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Wine Grapes and Varietal Wines
Asti Spumante - From the Piedmont region of Italy. A semidry sparkling wine produced from the Moscato di Canelli grape in the village of Asti.
Beaujolais - Typically light, fresh, fruity red wines from an area sounth of Burgundy, near Lyons, in eastern France.
Blush - American term for rose. Any wine that is pink in color.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Currant, plum, black cherry and spice, with notes of olive, vanilla mint, tobacco, toasty cedar, anis, pepper, and herbs. Full bodied wines with great depth that improve with aging.
Chardonnay - Flavors - Apple, pear, vanilla, fig, peach, pineapple, melon, citrus, lemon, grapefruit, honey, spice, butterscotch, butter and hazelnut.
Chianti - From a blend of grapes that is fruity, light ruby-to-garnet-colored red may be called Chianti Riserva when aged 3 or more years.
Gewurztraminer - May be dry or sweet and found in the German Pfalz region. This wine has an exotic, spicy smell and tends to be full bodied. Quite alcoholic with low acidity.
Merlot - Herbs, green olive, cherry and chocolate. Softer and medium in weight with fewer tannins than Cabernet and ready to drink sooner. The best Merlots come from Pomerol and St.-Emilion regions of Bordeaux. It is also varietal in California and Chile. In northern Italy, it produces light, grassy wines. Fuller reds are produced in Bulgaria. Blended Merlots show up in New Zealand and South Africa.
Pinot Grigio - At its best this varietal produces wines that are soft, perfumed with more color than most other white wines. Grown mainly in northeast Italy.
Pinot Noir - This is the great, noble grape of Burgundy. Difficult to grow but at its best is smooth and richer than Cabernet Sauvignon with less tannin. Raisin like flavors with undertones of black cherry, spice and raspberry.
Port - Fortified wine from the Douro region of Portugual. Styles include: Late Bottle, Tawny, Ruby, Aged, and Vintage.
Riesling - Thrives in the cool climates of Germany and Alsace and also in the warmer climes of Australia. Riesling has the potential to age for many years. Riesling should have a vivid fruitness.
Sauvignon Blanc - Grassy and herbaceous flavors and aromas mark this light and medium-bodied wine, sometimes with hints of gooseberry and currant.
Sangiovese - Dominates central Italy, but aspires greatness in Tuscany. It is a medium to full, firm, dry, slightly spicy red that ages well.
Zinfandel - Predominant raspberry flavors and spicy aroma. Can be bold and intense as well as light and fruity. It is the most widely grown grape in California.
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