Grape Varieties

There are hundreds of varieties of grapes, but the majority of the wine in the world is made from relatively few varieties. The lists below are just a sampling of the many varieties of grapes used in the production of wine. You would not be alone if you did not recognize the names of many of these varieties. Click on a grape variety to see a detailed taste profile and typeical food pairings for wines made from the grape.

Almost all wine grapes have white or clear juice. It is the wine-making process that determines whether the wine is red or white. While the wine-making process also controls sweetness and other taste characteristics, for the most part it is the grape variety that determines the basic characteristics of the wine. So, while it is possible to produce a sweet, white Zinfandel, most wines made from the Zinfandel grape are dark red, dry wines.

The chart below attempts to show the basic characteristics of wines made from eight of the most popular grape varieties. Before anyone raises their hand to complain, I admit without reservation that this chart is imperfect. However, I believe that it is sufficiently representative of these wines that it will be useful to the casual wine drinker.

When you first begin to drink wine you are most likely to prefer wines to the left on this chart. That seems to be the way most of us start out. As our palates mature, most of our tastes will begin to move to the right, preferring dryer rather than sweeter wines. Once we reach the red wines about two-thirds of the way across the chart we will begin to encounter tannins, a byproduct of how red wines are made. Some of us will never acquire a taste for wines in this category, while others will come to appreciate the complexity of these big, red wines.

Each of these grapes has distinctive taste and aroma characteristics. As with the chart above, the chart below is not a perfect representation, but it should serve to help the casual wine drinker understand the basic differences between these varieties.

Cabernet Sauvignon	Distinctive black currant flavor with a hint of mint and cedar. Ranges from medium bodied to full bodied; dry and tannic.
Zinfandel	Has a unique flavor, intense peppery fruitiness and a vibrant color; deliciously dry.
Merlot	Medium- to Full-bodied, less tannic than Cabernet, dry, black cherry, red and ripe summer fruits.
Syrah/Shiraz	Intense, with deep violet, nearly black color, chewy texture and richness, with aromas that tend to be more spicy than they are fruity.
Pinot Noir	Medium- to Light-bodied, earthy, hint of herbs, aromas of red fruit cherries, game, licorice, smoke and earth.
Sauvignon Blanc	Sharp, tangy, gooseberry is the predominant flavor, undertones of grass, nettles, elderflower and asparagus; dry and acidic.
Chardonnay	Buttery, lemon flavors, sometimes nutty, often with a strong hint of tropical fruit.
Pinot Grigio	Delicately fragrant and mildly floral with lightly lemon-citrus flavors. Can be tangy and light or rich, round and full bodied.
Riesling	Aromatic, displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas of peach, appricot and/or apples, as well as high acidity.