Welcome to the World of Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, tannic red grape of noble heritage. It is the base grape for many red Bordeaux and many of the best red wines from California, Washington, Chile and South Africa. Thick-skinned and late-ripening, it produces a deep colored wine with assertive tannins and an affinity to oak; it often produces wines capable of aging for decades.
- Chardonnay is arguably the best and most widely planted white wine grape in the world, with bottlings from Old and New World readily available throughout the globe. It is the signature white grape of Burgundy where it produces a variety of styles, from minerally, unoaked Chablis to decadent, full and toasty wines of Montrachet and Pouilly-Fuissé. It is also the main white grape used in Champagne, and the sole grape used in Blanc de Blancs. It is also common in California, where it is often oak aged. Our Chardonnay reviews will give you a general idea what to expect from wines made from Chardonnay, and will help you find one that best suits your needs.
- Gewürztramineris like the grown-up version of Moscato. While Gewürztraminer wine has many similarities to Moscato it also has higher alcohol, more striking aromatics and lower acidity. All of these characteristics make Gewürztraminer more difficult to slurp down, thus making it more 'adult'.
The first aroma you'll come across in a glass of Gewürztraminer is its tell-tale lychee aroma. If you've never smelled lychee – canned or fresh – then this aroma will be more like 'sweet rose.' The lychee aroma is usually so intense, it's one of Gewürztraminer's 'tells' in a blind tasting. If you're drinking high quality Gewürztraminer you'll find a great many complex aromatics including Ruby Red grapefruit, rose petal, ginger and a smoky aroma similar to burnt incense.
- Cabernet Sauvignon is like the grown-up version of Moscato. While Gewürztraminer wine has many similarities to Moscato it also has higher alcohol, more striking aromatics and lower acidity. All of these characteristics make Gewürztraminer more difficult to slurp down, thus making it more 'adult'.
The first aroma you'll come across in a glass of Gewürztraminer is its tell-tale lychee aroma. If you've never smelled lychee – canned or fresh – then this aroma will be more like 'sweet rose.' The lychee aroma is usually so intense, it's one of Gewürztraminer's 'tells' in a blind tasting. If you're drinking high quality Gewürztraminer you'll find a great many complex aromatics including Ruby Red grapefruit, rose petal, ginger and a smoky aroma similar to burnt incense.
- Merlot is a red grape popular in Bordeaux and throughout the world. As one of the five Bordeaux varieties, it contributes fleshy, ripe dark fruit flavors with soft tannins and an overall supple texture to a blend, or produces an approachable and early-drinking wine on its own. It is a thick-skinned variety that ripens early, and its acclimation to many climates accounts for large amounts of Merlot existing in Italy, the United States, South America and elsewhere
- Pinot Gris/Grigio is a grayish-purple grape that yields a white wine with a refreshing character. It is a versatile grape that produces a wide variety of styles depending on the region and winemaking style; some (like those from Alsace) can be full-bodied with a rich, somewhat floral bouquet while others (like those from Italy) can be crisp and light-bodied with dominating citrus aromas.
- Cabernet Sauvignonis a grayish-purple grape that yields a white wine with a refreshing character. It is a versatile grape that produces a wide variety of styles depending on the region and winemaking style; some (like those from Alsace) can be full-bodied with a rich, somewhat floral bouquet while others (like those from Italy) can be crisp and light-bodied with dominating citrus aromas.
- Pinot Noir is the primary red grape of Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon and New Zealand. It is a temperamental thin-skinned grape that is sensitive to light exposure, pruning and soil types, generally low-yielding and highly susceptible to rot and fungal diseases. However, it can produce some of the world's most sought-after and attractive wines, particularly from Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Depending on its origins, wines produced with Pinot Noir exhibit a range of aromas, textures and flavors, but are commonly light to medium bodied with red berry and earthy characteristics.
- Riesling is one of the top white grapes in the world. It is an aromatic grape that can produce dry to very sweet dessert wines. It is most popular in Germany, Alsace and Austria, but excellent varietal wines can be found throughout the world including in Australia and New York. Riesling-based wines typically express notes of apple, citrus, honey and petrol.
- Sauvignon Blancis a white grape planted throughout the world, and may also be labeled as Fumé Blanc. Wines produced with Sauvignon Blanc can vary in style, from zippy and grassy to lush and tropical fruit-driven. Sauvignon Blanc is also a component of sweet white Bordeaux such as Sauternes and Barsac.
- Zinfandelis a popular grape in California, although it appears to have originated in Croatia, where it is known as Crljenak Kastelanski, and southern Italy, where it is known as Primitivo. Zinfandel produces powerful, spicy reds with forward raspberry and pepper notes. It can also be used to produce a semisweet rosé (blush) wine called White Zinfandel.