Some nights call for a big red. Full-bodied wine is all about weight and presence, the kind of glass that fills your mouth and stands up to serious food.

Body is a wine's sense of weight and richness, driven by ripeness, alcohol and tannin. A full-bodied red feels dense and mouth-coating, with dark fruit, firm structure and a long, warming finish. It is the opposite of a light, chillable red, and it wants a plate of something equally bold.

The Big-Fruited Powerhouses

Australian Shiraz and Argentine Malbec are the classic crowd-pleasers, full of ripe black fruit, spice and velvety texture. They deliver instant, generous impact and rarely put a foot wrong with a steak or a stew.

Power With Structure

For weight with more grip and complexity, look to old-vine Californian Zinfandel or the tar-and-roses power of Barolo. These wines carry their body on a frame of firm tannin and acidity, which is what lets them age and keeps them from feeling heavy.

Full-bodied red is about presence, not just power. Decant it, pour it with rich food, and let all that weight work in your favour.