Wine Varietals

Blush-
Sometimes called Rose;
this pale wine is made from red grapes
that have only briefly been in contact
with the skins and stems.
Serve chilled.

Burgundy-
Hearty red wines from a blend of grapes
usually pinot noir or gamay.

Cabernet Sauvignon-
Cabernet Sauvignon is rightfully respected
as the "King of Red Grapes."
Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium to full-bodied,
densely colored wine, rich in berry flavor.
Cabernet Sauvignon is characterized
by the flavor of herbs, leaves and stems.
Preferred by people with
more wine expertise and savvy.
Cabernets are hearty wines
that compliment a great steak.
The aging process is critical
to this slow-developing varietal,
requiring both barrel and
bottle aging to soften.
The effects of the warm sun and soil make
Cabernet Sauvignon a world-class wine.
Once a taste for this wine is acquired,
there is no substitute.

Chablis-
A good wine with a crisp,
dry flavor and a flinty character.
Serve chilled.

Champagne-
The term "champagne"
has entered our vocabulary
as a generic term for sparkling wine,
much to the dismay of
France's champagne producers.
True champagne comes only from
the Champagne region of France.
Champagne ranges from dry to sweet.
The degree of sweetness
is indicated on the label.
Brut has little or no sweetness.
Extra Dry is less dry.
Sec is sweeter, and
Demi-Sec is the sweetest.
Champagne can be enjoyed
on a variety of occasions,
not just special ones.

Chardonnay-
Chardonnay comes from the
finest grape variety in the world,
the green-skinned European vinifera grape.
Chardonnay's are growing in popularity and
increasingly winning recognition
the world over.
Chardonnay is one of the
few grapes in the world
that does not require blending.
It is a highly complex, aromatic grape,
complete and balanced
enough in flavor to
stand beautifully on its own.
Chardonnay conjures up visions of
green apple, lemons or citrus,
all pointing to fruity flavor and acidity.
Chardonnay is always dry and no other wine
benefits more from the oak aging process.
Earthy, toasty, vanilla, caramel, buttery flavors
are all descriptive of Chardonnay.
Chardonnay's popularity continues to grow
among wine lovers
and is quickly becoming a classic favorite.

Chenin-
A white grape widely planted in the
Loire Valley area of France.
Wines can be made very dry to very sweet but
usually have good acidity at any level.
It is sometimes used for sparkling wines
in the Saumur area of France.
In America and Australia it is usually made
into a table wine for
consuming when it is still young.

Folle Blanc-
A white grape also known as Gros Plant.
Important in the production of
Brandy, Cognac and Armagnac,
although Ugni Blanc
has replaced it in many blends.

Gamay-
An aromatic red grape,
grown principally in Beaujolais, France.
Produces light, fruity, wine
that is usually made to be drunk in its youth.

Gewurztraminer-
Pronounced 'Ger-wurtz-tra-meener.'
Spicy flavors, off dry to sweet.
Great chilled.

Grunner-
A white variety that
accounts for about 1/3
the total plantings in Austria.
It produces a pale, fruit
and spicy wine, with high acidity,
which makes it perfect for
fatty and/or spicy foods.

Kleinberger-
A white grape grown throughout
the northern Rhone of France
where it is used to make long-lived wines.
Also being grown in
California and Australia.

Lambrusco-
A red grape grown all over Italy,
used to make slightly sweet,
effervescent wines.
In Italy also used for still wines
that should be drunk young.

Marsala-
Fortified wines from the western tip of Sicily.
The various quality levels for Marsala are
Fine -
the lowest level,
1 year of aging and 17% alcohol;
Superiore -
2 years of aging and 18% alcohol;
Superiore Riserva -
4 years of aging;
Vergine -
This is the highest quality,
and must be aged in wood
for a minimum of 5 years and
Vergine Riserva -
These wines are dry
and somewhat austere,
they are aged in wood
for a minimum of 10 years
and usually served as an aperitif.

Merlot-
Merlot wine is softer and warmer
on the palate than Cabernet Sauvignon .
Merlot has the advantage of being
rich and supple but only moderately tannic
and, therefore,
wonderfully drinkable from early on.
The Merlot grape was blended to soften
and round out Cabernets
until wineries discovered that it was
capable of yielding a wine
that could stand on its own.
Merlot has since emerged
as a premium varietal
and has skyrocketed in popularity.
Although it does not have the same
firm backbone and structure of a Cab,
Merlot yields a sensual, round wine
that does not need the same care in aging.
It is a good starter wine for people
just beginning to enjoy red wines.

Mouvedre
A red grape grown extensively in the Rhone
and increasingly in Australia and California.
It makes fresh red wines,
low in acid but with lots of aroma.

Muller
A white grape variety produced by
crossing Riesling and Sylvaner.

Muscat
A white grape that makes wonderfully
aromatic smelling wines.
There are a number of different types
that are grown around the world:
Muscat Blanc, Moscato , Frontignan,
Alexandria, Orange etc.

Pinot Gris
A white grape that produces
deeply coloured wines,
sometimes almost pale pink.

Pinot Noir
A red grape, the staple of Burgundy.
Can be difficult to grow.
Should have aromas of cedar,
sometimes strawberries and blackcurrant,
can be the most spectacular wine made.
This is also one of the primary grapes in
premium sparkling wine production.

Pinotage
A red grape variety
developed in South Africa,
a cross between
Cinsault and Pinot Noir.

Port
A fortified wine of Portugal,
also known as Oporto.
Very richly flavored and sweet.
There are a number of different styles:
Tawny-
aged in wooden barrels,
rather than the bottle,
the age (10years etc.)
refers to the average age
of the wine in the barrel:
Colheita
-refers to a port of a single vintage
that has been aged in wooden barrels:
Vintage
- port of a specific year
that is aged in the bottle;
Late Bottled
- aged in the barrel
but not for as long as a tawny port;
Ruby
- about three years old,
sweet and ruby red colored,
usually fruity and ready to drink.

Rhone
Wines from the Rhone
appellation in France,
and those made from the same grape varieties,
Syrah, Grenache, etc.
but produced elsewhere in the world.
Wonderful, full-bodied, spicy wines that
can taste of rich berries,
plums and smoky wood.

Riesling
A white grape,
the most important in Germany.
Made in varying levels of sweetness
from dry to very sweet.
Intense fruit flavors
and a wonderful aroma
are the usual identifying characteristics.

Roussanne
A white grape,
grown in parts of California
but originating
in the Hermitage region
of the Rhone Valley, France.

Sangiovese
A red grape grown principally
in Tuscany,Italy ,
used in Chianti.

Sangria
Sangria is made from red wine,
fruit juices, soda water and fruit.
Sometimes brandy is added.
Sangria Blanco is made from white wine.
Both are served cold with ice.

Sauvignon Blanc-
Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile,
generously flavored grape.
Also called Fume' Blanc,
Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes said
to be more popular with
experienced wine lovers
because of its pronounced flavors.
There are so many styles though that
newcomers to wine can find
a Sauvignon Blanc to love.
By either name,
Sauvignon or Fume' Blanc
is easily identified
by consistently pronounced,
aromatic flavors.
They range in style from light and dry to
full and sweet.
The best approach is to taste, taste, taste
and experiment with this
ever-so-versatile white wine.

Semillon
A white grape.
Grown in France where it is
used to make dessert wines,
and much of the rest of the world where it is
predominately used for dry style wines.

Sherry
Sherries can range from sweet to very dry.
Sherries are produced in Jerez, Spain,
and also in other parts of the world
to a varying degree of success.

Shiraz
Two different red grapes.
Shiraz is grown widely
in Australia and known
as Syrah in France and the USA.
Petite Syrah is grown in California
and known as Durif in France.
Both makes deeply colored wine
with lots of flavor.
Australia makes some superb
Shiraz based wines.

Symphony
A white grape developed in the 1940s
by crossing Muscat with Grenache Gris.
Extremely aromatic,
with intense fruit flavors.

Tempranillo
A red grape,
grown widely in the Rioja region of Spain.
A deep colored wine
with lots of flavor,
they are usually very oaky.

Trousseau/Trousseau Gris
A mutated white version of the
red-wine grape, Trousseau,
found in the Cotes de Jura region
of southwest France.
Grown in the Alsace-Lorraine
and some vineyards in California.

Ugni Blanc/Trebbiano
The white grape known as Trebbiano in Italy
and Ugni Blanc
in France
for making Armagnac or
Saint-Emilion in Cognac.

Viognier
The white grape of the Rhone,
being grown in some parts
of the New World.
Can age very well.

Zinfandel-
Zinfandel has been lavishly praised
for its versatility.
It bears fruit well and ripens readily.
Once harvested, the fruit ferments
with little coaxing
from the winemaker.
The best Zinfandel grapes yield
dry, full-bodied,
intensely flavored red wines
with substantial tannins.
A recent addition to Zinfandel winemaking
is White Zinfandel,
a lighter and fruity "picnic" style wine,
best served chilled.
This popular off-dry wine
is made much like
a white wine but with red grapes.
The trick is to separate white juice
from dark grape skins
before the slightest hint
of color can seep in.

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Elaine