RED GRAPE VARIETIES
Grape to Grape Comparison Chart

Chianti   From a blend of grapes this fruity, light ruby-to-garnet-colored red may be called Chianti Riserva  when aged three or more years. Chianti Classico- From a designated portion of the Chianti wine district. To be labeled Chianti Classico, both vineyard and winery must be within the specified region.

Gamay
Gamay only excels in one region - Beaujolais - where it produces fine wines on granite soils. Low in tannins because of its thin skin, it is best drunk young in order to capture the exuberant cherry and strawberry flavours.
Beaujolais makes its famous, fruity reds exclusively from one of the many Gamays available, the Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. Low in alcohol and relatively high in acidity, the wines are meant to be drunk soon after bottling; the ultimate example of this is Beaujolais Nouveau, whipped onto shelves everywhere almost overnight. It is also grown in the Loire, but makes no remarkable wines. The Swiss grow it widely, for blending with Pinot Noir.

Malbec
One of the traditional "Bordeaux varietals", Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and particular characteristic notes of plum and anise plum-like flavor  adding complexity to claret blends.  
Malbec is widely grown in south-western France, notably in Cahors. Malbec's dense and dusky character has blossomed and found its true potential in recent plantings in South America, especially Chile and Argentina. 

Merlot
The second great black grape of Bordeaux is all the rage in the United States and as a result there has been an explosion in plantings in California, Chile and even the south of France. It is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but it is less tannic and gives softer, juicier wines which are inviting and mature earlier. Merlot red wines are deep in color, full body, high alcohol, and low in tannins are characteristics of wines made from the merlot grape varietal. The aromas and flavors can be plummy or sometimes chocolaty. These wines are typically dry and have a medium body.

Nebbiolo  
The great grape of Northern Italy, which excels there in Barolo and Barbaresco, strong, ageable wines.
These wines are typically and have a body.

Pinot Noir
(Pee noh nwahr) This is the single black grape of the Côte d'Or in Burgundy, and from this one area has been fashioned the almost mythical reputation of Pinot Noir. It is the most seductive of grapes, combining a silky texture with a heady bouquet of summer fruits, but it is tricky to grow and vinify. It favours cooler regions and, while some of the New World areas are showing good potential from new plantings (look out for New Zealand), none achieve the sublime richness and balance found in the best red Burgundy.   Pinot Noir is lighter in color than Cabernet or Merlot wine. It has relatively high alcohol, medium-to high acidity, and medium-to-low tannin unless it is oak barrel aged. Its flavors and aromas can be very fruity - often like mixed red berries -or earthy and woodsy depending on how it is grown and/or vinified.     These wines are typically dry and have a medium body.

Pinotage
Pinotage is, like Zinfandel, the product of one country. It was developed in South Africa in the 1920's as a cross between Pinot Noir and the Cinsault of southern France. The style of wine which Pinotage gives is one of dark, chewy fruit with a good balance of tannins and acidity.


Sangiovese
Planted widely in the northern half of Italy, Sangiovese is the principal variety for Chianti and the quality wines of Tuscany. It is dry and firm with an excellent balance of tannins, acid and fruit, and a distinctive bouquet of cherries and spice.  Known for its supple texture, medium to full-bodied spice flavors, raspberry cherry & anise. Sangiovese is used  in many fine Italian wines including Chianti.
 

Shiraz / Syrah
From its home in the northern Rhone, Syrah traditionally has produced deep concentrated wines with great ageing potential. In Australia (as Shiraz) it can produce soft, berry-fruit driven wines which blend well with Cabernet Sauvignon and also magnificent full-bodied reds with spicy aromas. Look out for sparkling Shiraz for a completely new wine experience.  Black cherry, spice, pepper, tar & leather with smooth tannins & supple texture make this wine a growing favorite.  With early drinking appeal it also has the ability to age well to form more complex wines.

Tempranillo
Spain's quality red wine grape, it is widely grown throughout the country but is most often associated with Rioja, where it brings fruit and finesse to the blend. The name means 'little early one' because it ripens early. Vibrantly fruity when young, Tempranillo wines take on a more mellow personality when matured in oak.

Valpolicella    (Val po lee CHEL lah)This wine is a fuller red wine. Valpolicella has a velvety texture which pairs well with hard cheeses. There perfect wine for a cold winter night. These wines are typically dry and have a heavy body.
            

Zinfandel
Zinfandel is virtually confined to California, where it exhibits great versatility by producing everything from blush (rosé) wines to rich, powerful reds. Recent research has confirmed that Zinfandel is the same variety as the Primitivo of southern Italy.  Often a zesty flavour with berry dominating.  With predominant raspberry flavors and a spicy aroma, Zinfandels  can be bold and intense as well as light and fruity.  It takes well to blending bringing out flavors of cherry, wild berry & plum with notes of leather, earth & tar.   It is the most widely grown grape in California. Much of it is turned into White Zinfandel, a blush wine that is slightly sweet.  
                          

WHITE GRAPE VARIETIES    

German White Wines    German wines are named after the place they come from-usually a combination of a village name and a vineyard name. The finest German wines have another element in their name-a Pradikat. A Pradikat is an indication of the ripeness of the grapes. Wines with a Pradikat hold the highest rank in the German System. These wines range from sweet to very sweet and have a medium to light body.   There are six Pradikat levels which range from the least ripe to the ripest- and apply to whatever grape is used ex. Riesling or Gewurtztraminer The more ripe the grape the more sweet the wine:                *  Kabinett                 *  Spatlese                *  Auslese                *  Beerenauslese                *  Eiswein                * Trockenbeerenauslese

Gewurztraminer
Almost always associated with Alsace, this is probably the most recognizable of all white wine varieties thanks to its opulent nose of lychees and exotic aromas. Spicy on the palate, it is like Riesling, a superb match for most Thai or Chinese dishes.  A distinctive floral bouquet & spicy flavor are hallmarks of this medium-sweet wine.  Grown mainly in Alsace region of France & Germany,  and also in California, Eastern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Marsanne
This variety has its native home in Australia. Similar in style to Chardonnay, it also benefits from new oak to provide a broader range of flavors.


Moscato  
These wines are typically medium in sweetness and have a medium body.  They are frequently almost "sparkling"  


Pinot Grigios  
At its best this varietal produces wines that are soft, perfumed with more color than most other white wines. Grown mainly in northeast Italy, but as Pinot Gris it is grown in Alsace & known as Tokay.It can have the richness of a Chardonnay and the crisp acidity of a Sauvignon Blanc. Its aromas suggest honeyed peach and other stone fruits, and its flavors include notes of citrus and pear.  The Oregon Pinot Gris are especially excellent 

Riesling
The classic grape of Germany competes with Chardonnay for the title of the world's best white grape. Floral more than fruity, Riesling wines will have high acidity, and their versatility means that they also work well with most foods, especially Oriental cuisine.   Flavors of apricot & tropical fruit with floral aromas are characteristics of this widely varying wine.  Styles range from dry to sweet.  Riesling has a powerful and distinctive floral and apple-like aroma that frequently mixes in mineral elements from its vineyard source and is often described as "racy."  High levels of residual sugar. These wines are typically sweet and have a light body.

Sauvignon Blanc
Currently very much in demand thanks to the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) drinker, Sauvignon Blanc is planted widely throughout France, including Bordeaux and the Loire Valley where, close to the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly, it achieves its true potential. Recent plantings in Chile and, above all, New Zealand, show that the crisp refreshing acidity and citrus fruit character of Sauvignon Blanc make it the white grape for the new millennium.
Grassy & herbaceous flavors and aromas mark this light and medium-bodied wine, sometimes with hints of gooseberry & black currant.  In California it is often labeled Fume Blanc. New Zealand produces some of the finest Sauvignon Blancs in a markedly fruity style.  Practices that expose the grapes to more sunlight yield wine that is more melon-like in aroma.

Fume Blanc & Pouilly-Blancs   
Widely known as Sauvignon Blanc - In California it is often labeled Fume Blanc. Grassy & herbaceous flavors and aromas mark this light and medium-bodied wine, sometimes with hints of gooseberry & black currant.   

Robert Mondavi deserves credit for this renaming of this varietal to distinguish the style it is made in. Mondavi made a sweet style from the 1966 and '67 vintages, labeling their wine "Sauvignon Blanc", but changed to a dry version in 1968. To denote the change to their customers, they came up with the "Fumé Blanc" name after Pouilly-Fumé, one of the most popular dry-style Loire Valley versions. Rather than copyrighting or trademarking the name, Mondavi offered to allow anyone to use the Fumé Blanc name to market a dry-style Sauvignon Blanc. Note that the term is only used on American wines.

"Fumé" literally translates to "smoke," but this has nothing to do with a "smoky" flavor in the wine, although that is a popular notion. It instead refers to the morning fog that covers the Loire Valley and is "as thick as smoke." Any smoke-like smells or flavors in Sauvignon Blanc probably arise from aging in toasted oak barrels and are definitely not due to any inherent character of this grape variety.                          

Semillon
Traditionally blended with Sauvignon Blanc in France, it is also susceptible to noble rot and this produces great sweet wines. In Australia, on its own or with Chardonnay in a blend, it is rich and buttery with a more tropical fruit style.

Trebbiano
This is the main grape for Italian white wines such as Frascati. It tends to produce wines which are light and dry with attractive soft fruit aromas.

Verdelho
Gaining in popularity, Verdelho originated on the island of Maderia, but is now most often found in Western Australia. Here it produces quality wines which balance ripe fruit with excellent acidity.