Lovin Grapes

Winemaking requires a clear understanding of the types of grapes to be used because different grape types manifest different individual characteristics.  Grapes come from two main families – Vitis Vinifera, which is prevalent in Europe; and Vitis Labrusca, which is common to Canada and the eastern United States.  There are over 5,000 varieties of wine grapes with the following main types:

Auxerrois – Also known as Malbec or Cot, Auxerrois, is the grape of choice for a neutral wine that is fruity and soft.  This variety is mainly grown in Canada and Luxembourg.  In the Alsace region of France, Auxerrois  is often blended with the Pinot Blanc grape.

Barbera – Is a low-tannin grape characterized by a tarry flavor. It is a widely-planted variety of grape.  In California, Barbera equals Merlot grape vines in acreage, while it has more area planted in Italy than Sangiovese and Nebbiolo.

Cabernet Franc – Is a parent of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.  It is known as Breton in the Loire Valley of France; also known as Bouchy, Bouchet, Gros Bouchet, and Veron.  Cabernet Franc is mostly used as an additive to enhance other grapes.

Cabernet Sauvignon – This type of grape makes Cabernet Sauvignon wines which tend to taste like blackberries and cedar. On the vine, these grapes are red, small, and tough. Grown extensively in California and Australia, the grape contains a lot of tannin which leads to a excellent red wine once properly aged.

Chardonnay – Grown in Burgundy, Champagne, California, Australia, and South Africa, Chardonnay is a fresh fruity grape whose wine tends to taste like fruits – melon, peach, etc.  It is one of the most well loved and simplest to grow white grapes; the buds grow early and easily and have high ripeness levels.

Chennin Blanc – Planted primarily in the US and in the Loire valley of France, Chennin Blanc grapes make a light, fruity wine.  It is also known as White Pinot (Pinot Blanco) and Steen in South Africa.

Cinsaut – Considered the parent of pinotage, it is grown in Southern France, Lebanon, Australia and South Africa.  This grape is used mostly for blending with other stronger varieties of grapes.

Colombard – Used in South Africa and other countries, these grapes make wine with tropical fruit overtones, a light wine that goes well with seafood.  It is also used by South Africans to make brandy.

 Cortese – Grown primarily in the Piedmont region of Italy, this is the primary grape for Gavi wine.  This grape ripens early and makes a neutral white wine.

Ehrenfelser – It is a cross between the Johannisberg Riesling grape and Sylvaner grape clone.  Ehrenfelser is extremely frost resistant and it makes a wine that tastes like Riesling wine. It is grown primarily in Canada.

Gamay – This grape is used in Beaujolais Nouveau wine. The wine is a light fruity red and the grapes are grown in France.

Gewurztraminer – It is a German variety that is also widely grown in Italy, California, Canada, and Australia.  The wine made has a floral taste with nutty tones.

Grande Vidure – This grape, also known as Carmenere, is best known for its use in Medoc wines.  This variety produces low yields and has problems with coloure and oidium.

Grenache – This grape, widely grown in France, Spain, and California is most often used for rose wine.  It is the second most planted grape in the world.  Wines from Grenache tend to be sweet and fruity, with small tannin.  Grenache refers to Grenache Noir, the red variety; although, there is also a Grenache Blanc.

Kerner – It is a German cross of the Reisling grape and Black Hamburg.  It is frost resistant and grows well in cooler climates.  The wine from Kerner is sweet like the Reisling wine.  It is grown in the Michigan area of the US where the climate is cool.

Lemberger – Known also as Blaufrankish and Limberger, Lemberger is a well loved Austrian grape wine that is also grown extensively in Washington State of the US.

Marechal Foch – This grape has very small berries in small clusters that ripen early with hardy vines that make a excellent range of red wines.

Merlot – Merlot is a major blending component of most Bordeaux wines that is grown in France, Italy, Australia, and in California, Washington and Long Island, NY.  This is an early ripening grape with gentle flavors of cherry, honey, and sometimes mint.  It has less tannin than some of its red cousins.

Muller-Thurgau – The most widely planted grape in Germany, it comes as a mix of Riesling and Sylvaner.  It has a floral aroma. It is also grown in Austria, New Zealand and the northwest US.

Muscadet – Muscadet of Muscadekke is a white grape grown in Bordeaux.  It is not related to the Muscat grape and it has a grapey-tasting flavor.  It is well known for use in the Tokay wine of Australia.

Muscadine – It is a Muscadinia grape that is not part of the normal vinifera grapes branch.  Largely grown in southeaster US and in Mexico, the Muscadine is a large grape with thick skin, is very hearty and grows in places that other grapes might not.

Muscat – This is a very grapey-tasting grape that does not ripen easily and is used for Asti Spumanti, the sparkling wine from Italy.  Varieties of Muscat include Muscat Blanc, Moscato, Muscat of Alexandria and Muscadel.

Muskat Krymskii – Makes aromatic white wine that tends to be wheat-colored, and has a clean fruity bouquet.  It is grown in Bulgaria, the Ukraine and other eastern European countries.

Nebbiolo – Notoriously hard to grow, this late-ripening grape is known to be tannic, pruny, tarry, and chocolaty.  It is grown in the Piedmont area of Italy, Switzerland, California, and Australia.

Optima – A German variety of grape that is used to add sugar to other wines; it is not a very palatable variety on its own.

Ortega – A cross between Muller Thurgau, Madeleine Angevine and Gewurtztraminer, Ortega is very flavorful and has a mangoey taste.  It is grown in Canada.

Petite Sirah – A dark, tannic, and fruity grape, it has smoky or chocolaty tones to it.  It is well loved in California where it is used in “jug wines”.

Pinot Blanc – It is a mutation of the Pinot Gris grape that is used in Californian sparkling wines.  It has flavor very much similar to Chardonnay wine.  It is grown in the Alsace region of France, Italy, and Austria where it is known as Weissburgunder.

Pinot Gris – A clone of Pinot Noir, it is grown in France, Austria and along the west coast of the US.  It can be used to make both fine whites and roses.

Pinot Noir – Softer and earlier ripening than Cabernet grapes, Pinot Noir grapes are very sensitive to conditions.  They are used in red wines and as a white ingredient in Champagne (used without skins).  They are grown in Burgundy, Australia, California, Oregon, Italy and Germany.

Pinotage – Was developed in the early 1900s and grown primarily in South Africa; it is mix between pinot noir and cinsaut.  This grape makes a hearty wine, with fruit and spice taste.

Riesling – It can produce a dry, crisp and fruity wine; also produces honeyed, musky flavors in warmer climates or when left longer on the vine.  It is native to Germany, but also grown in France, Australia, California, and the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Sauvignon Blanc – Grown primarily in California and France, this grape has a grassy flavor and makes a crisp, light wine.

Scheurebe – A mix between Sylvaner and Johannisberg Riesling, this grape is mostly planted in Germany and is used to make aromatic white wines.

Semillon – This grape, used mostly in Bordeaux, France, is thin-skinned and ripens early.  It has a grassy, figgy flavor.  It is also grown in Australia and California and is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc.

Seyval – It is the most widely planted grape east of the Rocky Mountains in the US.  It has melony flavors, as well as grassy/hay overtones.

Sylvaner – Once a widely-planted variety in Alsace region of France, it has dwindled in popularity.  The grape produces a pleasant, but bland, white wine with light spice and floral flavors.

Syrah/Shiraz – Grown in France and in California as Syrah wine, and in Australia as Shiraz, this grape tends towards a minerally, blueberry, or sometimes spicy and peppery type of flavor.  This should not be confused with Petite Sirah which is an entirely different grape.

Siegerrebe – A cross between Gewurtztraminer and a normal table grape, it ripens very early and has high sugar content.  Wines made from Siegerrebe has peach and honey taste.

Viognier – Predominantly found in the Rhone Valley and in California, it is noted for spice, floral, citrus, apricot, apple and peach flavors.  It produces medium-bodied wines with high acids and fruit.  It can be used to produce highly complex wines.

Vidal Blanc – Mostly grown in the northeast US, it is very hearty and does well in late-harvest, sweet wines, as well as in ice wines.

Zinfandel – They are believed to have originated in Southern Italy but they are now largely grown in California.  The wines made from Zinfandel grapes can be fruity or spicy, depending on age.  When the skins are left on, Zinfandel makes Red Zinfandel wines, and when the skins are removed makes White Zinfandel wines.