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BASICS GRAPE VARIETIES
Barbera - Red wine grape. Country - Italy. Characteristics - High in acid, low in tannin, medium to full body, deep garnet color. Brunello - Red wine grape. Country - Italy. Characteristics - Medium acidity, medium to high tannin, full body, dark fruit flavors. A clone of the Sangiovese grape, it is also called Sangiovese Grosso.
Bual - White wine grape. Country - Portugal. One of Madeira's four recognized grape varieties and considered the richest in flavor.
Cabernet Franc - Red wine grape. Country - France originally, now found world wide. Characteristics - High in acid, medium tannin, high in fruit aromas and fruit flavors, medium body. Used in most "Bordeaux" blends in small percentages and blended with other varieties to increase aroma and acidity.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Red wine grape. Country - France originally, now the predominate grape variety in almost every warm growing region in the world. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, high in tannin, flavors include black currant, dark berry, dark cherry, wood such as cedar, tobacco and even leather. The grape is a cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Carignane - Red wine grape. Country - World wide. Characteristics - High yield, medium acidity, high tannin, high alcohol content, deep purple color with red fruit and sometimes peppery flavors.
Carmenere - Red wine grape. Country - France, now growing in popularity in Chile, Washington, Oregon and California. Characteristics - Low acidity, low tannin, soft red and black fruit flavors. Does not age well.
Chardonnay - White wine grape. Country - France, now the world. Characteristics - Low to medium acidity, flavors ranging from vanilla, butter, through lemon grass and grapefruit, depending upon the type of fermentation and time spent in oak.
Chenin Blanc - White wine grape. Country - France, California and South Africa. Characteristics - High acidity, very fragrant aromas with crisp fruit flavors.
Columbard - White wine grape. Country - France, California. Characteristics - High acidity, fresh, crisp flavors of grapefruit and/or lemon, used more for blending nowadays.
Gamay - Red wine grape. Country - France, California. Characteristics - High acidity, low tannins, low alcohol, flavors of cherry or black cherry. Wines made with Gamay grapes do not age well and should be consumed within a year or two.
Gewurztraminer - White wine grape. Country - France, Germany, New Zealand, Chile and the west coast of the USA. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, with aromas of flowers and spicy flavors.
Grenache - Red wine grape. Country - France, Spain, USA and Australia. Characteristics - Medium acidity, medium tannins, very fruity flavors and generally light in body and color. Australia makes big, full bodied wines from the grape, which usually blended with other varietals.
Malbec - Red wine grape. Country - France, Argentina, USA. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, medium tannins, very spicy flavors. Usually blended with other varietals for added flavor (complexity if you're a wine snob).
Marsanne - White wine grape. Country - France, Australia. Characteristics - Medium acidity, with pear and spice flavors. Usually blended with Rousanne grapes for a full bodied white wine.
Merlot - Red wine grape. Country - France, Spain, Italy, USA, Australia and several South American countries. Characteristics - Medium acidity, medium tannins, ripe berry aromas and flavors.
Mourvedre - Red wine grape. Country - France, Spain, USA, Australia and now other countries as Mataro or Mourvedre. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, medium to high tannins, dark berry, red and black cherry flavors in deep purple, medium body wines. Used as a blending grape to provide fruit flavors.
Muscat - White wine grape. Country - Italy, Spain, USA, Australia. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, usually made into sweet desert wines having flavors ranging through caramel, caramelized fruits, coffee, espresso, toffee, ginger and licorice. Wines are usually very viscous with long lasting aftertaste. The grape is also used to make sweet sparkling wines, (Italy), and blended with other varietals for French white Bordeaux wines. The Spanish Muscat, called Moscatel, is used to make Sherry.
Nebbiolo - Red wine grape. Country - Italy. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity and tannin, aromas and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, plum and tabacco in a full-bodied wine. Used to make Barbaresco and Barolo wines the Italy is so well known for.
Pedro Ximenez - White wine grape. Country - Spain, Australia. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, this grape is used to make very sweet Sherry with flavors and aromas of raisins, prunes, caramel, molasses, coffee, dried figs, almond, pecan and dark chocolate.
Petite Syrah - Red wine grape. Country - France, California in the USA. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity and tannin, strong aromas and flavors of white pepper, black pepper, mint and dark berries.
Petite Verdot - Red wine grape. Country - France, West Coast of USA. Characteristics - Medium acidity, high tannin, very deep purple color and very strong aromas and flavors of black cherry and mint. Small amounts are usually blended with other varietals to impart more flavors, aromas and or tannins.
Pinotage - Red wine grape. Country - South Africa. Characteristics - The grape is a cross of Cinsault and Pinot Noir that has medium acidity and tannin, aromas of blackberry and black cherry, flavors of blackberry, black cherry, usually accompanied by spice, cedar or briar.
Pinot Gris - White wine grape. Country - France, Italy, Germany, USA, Australia, New Zealand. Medium to high acidity, floral to fruit aromas, fruit flavors on the citrus side and occasionally melon. Very refreshing on a warm day.
Pinot Blanc - White wine grape. Country - France, Italy, Germany, Austria, USA. Characteristics - Medium acidity, light aromas and flavors similar to Chardonnay, vanilla to citrus. The wines do not age well and should be consumed within a year of bottling.
Pinot Meunier - Red wine grape. Country - France, Germany, USA. Characteristics - High acidity, low tannin, a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape, with bright cherry or raspberry fruit flavors. Used primarily for blending with sparkling wines to enhance fruit flavors and acidity.
Pinot Noir - Red wine grape. Country - France, Germany, USA, New Zealand. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, low tannin, strong aromas and flavors of cherry and strawberry.
Riesling - White wine grape. Country - Germany, France, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Chile. Characteristics - High acidity, wide variety of production from very dry wines to exceptionally sweet wines having aromas of honeysuckle, peach, caramel, petrol and flavors of honey, pear, peach, fig, raisin, red berry, caramel and nuts.
Rousanne - White wine grape. Country - France, Australia, USA. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity with flavors of honey, sandalwood and rosemary blossoms. Blended primarily with Marsanne to produce Hermitage Blanc.
Sangiovese - Red wine grape. Country - Italy, USA, Argentina. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, medium tannin and body, spicy, fruity flavors and aromas. Used primarily for Chianti in Italy, it is also blended with other varietals.
Sauvignon Blanc - White wine grape. Country - France, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile. Characteristics - High acidity with aromas and flavors from grassy, through citrus to melon.
Semillon - White wine grape. Country - France, USA, Australia, South Africa. Characteristics - Medium to high acidity, flavors and aromas ranging from green apple, honeyed fig, pear, through apricot. By itself it is usually made into a sweet wine, taking advantage of the Botrytis cinerea. Blended with other white grape varietals like Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc to make Sauternes.
Syrah / Shiraz - Red wine grape. Country - France, USA, Australia, South Africa, Argentina. Characteristics - Medium to high in acidity and tannin, depending on country/climate, very deep purple color with aromas and flavors of spice, pepper, black fruits, coffee and chocolate. Australian Shiraz generally has a riper fruit taste than those of France and the USA.
Tempranillo - Red wine grape. Country - Spain, Portugal, Argentina, USA. Characteristics - High acidity, low to medium tannin, deep purple color, aromas of black cherry, blackberry with flavors of black currants, blackberry or plum.
Touriga Nacional - Red wine grape. Country - Portugal. Characteristics - High in acidity and tannin, deep purple color, very fruity aroma. The best grape used for Port.
Touriga Francesa - Red wine grape. Country - Portugal. Characteristics - Medium acidity and tannin with floral aromas and flavors.
Viognier - White wine grape. Country - France, USA, Australia, Argentina, South Africa. Characteristics - Medium acidity, aromas of apricot, peach, spice, with flavors of peach, melon, apricot, grapefruit and anise.
Zinfandel - Red wine grape. Country - USA, Australia. Characteristics - High acidity and tannin, aromas and flavors of spice, blackberry, black currant, ripe dark fruit, leather and tobacco.
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