Red Grape Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon {Cab}
Origin: France
Significant in: The Bordeaux region of France, southern France, California, Washington State, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, parts of Italy
Characteristics: Cabs range from medium-bodied to full-bodied and have such a high tannin content that they are a perfect candidate for blending with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The flavors of Cabernet grapes include plum, cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and vanilla. Aromas can include spice, tobacco and leather. This grape is ideal for ageing (five to ten years or more in the finer wines)
Merlot
Origin: France
Significant in: The Bordeaux region of France, southwestern France, California, Washington State, Argentina, Chile, northeastern Italy
Characteristics: Since the tannin levels are typically lower in Merlot and the fruit flavors are typically forward, many winemakers blend it with Cabernet to provide the intensity. The aromas of Merlot tend to be dominated by plums and chocolate. Flavors range from cherries, blueberries and blackberries mixed with cocoa to black pepper tones.
Zinfandel {Red}
Origin: Uncertain, but somewhere in Europe. Croatia has been showing up consistantly in research for the last decade.
Significant in: California
Characteristics: The intensity of the wine varies according to where the grape grew and how old the vines are; some very old vinyards (80 to 100 years) produce full bodied wines that are dense with flavor but most Zinfandels make medium bodied wines with succulent fruit and mild tannins. Zinfandel feature flavors include: raspberry, blackberry, cherry, plums, raisins, spice and black pepper all wrapped around various intensities of oak. This is a very versatile wine.
Syrah {Shiraz}
Origin: France’s Rhône region
Significant in: Southern France, Australia and South Africa (Shiraz), parts of California, Italy, Washington State
Characteristics: Syrah typically has dark colors and high tannins with very complex aromas and flavors. The flavors range from fruit and vegetal to meat and spicy. Cherry, Raspberry, roasted green peppers, smokey bacon, and black pepper make up this complex wine. Australian Shiraz tend to be very big, rich and tannic
Pinot Noir
Origin: France
Significant in: France’s Burgundy, Alsace, and Champagne regions, California, Oregon, northeastern Italy
Characteristics: Pinot Noirs are typically not very dark in color and have relatively low tannins. Pinot can generally stand on its own merits. With the exception of the very finest (and very expensive) Burgundies, Pinot Noir is not commonly blended with other grape varietals. Its flavors have very vivid fruit and berry character. These range from red berries, cherries and plums to tomatoes and earthy (or wood like) depending on the growing conditions. Drinks young (one to six years).
Malbec
Origin: Bordeaux region in France
Significant in: Argentina, France, and California
Characteristics: This grape is among the "big six" for red wine grapes. In France, Malbec is generally a grape used for blending. The story in Argentina is quite the opposite. This is Argentina's signature grape and it is quickly making a new name for itself with red wine lovers due to Nicolás Catena. Malbec is typically a medium to full-bodied red wine. Ripe fruit flavors of plums and blackberry give it a jammy characteristic. The tannins are typically a bit tight and the earthy, wood-like appeal makes for a fairly rustic, yet versatile wine.
Carmeñere
Origin: Médoc region of Bordeaux, France
Significant in: Chile
Characteristics: Even though Carmenere is considered one of the “Big Six” grapes in France, most of the production comes from Chile, South America. The grape holds it’s own in Chilean wines but the best (In my opinion) are still blended with Cabernet Sauvginon. Carmenere has a deep red color and aromas found in red fruits, spices, and berries. Dark cherry and green pepper can be very common finishes with this varietal.
Sangiovese {Chianti}
Origin: Italy
Significant in: Central Italy, California, and Argentina
Characteristics: By Italian law, Chianti must contain at least 90% Sagiovese, but I would advise trying some of the Super Tuscan Blends that have more Cab and Merlot. Many California producers are making Cabernet and Sangiovese blends in the Super Tuscan Style. Sangiovese has a lot of cherrry, plum, strawberry, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors and is a medium to full bodied wine.
Gamay
Origin: France
Where Grown: The Beaujolais district of France and France’s Loire valley region.
Wines made from this Grape: Beaujolais, Anjou Gamay, Gamay de Touraine
Characteristics: “Grapey” is a descriptive term often associated with the Gamay grape because most of it’s wines are typically enjoyed when they are youthful, fresh, and juicy tasting. Gamay makes wines that are naturally low in alcohol and light in body, with high acidity and moderate tannin. They often give off a floral or candied fruit impression that is derived from winemaking techniques used for wines meant to be enjoys young.
Nebbiolo
Origin: Italy
Where Grown: Piedmont and Lombardy regions of Italy and California
Wines made from this Grape: Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, and Nebbiolo d’Alba
Characteristics: When the Nebbiolo grape has just the right conditions to ripen, it makes wines that taste and smell of ripe strawberries mingled with earthy aromas, such as eucalyptus and mint. The finest Nebbiolo wines have high acidity, high tannin, and often high alcoholic content – monster wines that need many years to mature. But from other vineyards makes a medium-bodied, less tannic wine that can be enjoyed young.
Barbera
Origin: Italy
Where Grown: Northern Italy, California, Argentina, and Brazil
Wines made from this Grape: Barbera d’Alba, Barbera d’Asti, Barbera d’wherever, and California wines labeled Barbera.
Characteristics: Wines made from the Barbera grape are usually deep in color, have high acidity, very low tannin, and show spicy and fruity flavors. Because the grape is low in tannin, the wine can be soft and very easy to drink. To compensate for this lack of tannin, some winemakers age Barbera in new oak casks so that the wine takes on tannin from the wood, which consequently increases the price tag.
Tempranillo
Origin: Spain
Where Grown: Spain, Portugal, and Argentina
Wines made from this Grape: Spain’s red Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines, and Douro reds from Portugal (where the grape is called Tinta Roriz).
Characteristics: The thick-skinned Tempranillo grape gives wine a deep color, moderate tannin, and low to medium acidity. Tempranillo does not have a particularly marked aroma or taste that is all its own; in fact, many wine professional recognize Rioja wines not by the distinct flavor of the Tempranillo grape, but by the aroma of the particular type of oak in which Rioja wine is aged. It is often blended with a noticeable percentage of a different but closely related grape called Grenache.
Grenache
Origin: Spain (where it is called Garnacha)
Where Grown: Spain, France’s Rhone Valley region, California, and Australia.
Wines made from this Grape: Chateauneuf-Du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, Rioja, and many Rhone style wines produced in California.
Characteristics: Grenache grapes ripen with a high level of sugar, thus making high alcohol wines. Other characteristics of this grape vary according to how the grape is grown. When it is industrially farmed, for example, its color can be orangey and rather pale, and its flavor can be leathery and weak; grown more carefully, it can have intense red color and intense aromas and flavors of raspberry and black pepper. In any case it is moderately tannic. Grenache is seldom seen on its own but rather blended with Tempranillo – in Spain, or with Syrah and other grapes – in France and California.
RED BLENDS
GSM {Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre}
Origin: France’s Rhône region
Significant in: Southern Rhône, Australia
Characteristics: Grenache is the lightest of the three grapes, producing a pale red juice and soft berry flavors. It provides the alcohol on this blend without a lot of tannins. The Syrah grape adds full bodied black fruits and pepper and the tannins necessary to balance the wine. The Mouvèdre grape contributes acidity, sweet plums and hints of tobacco.
Meritage {Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot}
Origin: Domestic (proprietary blend)
Significant in: Predominately California, but thirteen states and two Canadian provinces have permission to use this term on their label.
Characteristics: The one wine-producing district in the world that has been the subject of more imitation than any other is certainly Bordeaux, France. The word “Meritage” is a composite of “merit,” suggesting the best wines these wineries produce, and “heritage,” reflecting the blending tradition of Bordeaux. A red Meritage is made from a blend of two or more of the following varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot, and Carmenere. No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend. Proprietary names like Summation, Symmetry, Langtry, Insignia, Marlstone, etc. may be used by vineyards in place of the word Meritage in hopes that it will gain its own recognition.