Whenever you go shopping for wine, it is easy to forget about all the the wines that are available to you.You also want to know what are in these wines and what are its characteristics.It is important to know these choices that are available to you to enhance your wine experience.Vino for dinner.com is a wonderful resource to use which describes these wine in great detail below.
RED WINE
Cabernet Franc [cab-er-nay frahnk] - Traditionally used as a blending grape in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Cab Franc has recently come into its own as an exceptional stand-alone varietal. The aromas and flavors can vary greatly depending on the region of the grape.
Cabernet Sauvignon [cab-er-nay so-vin-yon] - Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely recognized red wines and is considered to be the "King" of red wine. It is known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. It is full-bodied and intense, with cherry, currant and sometimes herbal flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon may have noticeable tannins and is usually aged using oak barrels.
Merlot [mur-low] - Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a blending grape and varietal wines. Merlot based wines usually have medium to full body and herbaceous flavors and hints of plum currant and berries. The flexibility of the grape has helped to make it one of the most popular and common wines in the United States.
Pinot Noir [pee-no nwahr] - The tremendously broad range of bouquets, flavors, textures and impressions that Pinot noir can produce sometimes confuses tasters. In the broadest terms, the wine tends to be of light to medium body with an aroma reminiscent of black cherry, raspberry or currant.
Syrah or Shiraz [sih-rah] - The name Shiraz is commonly used for wines that come from Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand. Wines made from Syrah are often quite powerfully flavored and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticulture practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry and pepper are often noticed.
Zinfandel [zin-fan-del] - The taste of the red wine depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County.
WHITE WINE
Chardonnay [shar-dun-nay] - Usually 100% varietal, Chardonnay is a white wine, which can range from clean and crisp with a hint of varietal flavor to rich and complex oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture. Most Chardonnays spend time in oak, either barrel fermented and/or aged. It is becoming more common for Chardonnay to be fermented in using stainless steel. Chardonnay's fermented in stainless steel are usually more crisp and clean.
Gewurztraminer [gah-vertz-trah-mee-ner] - This variety has high natural sugar and the wines are white and usually off-dry, with a flamboyant bouquet of flavors. Dry Gewuerztraminers may also have aromas of roses, passion fruit and floral notes.
Pinot Gris [pee-noh gree] - Wines made from the Pinot Gris vary greatly and are dependent on the region and wine making style they are from. German Pinot Gris are more full-bodied with a balance of acidity and slight sweetness. In Oregon the wines are medium bodied with a yellow to copper-pink color and aromas of pear, apple, and/or melon. In California, the Pinot Gris are more light bodied with a crisp, refreshing taste with some pepper.
Riesling [rees-ling] - Riesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietal pure and are seldom oaked. Note that we did say dry for Riesling, this varietal is commonly thought to be sweet but most Rieslings made outside of Germany will tend to be drier.
Sauvignon Blanc [sah-vin-yon blahnk] - Is now planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white wine. Depending on climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. It is common for this wine to be referred to as crisp, clean and fresh.
Semillon [sem-ee-yon] - is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, most notably in France and Australia. Usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc, and sometimes with Chardonnay, but can also stand on its own as a single varietal. Mostly fermented and aged in stainless steel and sometimes with oak.
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Joseph A. Jones & The WellLife Team
