Grape Varieties

Grapes belong to the plant family Vitaceae, Genus Vitis which is broken down into two subgenera Vitis Vinifera and Vitis Labrusca. The European varieties used in the production of wine belong to the genera Vinifera. Vitis Labrusca varieties such as concord are native American varieties and are rarely used in the production of wine except by home winemakers and hobbyists. There are hundreds of red and white varieties in the Vinifera group but we have listed some of the more important varieties below.

Red

Barbera
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Canaiolo
Carignane
Cinsault
Counoise
Dolcetto
Durif/Petite Sirah
Gamay
Grenache/Garnacha
Lambrusco
Malbec
Merlot
Mission
Montepulciano
Mourvedre/Monastrell/Mataro
Nebbiolo
Negro Amaro
Nero d’Avola
Petite Verdot
Pinot Meunier
Pinot Noir/Spatburgunder/Pinot Nero
Sagrantino
Sangiovese
Syrah/Shiraz
Tempranillo/Tinto Roriz/Cencibel
Zinfandel

White

Airen
Albarino/Alvarinho
Aligote
Arneis
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc/Steen
Columbard
Cortese
Falanghina
Fiano
Garganega
Grenache Blanc/Garnacha Blanco
Gewurztraminer
Greco
Grignolino
Macabeo/Viura
MalvasiaMarsanne
Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet de Bourgogne
Muscat/Moscato
Muller Thurgau
Palomino
Pedro Ximinez
Pinot Blanc/Pinot Bianco/Weissburgunder
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Prosecco
Riesling
Roussanne
Sauvignon Blanc
Sylvaner
Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
Torrontes
Verdelho/Godillo
Verdejo
Viognier

Pinot Noir is a red wine grape varietal whose name is derived from the French words for “Pine” and “Black” which alludes to the tightly clustered, dark purple pine cone-shaped bunches. Historically the grape is associated with the wines of Burgundy France where it produces some of the finest wines in the world. It grows in other locations, generally in the cooler regions but is a difficult variety to cultivate and make into wine. This prompted Andre Tchelistchiff to declare that “God made cabernet sauvignon whereas the devil made pinot noir.”

Cabernet Sauvignon is arguably the world’s most recognized wine grape variety. It is grown in every major wine producing country. Its hardiness and ability to adapt to a diversity of soils and climates add to its popularity. It first became recognized through it’s prominence in the red wines of Bordeaux where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. From France the grape spread across Europe and the New World.

In California, Cabernet has developed a reputation for its character and quality that is recognized on an international scale. The “food friendly” Cabernet wines vary stylistically according to their area of cultivation. Mountain, Hillside and Valley Floor located vineyards produce different styles of wines, each with its own characteristics. Mountain/Hillside vineyards have less fertile soil and the smaller resulting yields produce wines of more intense flavors that take more time to mature. Vines cultivated in the deeper, fertile soils of valley floor tend to produce larger yields and resulting wines that are fruity and full-bodied, often with distinct berry flavors.

Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a stand-alone varietal and a blending grape. Derivation of the name is thought to be from the Old French word meaning “young blackbird”, probably referring to the color of the skin. Merlot based wines are medium-bodied with hints of berry, plum and currant. It is a very flexible grape that is the world’s 3rd most planted varietal.

Zinfandel is a red variety that’s origins have only recently been established through DNA fingerprinting. It is genetically equivalent to the Croatian variety Crljenak Kastelanski and the Primitivo variety grown in the “heel” of Italy. The grape found its way to the USA in the mid 19th century and is now planted in over 10% of California vineyards. Flavors of the wine depend on ripeness. Raspberry flavors predominate in wine from cooler areas whereas blackberry, anise and pepper are typical in wines from warmer areas. Although the grapes produce wines that are robust and high alcohol, they can also be used to make a semi-sweet pink/rose wine.

Syrah or Shiraz is a dark-skinned grape that’s origins are traceable to the northern Rhone region of France. The wines produced from this variety are often powerfully flavored and full-bodied. Depending on climate and viticultural practices, aroma characters can range from violets to berries, chocolate espresso and black pepper. Because of the recent popularity of the wines produced from this varietal, syrah is thought to be the world’s 7th most planted varietal.

Chardonnay is a green skinned grape variety believed to have originated in France’s Burgundy region but is now grown wherever wine is produced. The grape itself is rather neutral but readily takes on flavors derived from such influences as “terroir” and oak. It is vinified in many different styles ranging from “crisp and flinty” to “rich and buttery” to “fruity and tropical”.

Sauvignon Blanc is a green skinned varietal originating from the Bordeaux and Loire regions of France. The name is derived from the French words sauvage “wild” and blanc “white”. The grape is now planted in many of the world’s wine regions and depending on climate can produce wines ranging from aggressively grassy to extremely citrusy (grapefruit) to sweetly tropical.