Category: Grape varieties

Taste: Generally blended to produce quite robust wines with red and black fruit flavors and a peppery finish. When made as a varietal it has aromas of violets, wild herbs and red fruits followed by flavors of cherry, raspberry and blackberry, along with spicy notes. Body: Medium to full Tannin: Medium to high Acidity: Medium to high Age: Best…

Taste: Aromas of black and red fruits infused with vegetal bell pepper and oak fragrances. A broad range of flavors, include blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, plum and red berries, may be accompanied by cedar, coconut, tobacco and vanilla. Body: Medium to full Tannin: Medium to high Acidity: Medium to high Age: Simpler wines are best consumed within a few…

Taste: Intense black cherry and blackcurrant flavors accompanied by cassis and licorice. Oak aging adds additional vanilla, cedar, coconut and spicy notes. Body: Full Tannin: High Acidity: Medium Age: Most should be drunk within two or three years of the vintage, but the best wines will continue to improve for another five or ten years. Description As the world’s…

Taste: Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry and blackberry, as well as vegetal notes of green bell pepper and mint, together with vanilla and spice from oak. Body: Medium to full Tannin: High Acidity: Medium to high Age: Most are made to be consumed within a few years of release, but higher quality wines need several years to…

Taste: Aromas of red and black fruits with juicy flavors of raspberry, loganberry, blackcurrant, cherry, cedar and bell pepper. Often displays herbaceous qualities and mineral notes. Body: Light to medium Tannin: Low Acidity: High Age: Drink within a few years of release, but the finest wines age very well. Description Cabernet Franc (ka-ber-nay FRAHN) originated in southwest France and…

Taste: Aromas of red fruit, with well developed flavors of cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum, together with some spicy notes. Body: Generally light (can be medium to full) Tannin: Low – medium Acidity: Medium Age: Drink while young and fruity. Description Bonarda (baw-NAHR-da) is the most widely grown grape variety in Argentina after Malbec. It was thought to be the…

Taste: Aromas of red and black fruits with notes of violet, herbs, vanilla and wood smoke, followed by flavors of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, prunes, fig and cassis, together with hints of toast and spice. As they mature, they can display additional notes of licorice, chocolate, tobacco and exhibit an appealing earthy quality.  Body: Medium to full Tannin:…

Taste: Refreshingly fruity with aromas of red and black fruits, followed by flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry. Body: Light to medium (can be full) Tannin: Low Acidity: High Age: Drink while young and fresh, but more serious wines age well. Description Barbera (bar-BER-ah) is a good quality Italian grape variety that is planted widely across the country. It performs…

Taste: Aromas of black fruits and ripe plum, with coffee, tobacco, vanilla and earthy as well as smoky notes, followed by flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and plum, along with dark chocolate and a smooth spicy finish. Body: Light to medium, but can be full Tannin: Low Acidity: High Age: Most should be drunk young, but some are…

Taste: Crisp and refreshing with aromas of lime, lemon, clementine, marzipan, honey and a peppery spiciness, followed by succulent citrus fruit flavors and marked minerality. Body: Medium to full Dry / Sweet: Dry Acidity: High Age: Can be drunk young, but also ages very well. Description Assyrtiko (a-SEER-tee-ko) is a very high quality grape indigenous to the island of Santorini in…