Smooth, easy-drinking, soft red wines come into their own on a cool night. With fruity flavours, they are low in tannins and are a popular choice for a red wine novice. Here are the soft reds to enjoy over a leisurely meal with good company. Wine writer Joelle Thomson shares some of the best on offer.

Soft reds

If you’re dabling with red wine, a soft red is for you. Think aromatic, with the aroma of juicy red fruit flavours, like cherry, plum and berry, in varieties like Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Gamay (Beaujolais), as well as some Malbecs and Grenaches. Soft red wines are very easy to drink, perfect for a less experienced red wine drinker because they don't have the bold tannin flavours famous in fuller-bodied reds. Read on to find a soft red to cosy up with on a winter evening.

Mora Pinot Noir, $52

This wine is something special; it’s soft, seductive, fruit-forward and complex. A 2022 Central Otago Pinot Noir from a family-owned vineyard. It has a fruity twist, with a savoury aroma of smoked cedar, and gentle spice which gives it a light earthy tinge. With the aroma of ripe plums, which brings depth and deliciousness to this outstanding wine from Mora, which in Latin means to linger, to take pause - precisely what you will do sipping this wow red.

Graze with: Salmon on rye, or goat cheese and seeded crackers

Dine with: Seared tuna, roasted beets, grilled fennel, and sauteed greens. Or for vegetarians, it pairs well with stuffed mushrooms and truffle-laced risotto.

Rating: 18.5/20

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Main Divide Pinot Noir, $26

Main Divide Pinot Noir punches above its price with its silky mouthfeel, smooth dark plum and cherry aromas, and a pinch of spice. This bright 2023 ruby colour is brimming with vitality and evokes the impressive Southern Alps, the backbone of the South Island, North Canterbury, where these grapes are exclusively grown.

Graze with: Smoked mushroom paté or a smooth blue cheese with crackers

Dine with: Slow-cooked venison ragu. For vegetarians, a spicy mushroom pie with seasonal greens

Rating: 18.5/20

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Maravedi Tempranillo, $17

Tempranillo is Spain’s answer to a big, soft, smooth red wine, in both its structure and ability to age well. Maravedí, the name of an ancient Spanish coin, blends tradition and value with organic red. A gorgeous spicy wine, it’s bursting with red fruit aromas like blackberries and strawberries spiked with freshly ground black pepper. This fabulous buy is a blend of Tempranillo and Syrah, and is a delicious drop to serve with any tomato-based dishes, either fresh or slow-cooked.

Graze with: Fresh tomatoes and aged cheddar

Dine with: Slow-cooked chicken with smoked pancetta and tomatoes. For vegetarians, a tomato and courgette Ratatouille

Rating: 17.5/20