This document provides information on 14 different wine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Muscat, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For each variety, it describes their geography, viticulture, flavor and style, as well as notes on the variety.
This document provides information on 14 different wine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Muscat, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For each variety, it describes their geography, viticulture, flavor and style, as well as notes on the variety.
This document provides information on 14 different wine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Muscat, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For each variety, it describes their geography, viticulture, flavor and style, as well as notes on the variety.
This document provides information on 14 different wine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Muscat, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For each variety, it describes their geography, viticulture, flavor and style, as well as notes on the variety.
Chardonnay • Geography Home is Burgundy in France. Also grown in most wine producing countries world wide. • Viticulture Versatile in adapting to varying climates. • Varietal/Blend A fine varietal, it is also blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to produce Champagne. • Flavour & Character Buttery, lemon flavours, sometimes nutty flavoured, often with a strong hint of tropical fruit. • Vinification Chardonnay has a strong affinity with oak. Ageing in oak barrels adds depth, flavour and complexity. • Style Styles vary from fresh, light unoaked wines produced in cooler regions to rich, tropical fruit wines from the New World. • Body, Dry/Sweet Mainly known for producing excellent full-bodied wines. • Notes Probably the world's favourite white grape variety. Also known as, Aubaine, Beaunois and Melon Blanc.
Sauvignon Blanc • Geography France, New World, especially New Zealand. • Viticulture Enjoys a cool climate. Ideal terroir—the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. • Varietal/Blend Found as a pure varietal in the Loire, but often blended with Sémillon in Bordeaux and the New World. • Flavour & Character Sharp, tangy, gooseberry is the predominant flavour. Also has undertones of grass, nettles, elderflower and asparagus. • Vinification Californian winemakers tend to minimise the tart, crisp characteristics of European Sauvignon Blanc by ensuring that the grapes are very ripe before harvesting and then ageing them in new oak. • Style Depends a lot on the country of origin, e.g., New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc tends to be tangy and sharp; Chile produces softer styles. • Body, Dry/Sweet Has a natural acidity. Used in dry, medium sweet and sparkling wines. • Notes France's Loire region Sauvignon Blanc has achieved the elevated status of ''Noble Grape.''
Riesling • Geography France (mainly Alsace), Germany, Eastern Europe, Northern Italy and New World. • Viticulture France's Alsace region—in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains, with long, sunny, dry summers—is ideal terroir for Riesling. The slopes of North West Germany, e.g., above the Mosel river, also provide excellent terroir. • Varietal/Blend Occasionally used in blending, but the vast majority of Riesling is used as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Can produce powerful wines of superb quality and elegance. Flavour hints include green apple, lime, apricot and honey. • Vinification German Riesling is much higher in alcohol as it is fermented until virtually dry. Sometimes, regrettably, a sweet unfermented must is added just before filtration and bottling. • Style Styles range from light and crisp to headily rich and sweet. • Body, Dry/Sweet Ranges from delicate, dry, light bodied wines to ''noble rot'' infected dessert wines. Ages beautifully. • Notes Riesling accounts for approximately 20% of Germany's wine output and produces some of the country's finest wines. Not to be confused with the inferior Laski Rizling.
Semillon • Geography France, Portugal, Israel, Tunisia, New World, especially the Hunter Valley region of Australia. • Viticulture The finest Sémillon grapes are grown in extremely different types of terroir, Bordeaux in France and the Hunter Valley in Australia. Both regions, however, have humidity in common. • Varietal/Blend A traditional Bordeaux variety often blended with Sauvignon Blanc. Famous for the part it plays in the production of Sauternes. Used mostly as a varietal in Australia. • Flavour & Character The best dry, oaked varieties have flavours of nectarine and lemon. Sweeter versions, affected by ''noble rot,'' have delightful, waxy flavours of peaches, apricots and honey. • Vinification Sémillon is sometimes aged in oak, but even if unoaked, it develops a delightful nutty flavour, particularly if allowed to age for several years. • Style Produces two starkly different styles of dry and sweet wines. • Body, Dry/Sweet Tends to produce full bodied wines with good acidity. Like Riesling, it is capable of rotting nobly to make luscious sweet wines. • Notes The Hunter Valley region of Australia put Sémillon on the world wine map with its marvellous ''botrytized'' wood aged Sémillon wines. Wine Varietals - NRD 2004 Wine Varietals - NRD 2004 Gewurztraminer • Geography Classic white grape of the Alsace region of France. Also grown in Germany, Northern Italy, Eastern Europe and New World. • Viticulture Grows best in cooler climates where good acidity plays a significant rôle. The terroir of the Alsace region reigns supreme. Other countries seem to produce less exciting, blander versions. • Varietal/Blend Gewürztraminer is used as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Probably the world's most intensely aromatic wine—bursting with flavours of spice, lychees and rose petals. • Vinification Produced after the style of German Rhine wines and sold under its grape name rather than region of origin. • Style Although all Gewürztraminers have real intensity, styles vary from dry to richly sweet. • Body, Dry/Sweet Dry predominates. Some Gewürztraminers are so rich that they may appear sweet on the palate. • Notes Also known as Traminer.
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio • Geography Northern Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand. • Viticulture The Alsace region provides the ideal terroir, where conditions produce the best quality Pinot Gris. • Varietal/Blend Sometimes blended with Riesling or produced simply as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Whether bone dry or rich and spicy, a hint of honey lends a common characteristic. • Vinification Although there have been some attempts to oak Pinot Gris, it doesn't need new oak and generally, doesn't receive it. • Style Fairly neutral in Italy, richer and more intense in Alsace. • Body, Dry/Sweet Italian Pinot Grigio is more lightweight and bland than its Alsace counterpart which is more rounded and aromatic. • Notes Pinot Gris is known as Pinot Grigio in Italy.
Muscat • Geography Very widely planted throughout Europe, also Victoria, Australia. • Viticulture The hot, highly continental climate of North East Victoria, Australia is ideal terroir for growing grapes for producing delicious liqueur Muscats—Australia's answer to Europe's fortified versions. • Varietal/Blend Often blended with various other grape varieties to increase complexity and flavour. Also used to make Asti Spumante in Italy. • Flavour & Character Probably the only grape that produces wine with the aroma of the grape itself. Sweet Muscats have flavours of raisins and oranges. • Vinification The sweet dessert wines are often fortified with grape brandy during fermentation to preserve sweetness. • Style Produces a vast range of styles, ranging from sweet and fortified to dry, floral and grapy. • Body, Dry/Sweet Ranges from the dry, full bodied and aromatic to the sweet heaviness of dessert wines. • Notes Also known as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains—its full name. Not to be confused with Muscadet, the dry white wine from the Loire Valley.
Viognier • Geography Home is the Rhone Valley of France. More recently also planted in California, Australia and South America. • Viticulture A difficult, temperamental grape to cultivate. Thrives best on the small hillsides near Lyons, France. • Varietal/Blend Mainly produced as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Rich, aromatic flavours of apricots, peaches and fresh flowers. • Vinification Skilful, modern vinification techniques are currently being developed, particularly in California, to produce complex wines of a consistently high quality. • Style Soft, rich and luscious style. • Body, Dry/Sweet Produces dry wines that are so perfumed, aromatic and exotic tasting that they almost appear sweet on the palate. • Notes Fast becoming a very fashionable and popular grape variety.
Cabernet Sauvignon • Geography Produced worldwide in almost every wine growing country. Most famous area is Bordeaux • Viticulture Best in warm climates. If grown in hot conditions, the wine produced has a jammy, stewed flavour • Varietal / Blend Often blended with Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. • Flavour & Character Distinctive blackcurrant flavour with a hint of mint and cedar. • Vinification Fermented in stainless steel or oak. Fermentation temperature not critical because of robustness of grape. Matured in old or new oak. • Style Well rounded, high in tannin content and ages admirably. • Body, Dry/Sweet Mellow; ranges from medium bodied to heavier, full bodied Australian examples. • Notes King of the ''Noble'' grapes, famous for its use in Bordeaux Claret.
Merlot • Geography Mainly Southern France, North East Italy, Eastern Europe and New World, especially California • Viticulture An early ripening grape. In Bordeaux, grown widely on heavier soils where Cabernet Sauvignon is slow to ripen. • Varietal/Blend Used in Bordeaux and all over the world to soften Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. • Flavour & Character Juicy, fruity flavours of blackcurrant, black cherry and mint. • Vinification As for Cabernet Sauvignon: Fermented in stainless steel or oak. Fermentation temperature not critical because of robustness of grape. Matured in old or new oak. In other regions it is often cool fermented when used as a varietal. • Style Subtle, soft and velvety. Lower in tannic bitterness and higher in alcohol than Cabernet Sauvignon. • Body, Dry/Sweet Soft, often complex texture. • Notes Great wines of Pomerol and St Emilion in Bordeaux are based on Merlot
Pinot Noir • Geography Home is Burgundy, France. Also produced in California, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Eastern Europe. • Viticulture Will not tolerate heat well. Thrives in a moderately cool climate. Sensitive to both wet and dry conditions. • Varietal/Blend Used in most red Burgundy wines. Also in the bulk of Champagne production (white and pink). • Flavour & Character Predominantly raspberry and strawberry, with a hint of game. • Vinification For red wines, fermented at temperatures up to 30 ºC. Good Burgundies are always matured in new oak. • Style Varies from complex and silky to plain and insipid. • Body, Dry/Sweet Varies from medium to light bodied wines. • Notes Does not travel well. Outside Burgundy, with a few exceptions, lacks colour and depth. There are some successful Californian Pinot Noirs. Also known as Spätburgunder in Germany and Pinot Nero in Italy.
Pinot Noir • Geography Home is Burgundy, France. Also produced in California, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Eastern Europe. • Viticulture Will not tolerate heat well. Thrives in a moderately cool climate. Sensitive to both wet and dry conditions. • Varietal/Blend Used in most red Burgundy wines. Also in the bulk of Champagne production (white and pink). • Flavour & Character Predominantly raspberry and strawberry, with a hint of game. • Vinification For red wines, fermented at temperatures up to 30 ºC. Good Burgundies are always matured in new oak. • Style Varies from complex and silky to plain and insipid. • Body, Dry/Sweet Varies from medium to light bodied wines. • Notes Does not travel well. Outside Burgundy, with a few exceptions, lacks colour and depth. There are some successful Californian Pinot Noirs. Also known as Spätburgunder in Germany and Pinot Nero in Italy.
Syrah/Shiraz • Geography Mostly France and Australia and increasingly in California, Algeria and South Africa. • Viticulture Grows well in a range of climates and copes well with warmth. • Varietal/Blend Although used for blending in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is capable of fine quality wine as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Intense and complex sweet fruit flavoured, particularly blackberry and raspberry, with a peppery overtone. • Vinification Traditionally, fermented at up to 35 ºC. Nowadays, often fermented at cooler temperatures in stainless steel vessels. Matured in old or new oak. • Style Intense, rich and tannic with a velvety texture. • Body, Dry/Sweet Capable of producing superb wines across the spectrum, but is at its best in full - bodied, intense, deep coloured wines. Produces superb full -bodied examples. • Notes Known as Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia and elsewhere.
Pinotage • Geography Home is South Africa. Recent experiments in New Zealand, Chile and Australia. • Viticulture Thrives well in the slightly hot, dry climate of the Western Cape. • Varietal/Blend Pinotage, itself, is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. • Flavour & Character Distinct, individual character with peppery and spicy flavours. Strong hint of plums, bananas and redcurrants. • Vinification Although easy to cultivate and vinify, Pinotage vine material is in short supply, mainly root stock. • Style Styles vary from smooth to rough textured. Although it benefits from maturing, it is not often allowed to age. • Body, Dry/Sweet Produces light red, blush and sparkling wines. • Notes Pinotage was created in the 1920s by Professor Perold at Stellenbosch University.
Zinfandel/Primitivo • Geography Zinfandel is California's speciality grape. Also produced in Italy and Croatia. • Viticulture Research into viticulture and an absence of age old traditions in California has meant that Zinfandel is cultivated in the best possible terroir and aided by modern technology. • Varietal/Blend Zinfandel is produced as a varietal. • Flavour & Character Has a unique raspberry flavour, intense spicy fruitiness and a vibrant colour. • Vinification New technology ensures the adaptability of this grape. It is capable of producing everyday quaffing wine as well as top class, complex, rich reds. • Style Ranges from lightweight, juicy and fruity to intensely rich aromatic wines. • Body, Dry/Sweet Ranges from delicious dry reds to sweetish, sometimes insipid ''blush,'' and intensely sweet wines. • Notes Known as Primitivo in Italy. It is also probably the same as Croatia's Plavac Mali grape.
