Since everyone *loved* the white wine iceberg I made to help people exploring this hobby, I'm back with a red wine version. The perspective is from the US market, because that's where I live. I didn't say that last time and it upset some people. Please feel free to comment from your local perspective.
How to use it? Well, the wine types above the water level are pretty widely available and are the introductory point for most US drinkers. As you go below the water, you get wines that are perhaps less available, less obvious, but potentially even more enjoyable and worth the hunt.
I'm sure I missed something! Let me know what you'd add, or where you'd change the positioning. Hopefully folks will be able to use this to decide where to look next!
by Potion_Collector
40 Comments
I would change USA cab to Napa cab then put some other form of cab below burg
Is this based on actual market data? Because USA red blends are much bigger category than left bank Bordeaux or Spanish garnacha
If we’re going to sort this by popularity, would you really put single varietal Garnacha over Rioja or Tempranillo in general?
Tempranillo outnumbers Garnacha 4 to 1 (wikipedia says 201,051 hectares in Spain vs 57,907 hectares), and Tempranillo is far more commonly used in the popular Spanish appellations.
✨🇿🇦 **_Pinotage mentioned_** 🇿🇦✨
Drank a lot of Teran on my honeymoon….very glad to see that making the cut!
Touriga Nacional and Dao Red representing ❤️
Where’s my Porto?
I would probably put Australian Shiraz and USA Merlot at the top and put left bank and pains ganache below. I would probably exchange Chianti for the Malbec too
Missing finger lakes red
No sagrantino?
All I’m gonna say is Pinotage is down there for a reason
I would also move Spanish Garnacha below and put general Tuscany above. There’s a huge Italian diaspora throughout the word that drinks a lot of Italian wine and that’s why the vast majority of Chianti and other classic top tier Tuscany DOP wines are so heavily exported
Pinotage has sunk it’s not in the iceberg
Côte de Beaune is part of Côte d’Or. Did you mean Côte de Nuits instead of d’Or?
Pinotage should be way way way higher. It’s often the first foray into wine at bars as it’s usually the cheapest option. Especially for college places.
Perricone is next to the Titanic.
Me and my Petit Verdot will be over here on the sofa trying to mingle with the cool kids.
I do feel like Etna Rosso’s been getting a lot of love in recent years (for good reason).
I’ll echo the other thought Garnacha would be lower than tempranillo. There’s always some cheap rioja wine in a store.
Where would you put cinsault on this list?
I would put Australian shiraz and red zins above the surface. Côtes du Rhône too.
I think Barbera deserves a mention.
The Sangiovese delegation would like to have a word.
Where’s my boy Petit Verdot?
Carignan!!
I’m not sure “Argentine Malbec” at the top and “Patagonian Malbec” at the bottom makes a lot of sense to me.
Where’s Washington cab franc? What about any petite Syrah?
Pinotage is right where it belongs. On the bottom.
Maybe New Zealand rather than Australian Pinot Noir?
Greek Xinomavro!
Having found my love of wine in Australia, at least those relevant mentions track. Aussie Cab Sav, bang for the buck, surpasses anything I’ve had in the States since I moved back 18 months ago. I so wish I could find Aussie Pinot Noir over here, especially from Tasmania…. Strawberries and creammmmm….
I see pinotage at the bottom of the ocean where it belongs.
Never ever had a South African Bordeaux blend. Sounds fire. Producer recommendations?
NZ pinot noir so light it floated off the top of the frame
No Barolo or Barbaresco and you’ve lost me
You have primitivo and zinfandel on there. They’re the same grape.
Drank a lot of fucking malbec tonight. You’re not making me feel special by posting this shit.
No Pineau d’Aunis?
Looks almost exactly like my local market, although I’d probably switch Pintotage and Xinomavro. There is no Xinomavro here. I can find a few bottles of Pinotage that are cheap, but not bad. Would probably put Petit Sirah and Cote Chalonnaise up a bit higher too, but I don’t know what I’d switch them out with.
Did I miss Cahor?
Shiraz and Zin should absolutely be above water, and Garnacha should be lower than Rioja.
Chianti??