RED GRAPE VARIETALS
Most grapes are white inside, even black grapes. Skin color is what will dictate the color of your wine. Blushes are wines that have had short in time contact with their skins. The skin is also what gives wine most of their tannic structure and complexity.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The present king of grapes. It is a small grape with a high skin to juice ratio. It has high acidity and an intense blackcurrent aroma with high levels of tannin. It is a major component of many
Bordeauxs, and is highly recognized in Australia and California, but is grown all over the world.
CABERNET FRANC
Through history, Cabernet Franc has mainly been used as a blending grape. It lends acidity, aroma and strawberry fruit to wines. It is most commonly found in Bordeaux and California Blends. The Loire valley of France and California have produced Cabernet Franc as a varietal with good results
GRENACHE
Grenache is grown in France as a major grape in Chateauneuf du Pape and red Rhone wines. It is also a primary grape used in Spanish Rioja wines. Grenache produces warm, rich spicy wines. Grenache is grown widely outside
Europe, including California and South Africa.
NEBBIOLO
Italy's noblest red grape. It can be traced back to the 1200 AD. Nebbiolo is derived from the word "nebbia", which means fog. Fog is very common in Italy's Piedmonte region, and helps keep the area cool to prevent early
ripening. Nebbiolo makes deep, full bodied and tannic wines of lengthy aging potential. It is the major grape of Italy's Barolo, Barberesco and Gattinara. It is now being grown in limited quantities in the U.S.
MERLOT
Merlot wines are experiencing incredible popularity in the U.S. The wine tends to be soft, luscious and velvety. When young they show considerable lightness and fruit. Merlot is also capable of producing very rich wines that can be aged for a long time. Merlot is found in many wines of the Bordeaux, most notably Chateau Petrus in
Pommerol. It is widely grown in the U.S. as well as Australia and South America.
PINOT NOIR
Is the famed grape of both Champagne and Burgundy. When grown and produced properly, it can make an
incredibley rich and velvety wines. It gives a floral aroma with red berry and cherry flavors. Pinot noir is grown in Burgundy, Champagne, Italy (Pinot Nero), Oregon, Washington, and California. |
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ZINFANDEL
America's grape, Zinfandel is thought to have originated from the Primativo of Southern Italy. Zinfandels offers huge, ripe
raspberry flavors. They can be light and fruity or big, brambly and tannic. These grapes are also used to produce blush wines, most commonly the White Zinfandel. Most production of Zinfandel is in California
SANGIOVESE
This is the major grape used in making Chiani. Sangiovese gives wine a floral and herbal aroma with a taste of ripe cherries. Sangiovese is also the predominant grape in Brunello and
Montepulciano. Sangiovese is being produced as a pure varietal in Italy and California with promising
results
BARBERA
A northern Italian Varietal. It makes medium bodied, fruity wines of deep purple color. It is a wine meant to be drunk young, but a very few seem to age gracefully.
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CORVINA
This is the prominent grape used in Italy's Bardalino, Valpollicello and Amarones. Corvina has a thick skin which gives the wine their great color. Corvina has a fresh, fruity character when young, but gains richness and complexity when dried for Amarones.
MOURVEDRE
Grown extensively in France's Rhone region, it is a component of Chateauneuf Du Pape and Cote Du Rhone wines. Mourvedre, known as Mataro in Australia is widely grown for blending. Some California winery are using it as a pure varietal with some success.
MALBEC
Traditionally used as a blending grape in Bordeaux and California Red blends, it is gaining popularity as a varietal in South America.
Malbec light to medium bodied with notes of licorice and black plum. Most Malbecs from Chile and Argentina tend to be well balanced, easy to drink and a great value.
PINOTAGE
A Pinot Noir and Cinsult cross developed in the early 1900's. Pinotages are generally rustic hearty wines, that are meant to be drunk young. Pinotage is a bench mark grape of South Africa.
PRIMITIVO
Many believe this to be the ancestor of California's Zinfandel. It offers the same ripe raspberry flavors. Primitivo is primarily grown in Italy's Apulia Region (the boot heel).
NEGRAMARO
This is the grape that makes the ripe and robust Salice Salentino. These wine can be consumed young, but they age very well, becoming rich and mellow. This grape is primarily grown in Italy's Apulia region (the boot heel).
XYNOMAVRO
This grape is used in many Greek wines. Xyno means Acid, and Mavro means Black. This wine is very dark and rich.
TOURIGA NACIONAL
This grape is the best of the Port grapes, but it also makes good red wines. Wines made from Touriga Nacional are rich, fruity and tannic wines that can age very well.
TEMPRANILLO
This is the most important grape in Spain's Rioja. Tempranillo makes wines that are long lived with good finesse and complexity. Tempranillo is also starting to gain popularity in some Argentinean wines.
VERDELHO TINTO
This is the grape behind Sicily's Maderia.
DOLCETTO
Is a plump grape with low acid. The wines made from Docetto are similar to Barberas, they are light to medium body with a deep purple color.
SYRAH / SHIRAZ
This variety's name is derived from the capital of Fars, a province of Iran. Some believe this grape originated in Persia, in 600 BC. Syrah wines are big, rich, tannic wines with good fruit and balance. Syrah is a principle grape in Red Rhone and Chateauneuf Du Pape wines of France. This wine has seen increasing popularity due to the high quality varietal Syrahs produced by Australia and California.
GAMAY
Gamay produces wines that are light, fruity and very easy to consume ( some say gulpable). The wine is
generally meant to be drunk very young, there are a few notable exceptions that may be aged for 8 to 10 years. The best Gamay is produced in the granite hills of Beaujolais. |
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