Red wine is an acquired taste, and it took Indians a long time to acquire it. Once acquired, they decided to experiment and grew a sophisticated wine palate. The wine market in India is expanding continuously, bringing better and newer wines to our homes, catering to that sophisticated palate. And we appreciate it. Usually, people think wines are costly but here we will share the best red wine in India under 1000.

Not everyone can afford expensive wines, and India has a selection of good wines that are inexpensive so that everyone can enjoy the taste of the ruby red drink and experience its health benefits. Yes! You read that right! Red wine comes with a lot of health benefits too. For now, listed below are the 10 best red wine in India under 1000.

1. Cabernet Shiraz By Sula
2. Big Banyan Merlot
3. Four Seasons Barrique Reserve Shiraz
4. York Arros
5. Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz
6. Fratelli Sangiovese
7. Seagram’s Nine Hills Shiraz
8. Grover La Reserve
9. Château d’Ori Merlot
10. Krsma Sangiovese

Best Red Wine in India under 1000

1. Cabernet Shiraz by Sula

From – Sula Vineyards, Nashik
Grape Variety – 30% Cabernet Sauvignon + 70% Shiraz
Alcohol Content – 13.5%
Approximate Price – INR 895 for 750 ml

Sula is perhaps the most popular Indian brand, and for a good reason. Sula wines are really good. Cabernet Shiraz is a medium-bodied, smooth red wine that pairs excellently with hard cheese and grilled meats. The colour is deep purple, with a spicy aroma coupled with that of blackberries and blueberries.

Key Features

• Deep purple in colour
• Spicy and smoky aroma
• Fragrance of blackberries and
  blueberries
• Smooth red wine

Food Pairing – Hard cheese and grilled meat

2. Big Banyan Merlot

From – Big Banyan Wines, Bengaluru
Grape Variety – Merlot
Alcohol Content – 13%
Approximate Price – INR 750 for 750 ml

The Big Banyan Merlot is an excellent red wine with velvety soft tannins. This wine is medium-bodied and has a plummy finish, establishing it as one of the fun wines that every wine connoisseur should taste. It has a wholesome, luscious taste and is perfect for a warm evening.

Key Features

• Exemplary red
• Medium-bodied and dry wine
• Has a plummy finish
• Has velvety smooth tannins

Food Pairing – Vegetables, grilled meat, lightly spiced Indian cuisine and pasta

3. Four Seasons Barrique Reserve Shiraz

From – Four Seasons Vineyard, Baramati, Maharashtra
Grape Variety – Shiraz 87%+Cabernet Sauvignon 10%+Viognier 3%
Alcohol Content – 13%
Approximate Price – INR 1000 for 750 ml

This full-bodied red wine with complex notes has earthy and smoky flavours. It is one of the best red wines available in the Indian market. The color is inky violet and has notes of ripe blackberry and plum. When you swirl it, you get an aroma of dry spices and warm fruits.

Key Features

• Full-bodied red wine
• Has earthy and smoky flavours
• One of the best red wines available in the Indian market
• Inky violet color
• Notes of ripe blackberry and plum
• The aroma of dry spices and warm fruits

Food Pairing – Lightly spiced red meat, chargrilled vegetables or mushrooms

4. York Arros

From – York Winery, Nashik
Grape Variety – Shiraz + Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol Content – 14.3%
Approximate Price – INR 950 for 750 ml

York Winery is a family run business and Arros is their flagship wine. It is a blended red wine with a distinct note of dark chili pepper and a delightful aroma of paprika. This smooth wine is aged for 13 months in American and French Oak barrels.

Key Features

• Blended red wine
• A distinct note of dark chilli pepper
• The delightful aroma of paprika
• Aged for 13 months in American and French Oak barrels

Food Pairing – Spicy Indian food, kebabs, steaks, chocolates and cheese

5. Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz

From – Dindori Estate, Sula Vineyards, Nashik
Grape Variety – Shiraz blend
Alcohol Content – 13.5%
Approximate Price – INR 750-900 for 750 ml

This is a full-bodied dry red wine, which is a blend of 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 95% Shiraz. It has flavours of smoky vanilla, blueberries, cocoa and prune. The wine is aged in American oak barrels and is best served at 16 degrees C. It is for people who like spicy and rich wines and peaty whiskies.

Key features

• Full-bodied dry red wine
• Flavours of smoky vanilla,
  blueberries, cocoa and prune
• Best served at 16 degrees C

Food Pairing – Indian curries, any meat, barbeque mutton, cheddar and gouda cheese

6. Fratelli Sangiovese

From – Fratelli Wines, Akluj, Maharashtra
Grape Variety – Sangiovese
Alcohol Content – 12.5%
Approximate Price – INR 1000 for 750 ml

This red wine has light oaky notes and offers the perfect balance of acid and sweetness on the palate. It is a well-balanced wine with a good finish and can be cellared for almost 2 years.

Key Features

• Light oaky notes
• Perfect balance of acid and sweetness on the palate
• Well balanced
• Good finish
• Can be cellared for almost 2 years

Food Pairing – Lamb Biryani, Masala Fish, Mushroom Risotto, Sticky Pork Ribs and Gorgonzola

7. Seagram’s Nine Hills Shiraz

From – Seagram’s Nine Hills, Nashik Valley Maharashtra
Grape Variety – Shiraz
Alcohol Content – 10-14%
Approximate Price – INR 565 for 750 ml

This wine is deep red with a hint of violet. It has notes of strawberries and cherries.

Key Features

• Deep red color with a hint of violet
• Notes of strawberry and cherries

Food Pairing – Barbeques and meat

8. Grover La Reserve

 

From – Grover Zampa Vineyards, Doddaballapura, Karnataka
Grape Variety – Shiraz + Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol Content – 14%
Approximate Price – INR 1000 for 750 ml

This is a full-bodied, complex and smooth red wine with notes of ripe black and red fruits and a spicy aroma. It has flavors of coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla on the palate as an aftertaste. Best served at 16-18 degrees C.

Key Features

• Full-bodied, complex and smooth red wine
• Notes of ripe black and red fruits with a spicy aroma
• Flavours of coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla on the palate as an aftertaste

Food Pairing – Any kind of meat

9. Château d’Ori Merlot

From – Chateau d’ori, Nashik Valley,
Grape Variety – Merlot
Alcohol Content –
Approximate Price – INR 700 for 750 ml

This red wine is ruby red in colour and produced by the Chateau d’ori. It gets additional flavor from being stored in oak barrels. The aroma is intense and the flavor is strong. It has notes of blackcurrant, vanilla, blackberry and cherry.

Key Features

• Ruby red colour
• Stored in oak barrels
• Intense aroma
• Strong flavour
• Notes of blackcurrant, vanilla, blackberry and cherry

Food Pairing – All barbeques and meats

10. KRSMA Sangiovese

From – KRSMA Estate, Hampi, Karnataka
Grape Variety – Sangiovese
Alcohol Content – 13.6%
Approximate Price – INR 1000 for 750 ml

This red wine has an initial aroma of juicy red fruits, followed by spiciness. It is a good balance of acidity and sweetness, giving a good finish. It is mellow tasting and has notes of clove and cherries.

Key Features

• The initial aroma of juicy red fruits, followed with the spiciness
• Good balance of acidity and sweetness
• Good finish
• Mellow tasting
• Notes of clove and cherries

Food Pairing – Chicken tomato tartlets and Hummus bi Lahm

How to Choose a Good Wine

• For novices, it is best to start with a bottle of rose wine. As your palate gets used to the wine, you can begin experimenting with dry reds and those with distinctive flavours.
• Consider your preferred flavours. Your taste preferences will be extended to your wine preferences too. If, for example, you enjoy sweetness, then it is likely that you will have a preference for a sweeter wine. If your taste tends towards bitter coffee, then you are likely to prefer acidic wines.
• Occasions are another matter of consideration. Are you enjoying your glass with friends or are you going to have it with a meal? These are questions you need to ask yourself.
• Get past the beautiful fonts, that attractive bottle and the attractive illustrations. Read what is on the label and understand the information. The label will have information about the winery, the grape variety, the percentage of alcohol, year of harvest and a short description of the wine.
• Get past the wine’s age because older wines are not necessarily always the best. There are many factors at play here but understand that most wines should be drunk within 5 years of purchase.

Conclusion

The Indian market is at a nascent stage. The concept of vintage is still missing here. However, the quality of Indian wine is steadily improving as wineries are getting better. These wines are not just affordable but also cellar worth. A tip that a connoisseur has for novices is to decant them for at least an hour or two before serving them.