Apothic Inferno Wine Review

ByJon Rogers Updated

Apothic Inferno Wine

Apothic Inferno is a new Apothic wine that has come out as a small batch limited release.

SEE BOTTOM OF REVIEW FOR A 2019 RELEASE UPDATE

According to the bottle, Apothic Inferno is a red blend from California that has been aged in whiskey barrels for 60 days.

I’ve reviewed all the other Apothic Wine brands as well.  Here they are:

Apothic White (A white wine blend.)

Apothic Red (Apothic Wine first released this red blend.)

Apothic Dark (A red blend that’s very novel in taste.)

Apothic Crush (Apothic’s most previous release to Apothic Inferno.  I enjoyed this more than Apothic Dark.)

Apothic Rose (Apothic’s foray into Rose.)

Apothic Brew (A red wine blend infused with coffee.)

Apothic Inferno Review

From the bottle:

A new blend emerges from the flame of a time-honored craft, creating a most unexpected and masterful encounter.

I tasted the 2014 vintage of Apothic Inferno.

Appearance

When poured, this wine exhibits a dark, cherry-red color.

Having gotten used to their often dark wines, I was a but surprised that this wine does let a decent amount of light come through.

The wine’s legs are slow to form, but once they start to drip they move down the glass pretty quick.  Although I did notice that some seemed to just hang on the glass and never started their journey south.

Aroma

The wine’s aroma is not immediately noticeable upon pouring, although you do get a few subtle whiffs.

Up close I seemed to notice a caramel candy cane meets spicy red fruits kind of aroma.

Different and enjoyable, though maybe a little metallic.

There’s definitely a good sting of alcohol in there.  It takes over your senses a bit after the initial aroma is sensed.

Apothic Inferno alcohol content 15.9% by volume, per the bottle.  This is a fairly high alcohol content level for a red wine.

Taste

I must start out by saying that this wine’s taste pushes the envelope of what you’d expect from a red wine’s flavor.

You get a spicy mix of cinnamon, red and black fruits, and a definite maple bourbon note from the whiskey barrel aging.

Very different!

Mouthfeel and Tannins

Apothic Inferno coats your mouth with a one-two punch of silk and spice, making it hard to quantify the texture.

Tannins are more subdued than present.  I didn’t note a specific spot on the palate where they settled.

Finish

It’s definitely a long finishing wine, with the finish being carried by the flavors vs. the tannins.

Overall Opinion

Well, I kept going back for sip after sip almost to say “What the heck is this?”

However, as I was doing so I was certainly cognizant of the fact that I was enjoying it.

And, the aroma was getting nicer and nicer with less alcohol burn and more caramel on the nose as the wine had a chance to breathe in the big glass I use to taste-test.

Much like Apothics of the past, it’s novel in flavor.  But, having followed the brand so closely, I can see that they’re trying to balance uniqueness with staying power.

I saw that in Apothic Crush, in that it wasn’t so unique that you would only want it once in awhile.

I think they’re accomplishing the same thing with Apothic Inferno, but introducing the whiskey barrel aging in order to make it stand out amongst the cacophony of red blends out there these days.

So, bottom line, I really enjoyed it and I would drink it again.

Give it a go, but be prepared…  it stands alone in its unique flavor.

Apothic Inferno price $12.99.

Apothic Inferno Wine Review Pinterest Pin

Suggested Food Pairing

Given this wine’s spice and ability to stand on its own, I would pair this with honey glazed barbecued ribs.

SPECIAL UPDATE 2019: While previously a limited release, Apothic Inferno appears to be a permanent addition to the Apothic wines family.

Over the past several months I’ve been seeing it at most wine stores and local shops and it appears to be in full supply.

How about you?  Are you seeing this in your local area as a full time release?  Let us know in the comments, below.

Jon Rogers

Hi, I'm Jon! Back in 2012 I started Honest Wine Reviews to share my reviews of wine and wine clubs. Fast forward to today and my reviews have been viewed over 1.9M times. I've reviewed over 200 wines, so be sure check for a review before making your next purchase!

70 Comments

  1. I am not a big fan of wine. When a friend bought a bottle of this for me I was very reluctant to try it. Honestly the whiskey aging thing is the only thing that convinced me to try it.

    Because of this wine I have had to try every other apothic wine available. For the very first time I liked a wine. I would recommend this to anyone who likes whiskey.

    Had it with garlic and bacon croquettes. It almost overwhelmed them. I would recommend pairing it with something with a intense flavor.

    Reply

  2. I have just discovered the Apothic Inferno. I’m not a big wine drinker. Two glasses is it for me. Well, that went out the window when I opened the bottle of Inferno. I drank the whole bottle! I found it yummy and different. My Darlin’ even mentioned how much I was enjoying it. I do enjoy the Apothic line of wines. This was the first time I saw the Inferno. Well today, I went out and bought 4 bottles and dropped one off at my neighbors. I will be keeping this on hand. Very enjoyable!

    Reply

  3. This is my new favorite red wine. I’m not an expert when it comes to wine, but I really enjoy this wine with my food and I’m glad to see it will be permanently available.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for commenting, much appreciated!

      I think this has become their most popular wine and I’d be surprised if they discontinued it at this point.

      Cheers! Jon

      Reply

  4. Hey Jon! Found your review of my favorite wine on Pinterest and I think you were “spot on” with this blend. My wife and I found this wine while living in GA last summer and fell in love with it! I’m not keen on fruitiness so I found this one perfect with the spice overtones.
    Now that I’ve found you, I will have to check out some of your other reviews!
    Paul from Mississippi

    Reply

    1. Glad you found me, Paul!

      Thanks for clicking over from Pinterest.

      Always great to find a wine you love and glad my review was on the mark for you.

      Cheers!
      Jon

      Reply

  5. I finally open the 2016 bottle my step-son Gabe me for Christmas and am absolutely delighted with this wine. I got more of the spice than I did Bourbon. I would definitely buy this again, and found your review while googling to see where I might pick up another bottle. Love it!

    Reply

  6. I’m very much into Whiskey and Bourbon, not so much into wines though. I also like to enjoy a cigar when I embibe. However, when only wine is present I tend to enjoy a Pinot Noir, though I don’t purposely stock other wines and outside of the Inferno they’re usually gifted to me for some reason. Long ago it seems, cruising the isles at a local supermarket, it was the label that jumped out at me, because… fire! =) Once I read about it being finished in Whiskey barrels I was sold! I’ve been a fan ever since the 2015 edition came out. I spend more time than I probably should searching for cases to purchase, I even have friends scoping them out and buying whatever is available! I don’t think it helps living in the wine country of the SF Bay Area, the wine shelves are usually very crowded for unique wines like Inferno. Although, I do have half a dozen cases but I’m getting nervous that my supply might be getting low!

    I LOVE this wine and It may seem forbidden, but a whiskey stone or two makes the wine slightly chilled and perfect for consumption.

    Reply

  7. I have to say up front that I’m a bourbon fan, I also like very hearty and rich red wines. My neighbor, who is also a bourbon fan shared a bottle with me. I was very surprised by it. When he told me what he was going to be sharing, I had no idea what to expect never having tasted anything as he described. It was a flavor explosion for me. The smokey barrel flavor was just so unique I couldn’t stop sipping. I would sip and try to take in all the flavors to see if I could determine what I was actually tasting. It’s a very complex blend of flavors. I can definitely see someone not being a repeat customer since the flavors are so unique. I, for one, will be a repeat and buy it whenever I can find it. Its uniqueness is its greatness. Sitting around the firepit on a cool autumn evening with a glass of this unique creature is a perfect blend!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment Todd!

      Reading it took me back to my own experience with this wine, sipping it over and over again and trying to process it all.

      Great review and thanks again… Cheers!
      Jon

      Reply

  8. This is the best wine I’ve experienced! My wife and I love it and are now down to only a couple bottles left. Bought 2 cases and have enjoyed it weekly for the past 6 months. Waiting to hear of the next release.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for commenting Andrew!

      According to their website, it’s back for a limited time. However, it’s been out of stock at the places I’ve checked.

      So, time to keep an eye out for it!

      Cheers! Jon

      Reply

  9. I love, love, love this wine. I am a brandy drinker so I enjoyed the spice and the warmth of the wine. I agree with a previous reviewer that there is a hint of butterscotch. I paired it with cooking dinner . I will purchase again. I’m pretty sure this is a you “like it or you hate it” kind of wine!

    Reply

  10. My honest review is that this stuff is terrible. The original was terrible, and the latest abominations even moreso.

    In any case, since their wines are infused with oodles of residual sugar*, I doubt that any marketing concept is too off the wall for them to try to sell. Soon, I expect that Apothic will bring to market coffee, jalepeno, or malt liquor infused wines. Another possibility is that they’ll try regionally inspired versions like moon pie or fried bologna flavors.

    * Yes, for those of you who claim to not like “sweet” wine, I’ve got news for you… the Apothic wines typically have anywhere from 5 to 7 times the amount of unfermented residual sugar that a truly dry wine has. So next time someone offers a German Riesling, you should consider trying it. If it’s from a good producer, it’ll likely be far better than anything from Apothic (or Barefoot, or Yellowtail, etc).

    Reply

  11. Is this wine Gluten Free? I have celiac and I am worried about it being aged in whisky barrels. Anyone with Celiac drink this?Any reaction?

    Thank you,

    Reply

  12. I just got a bottle of the Apothic Inferno 2015, and this is by far the nastiest wine I have ever tasted. I just poured the bottle down the drain. I have never tasted ANYTHING like it before. The Absolute worst. This tasted so bad that I want to stop drinking wine for a while

    Reply

  14. Well these comments are very interesting. I have enjoyed Apothic Brand wines for a couple of years now. I especially enjoy Apothic Crush. While at my package store this week I saw a display for Apothic Inferno. I have never seen or heard of this blend before. I purchased a bottle for when it gets a bit more fall like here in New England. But funny enough, the vintage for the bottle I purchased is 2015! I hope it was stored correctly and that it will taste as good as all of the people commenting here say it does. Also, I found this site as I was looking for reviews for this wine. Cheers.

    Reply

    1. Hey Jenny so glad you found my site!

      Thanks for commenting. The 2015 vintage came out in September 2017. It’s their second release and it’s also a limited release, much like the 2014 vintage released in 2016.

      I’ve tried the 2015 and found it to be consistant with the 2014.

      Cheers to a fellow New Englander! Jon

      Reply

  17. Apothic Inferno dried up to quick. I was able to get 8 bottles but they went quickly. I was approached by a fellow wine drinker that purchased several cases and was offered a sealed case for $360. Is anyone still holding on to a few that would be available at a cheaper price or is this the going price?

    Reply

    1. I saw an ad on Kijiji where the person was asking $60.00/bottle. Good luck with that. I think if you can get it for $30.00/bottle, go for it. Personally, there are a lot of good wines out there for way less than that even. Your choice, I will wait for the next release and enjoy some other wines out there.

      Reply

  18. I LOVE the Apothic Inferno! The other Apothic varieties are good, but too subtle for me. I haven’t found another inexpensive bottle I like as much as Inferno, which is a shame, bc it seems to be nearly impossible to find right now. I’m hearing they’ll re-release it in July.

    Reply

  19. Sorry about sending the message to you & bothering you, yikes. After writing it, I realized I wasn’t writing to Apothic, but too late as I’d already sent it. I wonder if I was looking at a fake Apothic bottle at the grocery store here in CA, named “Smart and Final”, or else I got the name wrong. But it had an actual Middle Ages type photo on the label. It was really cool, but oh well….. Thanks for your reply.

    Fran

    Reply

  20. If you love bourbon and red wine then this is a perfect blend for you. I found this today at our local grocery and bought two bottles. I am a fan of the other Apothic blends and found this to be my favorite.

    The flavor is like previously described as being like autumn and Halloween. I drank the wine with some bacon cheeses and couldn’t get enough. I usually drink a whole bottle but found just 3/4 of this bottle to be satisfying because of the high alcohol content.

    Even now, as I sit a half hour after drinking it, I find that I am still savoring the taste. The flavor remains on your palate and continues to satisfy long after consumption. I just have to try this with some grilled sirloin hot off the grill. I will enjoy the second bottle in that manner.

    I am so enthralled with this wine that I intend on going back to the grocery tomorrow and picking up no less than six bottles of this. I will age a couple of bottled 6 months plus and see how that goes. Perhaps the remaining 1/4 bottle from tonight will improve even more by tomorrow. I drank mine after chilling in the frig for 30 minutes.

    Reply

    2. I found this review spot on! I loved the long finish and the bourbon taste. I am also a bourbon drinker and red wine drinker, so I felt I had the best of both! The problem is the finish is so long, I keep tasting it and wanting more.
      It is so full bodied, the only food I enjoy it with is steak or smoked gouda. But I enjoy it most evenings when I just want to relax and no food required.

      I just got a wine fridge, so I plan to also see how it ages like this reader indicated. I have not tried it chilled but maybe the next bottle…lol

      Reply

  21. I had a friend of mine buy a few bottles of Inferno. I must say…imagine yourself, sitting in the woods in the mountains, on a cool fall day next to a crackling campfire. Imagine the smell of the burning wood, and smell of the pleasant smoke……so pleasing.

    Now imagine, that’s what you experience, but in your mouth, when you drink Apothic Inferno, it’s like a pleasing, sweet smelling campfire in your mouth, if you can taste a campfire, this is what this wine brings to your palate. I gotta say, this is my favorite red wine ever. If you enjoy the traditional flavor of a red, or merlot, this is NOT for you! If you like the added flavor of aged oak in your wine, with a hint of whiskey/bourbon, which is very enjoyable, by all means, you got to try this.

    Reply

  22. I tend to drink genuine 10 or 20 Year Tawny Port (Taylor Fladgate) or the Apothic Red after aging it for 12-24 months in a cool, dark place. Found out how much the flavor develops with doing this when a bottle rolled under my bed and stayed there until I moved. However, I tried Inferno straight from the shelf and absolutely love it, but I feel aging it for a few months will really help it mellow and develop into an even better wine. Inferno does have a dominant flavor of whiskey – something I enjoy but that will be mixed in reception.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone, Roland.

      It’s great that you allowed the Apothic Red to age. So many wines these days are being sold to drink right away. It’s nice to know that particular wine can improve with age.

      I’d be interested in hearing how Inferno ages, too.

      Cheers! Jon

      Reply

  23. I enjoyed this wine. First sip…it made me think of craft beer that is made in the Fall. Just tastes like the Fall season.

    When I first poured it into the glass, it looked light. I thought uh-oh, I might be missing out on the rich flavors that I’m used to with Apothic. Wrong.

    I cautiously took a sip. Tasted caramel . Another sip…a bit of spice… kept sipping….curious about the tastes I was experiencing. Really enjoyed it. Flavours melded wonderfully.

    Sort of like Halloween toffee candy in wine :)

    Was looking forward to the rest of the bottle tonight. But on reading reviews, I may let it sit a couple of days, to see if flavours mellow as I’ve read.

    I noted the label said Small batch limited release….I will buy it again…

    Reply

  24. Thanks for your detailed review! I can’t wait to try it ( I just bought a bottle :]). Now do we drink it at room temperature or slightly chilled?

    Reply

    1. Hey Veronica, you’re very welcome!

      I had it at room temperature. I tend to taste a wine’s flavors better when it’s not chilled. But, that’s just me.

      A lot of people do like their reds slightly chilled.

      So… It’s totally up to you. :-)

      Reply

      1. Red wine should be enjoyed at room temperature (but what is room temperature?) This come from old European traditions so 68 F or 18 C . This temp will allow the wine to expose its full pallet of flavors (not just its alcohol contents)

        Reply

  25. I have to say, especially after reading the other comments, that I loved the taste of the inferno! I don’t drink whiskey, but can enjoy the flavor of a sip. I buy the regular Apothic and have tried the Dark and the Crush, but the Inferno is my new fave. It definitely has a touch of the whiskey taste, and fires up your throat a bit, but I will be buying more of this. So, more for me since the rest of you don’t seem to like it!!

    Reply

  26. I’m a fan of the Crush, the initial release more than recent. The Dark is ok but haven’t tried the others. This one caught my eye and gave it a try.
    Paired with a Neoplitian style pizza of Italian sausage, pepperoni & portobello mushroom. Just because the food decision was made before the wine purchase. Immediate, spicy but velvety. The nose, carmel-butterscotch. Very interesting but, like you, kept drinking it to figure it out. Decision, I like the uniqueness and will buy more for the fall/winter evening “warming”.

    Reply

  27. So, I love the Apothic line. I have been buying it for years. When I saw Inferno I immediately had to try it since I’m a fan of both wine and whiskey. Let me do a wine review…..

    Appearance and Aroma: No warnings of what is to come.

    Tannins: Not an issue.

    Taste: If there are hints of anything I didn’t notice them over the smoke.

    Finish: Longggggggggg. I was doing the laundry an hour after I finished the bottle and had a strong finish of burnt bacon. Gross.

    Overall Opinion: I will never buy a bottle again. I love buying wine for around 10 bucks and finding good and bad about it. There’s nothing good here. I’ll still buy Apothic and Dark in quantity, and maybe it’s my own taste buds, but Inferno just doesn’t fly. If we see a 2017 vintage I’ll be surprised and worried that the whole vinery went down in flames with it.

    Reply

  28. I have enjoyed all the Apothic wines, so I was disappointed that I did not enjoy this one. I agree with Bonnie that the wine had too much of a whiskey taste and smell. When I first opened the bottle and sniffed it, my first thought was that it smelled like kerosene. I am not a whiskey fan in general, so it was too much for me. I ended up pouring the rest of the bottle out :(

    Reply

  29. Looking forward to trying this wine, especially this Fall. Might be a good one to sip sitting around the bonfire after a hearty dinner. Thanks for featuring it!

    Reply

  30. I hardly ever look up wine reviews but after taking a few sips of this wine I had to see if I could figure out what is so different about it. Your review is spot on. I’m not sure I would purchase it again, but I can see why some might find it enjoyable. Do you happen to know what the blend consists of? I look forward to checking out some of your other reviews. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Glad you found my review helpful! I hope the others are helpful to you as well.

      Apothic didn’t list what the blend consists of on the bottle or on their web site.

      So for now, a mystery.

      Cheers!

      Reply

      3. I LOVE this! Not as harsh as whiskey can be sometimes but not too sweet as some wines tend to be either. I could easily kick back and sip on this fir a while!

        Reply

  31. We also tried this wine recently, since we’ve been fans of the other wines in the Apothic family, particularly Apothic Dark. I do have to say that this is probably my least favorite, perhaps because I’m not really a whiskey fan.

    Both aroma & taste were decidedly “whiskey”, & frankly that’s not what I want to enjoy in a wine.

    We served it with a meal featuring Southwestern-style seasoned duck breasts, & luckily the meal flavors were strong enough to blend (or counteract) with the wine. I really can’t see it paired with anything other than strong-flavored foods.

    Frankly, not something I’ll be buying again. The other Apothic wines are much more enjoyable for us. But again, wine – like food – is a personal thing.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for helping me keep Honest Wine Reviews honest, Bonnie.

      Your comment is much appreciated!

      It will be interesting to see what comes back from everyone on this wine.

      I definitely agree with you on pairing it with strong flavored foods. It could easily overwhelm a lighter dish.

      Cheers!

      Reply

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