print this pageSelect 101 - Red Wines
As we have different kinds of apples and potatoes, there are many types of grapes. Wine grape varieties represent only a small portion of all existing kind of grapes. Only a few grapes that offer the right combination of characteristics such as color, size, skin thickness, acidity, yield and flavors have found their way into the world's wines.
The type of grapes used determines a large part of the character of a wine.The characteristics of the most common grape varieties are presented below.
However, note that not all Chardonnays or Cabernet Sauvignon taste the same. The environmemt in which it is grow (climate, terroir,..), wine making, aging and other men intervention make it unique.
Varietals
Cabernet franc
Characteristics
Medium/low acidity, lighter in colour and tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Red fruit (raspberry, cherry, plum), herbal (bell pepper, stems)
Other: Violet, toats, earth
Classic Regions
France (Loire, Bordeaux)
Other Premium Regions
California
Chile
Argentina
Australia
Food Pairing
chicken, turkey pizza, lasagna
Also Blended With
more often used as a secondary or tertiary element in blends (Bordeaux and Bordeaux style blends)
Cabernet sauvignon
Characteristics
Produces deeply coloured wines, high in tannins.
Black fruit (blackcurrant), vegetal (bell pepper, mint), high acidity (moderate climate) – black fruit (more black chery), chocolate, medium acid, fuller-bodied (hot climate)
Other: oak (smoke, vanilla, coffee), cedar
Classic Regions
France: Bordeaux (Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Pomerol, St Emilion, Pessac-Leognan, Graves)
Other Premium Regions
Australia: Coonawarra
Chile: central valley
California: Napa Valley, Sonoma
Argentina: Mendoza
South Africa –
France Vins de Pays d’Oc, others: California Central valley
Food Pairing
New World: beef stew & steaks venison, lamb, lasagne, mature hard cheese
Old World: strong cheese, lamb, beef casseroles and stews, dark chocolate
Also Blended With
Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec, Carmenere
Carmenere
Characteristics
Originallly from Médoc, this is the signature varietal of Chile.
depth of color. Dark fruit (blackberry, dark plums) , medium acidity, spice
Others: herbal, gamy, chocolate
Classic Regions
Chile
Other Premium Regions
Food Pairing
Cold cuts, cheeses, meat and tomato sauce pasta, beef, chili, ham, tacos
Also Blended With
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Grenache
Characteristics
Garnacha in Spain and Grenache in other parts of the world – high sugar levels, low acidity, deep colour, very full-bodied.
Red fruit (strawberry), spices (white pepper) low acidity, low tannins (hot climate)
Other: toffee, leather
Classic Regions
France: Southern Rhône, côtes du Rhône
Spain
Other Premium Regions
California
Australia
Food Pairing
Also Blended With
Backbone of wines from around the Mediterranean sea.
Also blended with syrah in other parts of the world
Malbec
Characteristics
Very deep color, ample tannin. Fruit (plum) and anise.
Classic Regions
Argentina
Other Premium Regions
France (Southwest)
Chile
Food Pairing
Bbq meats, roast beef, herb roasted lamb, lamb shops, cheddar
Merlot
Characteristics
Generally more body, higher alcohol, softer than Cabernet Sauvignon and medium tannins.
Red fruit (strawberry, red berry), vegetal (cedar), medium acid, higher tannins (moderate climate) – black fruit (blackberry, black plum), low acid, high alcohol (hot climate)
Other: oak, fruitcake, chocolate (super ripe grapes)
Classic Regions
France: Bordeaux (Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Pomerol, St Emilion, Pessac-Leognan, Graves)
Other Premium Regions
Australia: Margaret River
California: Napa Valley, Sonoma
Chile: Central Valley
Argentina: Mendoza
France Vins de Pays d’Oc
Other: Northern Italy, California Central Valley
Food Pairing
hamburgers, lamb, pork tenderloin, wine-based marinade, carbonara sauce, hard cheese
Also Blended With
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carménère
Mourvedre
Characteristics
Deep purple, gamy, firm texture
Deep-colored, quite tannic, somewhat alcoholic. Blackberry, spice (thyme, clove, cinnamon, black pepper), gamey.
Classic Regions
France (Provence)
Other Premium Regions
Spain
Australia
Food Pairing
Spanish dishes, bbq ribspasta with bolognese sauce
Also Blended With
Grenach, Syrah
Nebbiolo
Characteristics
dark, full-bodied, high tannins, alcohol and acidity – Red fruit (strawberry, cherry), floral (rose, violet), earthy notes (tar)
Others: vegetal (mushroom, truffle), animal (leather), licorice
Classic Regions
Italy: Piemont
Other Premium Regions
Argentina
California
Food Pairing
Flavoured beef stew, Beef braised in Barolo, risotto with mushrooms, dry aged cheeses
Pinot Noir
Characteristics
Easy to drink, though very fussy about where it is grown. Usually light colour with low to medium tannins.
Vegetal (wet leaves), high acidity, low tannins (cool climate) - red fruit (strawberry, cherry), vegetal (mushroom), medium/high acidity, low/medium tannins (moderate climate)
Other: animal (game)
Classic Regions
France: Burgundy (Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune)
Other Premium Regions
New Zealand:Marlborough
California: Sonoma, Coastal region
Oregon
Chile: Casablanca, Central Valley
South Africa: Coastal
Food Pairing
Grilled salmon, tuna, avocado, osso bucco, coq au vin, venison
mild to strong cheese
Also Blended With
Finest wines are unblended. Occasionally paired with Gamay
Sangiovese
Characteristics
moderate to high acidity, generally medium-bodied, ranging from firm and elegant to assertive and robust. Fruity ( strawberry, cherry, blueberry, plum), floral (violet), spice (clove, cinnamon
Other: earthy
Classic Regions
Italy (Tuscany)
Other Premium Regions
Italy (other regions)
Argentina
Food Pairing
chicken, pork tenderloin, pasta, pizza, parmesan, breaded veal cutlets
Also Blended With
The basic blend of Chianti
Syrah (Shiraz)
Characteristics
Referred as Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia. Deeply coloured, full-bodied, medium/high tannins, black fruit (blackberry).
Herbaceous (mint, eucalyptus), black pepper, high acid, (moderate climate) – sweet spices (liquorice, cloves), medium acid (hot climate)
Other:oak (vanilla, toast), vegetal (wet leaves), animal (leather), dark chocolate
Classic Regions
France: Northern Rhône (Crozes Hermitages, Hermitage, Côte Rotie), Southern Rhône
Other Premium Regions
Australia:Barossa (hot climate) Central Victoria, Western Australia (moderate climate)
France: Vins de Pays d’Oc, Provence, Languedoc
Spain
Food Pairing
Steak, beef fondue, lamb with rosemary, bbq ribs, pork chops, hard cheese
Also Blended With
Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier
Zinfandel
Characteristics
Zinfandel, commonly referred as Zin, is known as Primitivo in Italy
Deep red colour. Dry to sweet, from a light to full-bodied. High alcohol levels. Intense fruit (jammy berries, dark cherry), spices (pepper, cinnamon).
Other: candy, leather, tar, mushroom
Classic Regions
California
Other Premium Regions
Southern Italy
Food Pairing
Antipasti, grilled chicken, bbq steaks or chops , chili, tex-mex, chocolate cake
