022

Old Westminster Winery Anthem 2021

Château Malherbe Rouge 2022

Element Winery ‘The Element’ 2019

Las Jaras Wines Enz Vineyard Red 2021

Nalle Winery Zinot Noir 2022

Benziger Family Winery ‘Winemakers Claret’ 2021

Kiona Vineyards Estate Bottled Red Mountain Reserve 2022

The Walls Vineyards Mahana 2022

Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos 2021

Macari Vineyards Bergen Road 2021

Pambrun Chrysologue 2021

Merriam Vineyards Miktos 2021

Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella 2022

Best Red Blends Over $100

Vasse Felix Tom Cullity 2020

Robert Mondavi Winery To Kalon The Reserve Red Blend 2021

FAQs

What is a Red Blend?

What Varieties Are Typically Used in a Red Blend?

The 26 Best Red Blends for 2025