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There
are over
2500 different
wine grape
varieties.
Here are
a few that
are the
most important
red wine
varietals:
Cabernet
Sauvignon
(CAB-err-nay
SO-veen-yawn)
Considered
the most
successful
red grape
in California,
Cabernet
Sauvignon
is responsible
in large
part for
the great
Châteaux
wines of
the Bordeaux
region of
France,
as well
as outstanding
wines from
all around
the globe.
The best
examples
are well
structured,
medium –
to full
bodied with
rich, complex
FLAVORS
AND INTENSE
BOUQUET.
Flavors
of berries,
especially
currants
and blackberries,
even cherries
combine
often with
hints of
cedar, tobacco,
and chocolate
to make
this varietal
appealing.
Assertive
tannins
contribute
often to
tremendous
aging ability.
Most California
versions
of this
wine have
been made
100% of
the grape
variety,
but in recent
years many
producers
have blended
in percentages
of Merlot
and Cabernet
Franc to
add complexity.
Gamay
(Ga- MAY)
This
is the red
wine grape
of the Beaujolais
district
in the southern
Burgundy
region as
well as
the Loire
Valley of
France.
Gamay is
a generally
light-bodied,
fresh, soft,
fruity wine
(no tannins)
noted for
charm and
easy-to-drink-ability.
It is extremely
versatile
with food.
Sangiovese
(SAN-gee-o-vay-zay)
Sangiovese
is the leading
red wine
grape in
the Italian
region of
Tuscany.
Chianti
is its principal
wine. It
is also
being grown
to a small
degree in
California.
Sangiovese
produces
a wine with
medium body
that is
rarely very
dark in
color, slightly
spicy, and
very fragrant
with aromas
and flavors
of bitter
cherries,
herbs and
licorice.
Merlot
(Mair-LOW)
Merlot
is a distinguished
red wine
grape, as
important
as Cabernet
Sauvignon
and Cabernet
Franc in
the Bordeaux
region,
where it
contributes
softness,
fruit and
suppleness
to many
famous wines
that would
otherwise
be less
approachable.
Merlots
are wines
that are
medium or
full-bodied,
often velvety
smooth,
less tannic
and astringent,
allowing
earlier
maturity
than Cabernet.
Flavors
of black
cherry,
raspberry
and cocoa
as well
as toasty
oak make
this wine
a big hit
among customers.
Merlot is
very successfully
grown in
California,
Australia,
Washington,
and South
America,
although
because
of its recent
surge in
popularity,
you can
buy Merlot
from nearly
anywhere
in the world.
Pinot
Noir (PEE-no
nwar)
The
great grape
of the Burgundy
region of
France where
it is responsible
for some
of the most
famous wines
in the world.
It is also
one of the
principal
grapes in
Champagne
and most
sparkling
wines. Pinot
Noir produces
a very different
red wine
than which
Americans
are generally
accustomed.
The nature
of the grape
produces
a wine with
less color
and tannin.
Its supple
texture
and elegant
flavors
usually
emphasize
berry and
floral characteristics,
though some
styles lean
toward earthy
and spicy.
The wines
are typically
dry and
medium to
medium–full
bodied and
are neither
as powerful,
deeply colored
nor as tannic
as Cabernet
Sauvignons.
However,
well-made
Pinot Noirs
have been
known to
age well.
California,
Oregon and
Australia
have emerged
recently
as excellent
producers
of Pinot
Noir.
Syrah
(Sir- RAH)
Syrah
grows in
France’s
Rhone region
where it
is one of
the blending
grapes uses
in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
It has been
grown to
great success
in California
and Australia
(where it
is known
as Shiraz).
Syrah makes
a deep-colored
wine, rough,
highly tannic
and peppery
in its youth,
but which
can mature
to a big
generous,
velvety
wine. It
is generally
long live.
Zinfandel
(ZIN-fan-del)
The
most widely
planted
red grape
in California,
Zinfandel
is European
in origin,
but there
is much
debate as
to where
the grape
originates-
the latest
wisdom tells
us it comes
from the
Dalmatian
slopes of
the Adriatic
Sea in what
is now Croatia.
California
has provided
the ideal
soil and
climate
for it to
grow. Zinfandel
leads to
a number
of wine
styles,
from light
and fruity
Beaujolais
style, to
medium-bodied
wines with
more character
and structure,
to ripe
, rich,
muscular,
tannic,
intensely-flavored
and long
–lived wines.
WHITE
ZINFANDEL
--NOT !!
White
Zinfandel
is not a
red wine
and not
a white
wine. It
is a blush-colored
wine make
from the
RED Zinfandel
grape. The
slight pink
color results
from fermenting
the just-pressed
juice in
contact
with the
skins for
a short
time to
lightly
color the
wine. For
the most
part, a
White Zinfandel
is semi-sweet
and very
east to
drink, although,
many have
no complexity
and little
excitement.
It can be
great “training
wheels”
wine – a
good starting
point for
new wine
drinker
and a fine
out-on the
patio wine.
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