Red
Wine Grape Varieties |
Alicante |
A good blending grape. One
of the few red grape varieties that has red pulp as well as a red skin.
Makes intense, dark purplish wines that may be rather neutral in flavor
and low in acid. Use it to add color to short term wines. |
Barbera |
Deep purple grape that often
has high acidity. Especially good when young, or when blended. |
Cabernet Franc |
Blending grape (with Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot) for a traditional red Bordeaux. Similar to Cabernet
Sauvignon but lighter in color and body, slightly more herbaceous, and
lower level of tannin. Hints of raspberries, violets, and pencil shavings. |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
Great Cabs have bouquets
with traces of cassis, blackberry, cedar , butterscotch, green peppers,
chocolate, cocoa, leather, etc. Deep, plummy richness. |
Carignane |
Good grapey, juicy fruit.
Medium tannin. Blend it with Grenache to make a red table wine. |
Grenache |
Cherry in the color, aroma,
and flavor. Can make a wonderful rose. |
Lemberger |
Deep rich flavors and colors
with hints of spiciness and earthiness. |
Merlot |
Produces supple and richly
colored wines with a nutmeg spiciness and plummy fruitiness. Blends well
with Cabernet Sauvignon and is ideal for early drinking. |
Mission |
Primarily a blending grape
because of its high concentration of sugar, light color , and low acidity.
Use it to make a light red wine. |
Pinot Noir |
Very tough to describe.
An aroma of raspberries or strawberries. ..can be full- bodied but is never
heavy like Cabernet. An elegant grape that take a lifetime to make well. |
Petite Sirah |
Not related to Syrah or
Shiraz. Deep, dark color with jamminess and good acidity. |
Ruby Cabernet |
Deep-colored and pleasant.
Best enjoyed young. |
Syrah |
Known as Shiraz in Australia.
Deep, dark, opaque, burnt purple color. Aroma that's intensely spicy with
overtones of tar, and fresh jam. A flavor that is peppery-rich. |
Valdepenas |
Light color, low acid, rather
neutral flavor. Blends well with Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon to make
a Spanish red. Best drunk young. |
Zinfandel |
Deep red-purple color. Warm
(can have high sugars), berry-like, jammy-intense, spicy characteristic. |