Dry Red Wine: What the Label Has to Mean

Updated June 2026

Dry is residual-sugar talk, not a TTB red-wine type. Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah/Shiraz are grapes or names, not a dryness crown. Official residual-sugar grams unused as a ranking. OIV g/L is optional, not TTB. Typical US table lots sit near 12–14% Semi-sweet and dessert wine are different bottles. A 5-ounce 12% pour is one NIAAA drink. No invented MSRP.

Related: sweet red wine, semi-sweet red, is Malbec sweet.

Dry vs grape

Language Note
Dry Not a type
Red wine Color word
Typical table — neck
Official RS g/L ; OIV ≠ TTB

Read the neck. Pair: Syrah vs Shiraz.

Sources

  • 27 CFR Part 4 / 4.21 / 4.34. Official RS unused. Typical 12–14%
  • NIAAA December 2025. OIV g/L optional, not TTB.

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