REDS

Cabernet Sauvignon

General Aromas and Flavors – Blackcurrant, Cedar, Cassis, can be Vegetal

Characteristics – Thick skins; Small blue berries; Deep ruby color; High tannin; Blends well with Merlot and Cabernet Franc; Late ripener; Ripens in warmer climates and cannot ripen in really cool climates

Best Regions – Medoc/Graves on Left Bank of Bordeaux France; Sonoma and Napa California; Most warmer regions around the world

Merlot

General Aromas and Flavors – Plum, Chocolate, can be Leafy

Characteristics – Bigger berries; Thinner skins; Less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon; More opulent; Deeper; Fuller body; Can be voluptuous and velvety; Will ripen in cooler areas; Easier to drink early

Best Regions – Pomerol on Right Bank of Bordeaux France; Chile; USA; Northeast Italy; Many of the regions around the world

Pinot Noir

General Aromas and Flavors – Cherry, Raspberry, Red berries, Violets, Game, sometimes Earthy or Woodsy

Characteristics – Light to Medium Ruby Color; Higher alcohol; Medium to high acidity; Medium to low tannin; Rarely blended; Thin skin; Early ripening; Sensitive to terroir; Best in cooler climates; One of the three grapes used to make Champagne

Best Regions – Burgundy Cote d’Or France, New Zealand, Cool Corners of Australia, Cool parts of California such as Carneros and Russian River Valley in Sonoma, Oregon USA

Syrah/Shiraz

General Aromas and Flavors – Black Pepper, Dark Chocolate, Spice

Characteristics – Deep Ruby Color; High in alcohol; Medium to high tannin; Can be dense, Rich and potent; Nice kick at the finish; Blends well with Grenache; Called Shiraz in Australia;

Can ripen in most climates except really cool areas

Best Regions – Hermitage and Cote-Rotie in Rhone Valley France, Almost Everywhere in Australia; Actually, most regions around the world plant Syrah

Zinfandel

General Aromas and Flavors – Blackberry, Raspberry, Spicy, Tarry, Jammy

Characteristics – Rich and dark; High in alcohol; Medium to high in tannin

Best Regions – Oldest grapes in California and really good in Central Valley; Some other warm weather regions but mainly California

Malbec

General Aromas and Flavors – Spicy, gamey

Characteristics – High in alcohol; lively, velvety

Best Regions – Mendoza Argentina’s signature grape; Becoming popular in California; Increasing in popularity in warmer regions around the world

Sangiovese

General Aromas and Flavors – Fruity, Cherry, Tart Cherry, Floral, Nutty

Characteristics – Medium to high acidity; Tannic; Light to full body

Best Regions – Tuscany Italy – Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti

Tempranillo

General Aromas and Flavors – Tobacco, Spice, Leather; Fruity

Characteristics – Lively; Deep flavor; Deep color; Early budding; Thin skin

Best Regions – Spain’s signature grape; Portugal

Cabernet Franc

General Aromas and Flavors – Leafy, Grassy, Fruity, Berries

Characteristics – Less intense and softer than Cabernet Sauvignon; Ripens early; Less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot; More resistant to cold than Merlot; Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Best Regions – Loire Valley France; St-Emilion Bordeaux France; New Zealand; Long Island NY USA; Washington State USA; Northeast Italy; California

WHITES

Chardonnay

General Aromas and Flavors – Subdued aromas and flavors, Apple, Oak, Pineapple

Characteristics – Can ripen almost anywhere except in really hot or really cold areas; early budding; Responds well to barrel fermentation and oak ageing; Medium to high acidity; Full-bodied; One of the three grapes used to make Champagne

Best Regions – The world’s best known white grape; Burgundy France; California; Australia; Grown in almost every region in the world

Riesling

General Aromas and Flavors – Very aromatic, Floral, Mineral, Lime, Honey

Characteristics – Rarely oaked; Light body; Crisp; Refreshing; Vivid; High acidity; Low to medium alcohol

Best Regions – Germany’s premiere grape; Alsace France; Austria; Clare Valley Australia

Sauvignon Blanc

General Aromas and Flavors – Very aromatic, Grass, Green Fruit, Vegetal, Herbaceous; Melon; Figs; Passion Fruit

Characteristics – Light to medium body; Rarely oaked; High acidity; Vigorous; Blended with Semillon for sweet wines

Best Regions – Loire Valley France, Marlborough New Zealand, South Africa, Northeast Italy; Parts of California; Bordeaux France

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italy)

General Aromas and Flavors – Peach, Orange, Smoky, Pungent

Characteristics – Skin color unusually dark for a white grape; Deeper in color; Medium to full body; Usually not oaked; Low acidity

Best Regions – Northeast Italy; Germany; Alsace France; Oregon USA; New Zealand; California; Chile; Australia

Semillon

General Aromas and Flavors – Figs, Citrus, Lanolin

Characteristics – Thin skin; Highly susceptible to botrytis; Low acidity

Best Regions – Sauternes and Barsac France; Most planted white grape in Bordeaux France; Hunter Valley Australia; South Africa; Becoming more popular in California