GRAPES AND WINES GUIDE

Here’s the GENERAL scoop (notice the word GENERAL) on some of the most popular grapes (and hence wines) in the world

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

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