Albariño
Spanish white wine grape that makes crisp, refreshing, and light-bodied wines.
Aligoté
White wine grape grown in Burgundy making medium-bodied, crisp, dry wines with spicy character.
Amarone
From Italy's Veneto Region a strong, dry, long- lived red, made from a blend of partially dried red grapes.
Arneis
A light-bodied dry wine the Piedmont Region of Italy.
Asti Spumante
From the Piedmont Region of Italy, A semidry sparkling wine produced from the Moscato di Canelli grape in the village of Asti.
Auslese
German white wine from grapes that are very ripe and thus high in sugar.
Banylus
A French wine made from late-harvest Grenache grapes and served with chocolate or dishes with a hint of sweetness. By law the wine must contain 15 percent alcohol.
Barbera
Most successful in Italy's Piedmont region. High acidity, deep ruby color and full body, with low tannins & berrylike flavors.
Barbaresco
A red wine from the Piedmont Region of Italy, made from Nebbiolo grapes it is lighter than Barolo .
Bardolino
A light red wine from the Veneto Region of Italy. Blended from several grapes the wine garnet in color, dry and slightly bitter, sometimes lightly sparkling.
Barolo
Highly regarded Italian red, made from Nebbiolo grapes. It is dark, full-bodied and high in tannin and alcohol. Ages well.
Beaujolais
Typically light, fresh, fruity red wines from and area south of Burgundy, near Lyons, in eastern France. Areas: Beaujolais-Blanc, Beaujolais Villages, Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Mouliné-àVent, Morgon, Regnie, Saint Amour.
Blanc de Blancs
Champagne or white wine made from white grapes.
Blanc de Noirs
White or blush wine or Champagne made from dark grapes.
Blush
American term for rosé. Any wine that is pink in color.
Boal or Bual
Grown on the island of Madeira, it makes medium-sweet wines.
Brunello
This strain of Sangiovese is the only grape permitted for Brunello di Montalcino, the rare, costly Tuscan red. Luscious black and red fruits with chewy tannins.
Cabernet Franc
Red wine grape used in Bordeaux for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an earlier-maturing red wine, due to its lower level of tannins. Light- to medium-bodied wine with more immediate fruit than Cabernet Sauvignon and some of the herbaceous odors evident in unripe Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Currant, Plum, Black Cherry & Spice, with notes of Olive, Vanilla Mint, Tobacco, Toasty Cedar, Anise, Pepper & Herbs. Full-bodied wines with great depth that improve with aging. Cabernet spends from 15 to 30 months aging in American & French Oak barrels which tend to soften the tannins, adding the toasty cedar & vanilla flavors.
Carignan
Known as Carignane in California, and Cirnano in Italy. Once a major blending grape for jug wines, Carignan's popularity has diminished though it still appears in some blends. Old vineyards are sought after for the intensity of their grapes
Carmenere
Also known as Grande Vidure, once widely planted in Bordeaux. Now primarily associated with Chile. Carmenere, was imported to Chile in the 1850's. Carmenere has been frequently mislabeled snf many growers and the Chilean government consider it Merlot.
Cava
Spanish sparkling wine. Produced by the méthode champenoise.
Charbono
Mainly found in California (may possibly be Dolcetto), this grape has dwindled in acreage. Often lean and tannic. Few wineries still produce it.
Chardonnay
Apple, Pear, Vanilla, Fig, Peach, Pineapple, Melon, Citrus, Lemon, Grapefruit, Honey, Spice, Butterscotch, Butter & Hazelnut. Chardonnay takes well to Oak aging & barrel fermentation and is easy to manipulate with techniques such as sur lie aging & malolactic fermentation.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The most famous wines of the southern Rhône Valley, are produced in and around the town of the same name (the summer residence of the popes during their exile to Avignon). The reds are rich, ripe, and heady, with full alcohol levels and chewy rustic flavors. Although 13 grape varieties are planted here, the principal varietal is Grenache, followed by Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre (also Vaccarese, Counoise, Terret noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Piquepoul, Picardan, Rousanne, Bourboulenc).
Chenin Blanc
Native of the Loire where it's the basis of the famous whites: Vouvray, Anjou, Quarts de Chaume and Saumer. In other areas it is a very good blending grape. Called Steen in South Africa and their most-planted grape. California uses it mainly as a blending grape for generic table wines. It can be a pleasant wine, with melon, peach, spice and citrus. The great Loire wines, depending on the producer can be dry and fresh to sweet.
Chianti
From a blend of grapes this fruity, light ruby-to-garnet-colored red may be called Chianti Riserva when aged three or more years.
Chianti Classico
From a designated portion of the Chianti wine district. To be labeled Chianti Classico, both vineyard and winery must be within the specified region.
Claret
British term for red Bordeaux wines.
Colombard (French Colombard)
The second most widely planted white variety in California, nearly all of it for jug wines. It produces an abundant crop, nearly 11 tons per acre, and makes clean and simple wines.
Constantia
This legendary sweet wine from South Africa, was a favorite of Napoleon. It comes from an estate called Groot Constantia.
Cortese
White wine grape grown in Piedmont and Lombardy. Best known for the wine, Gavi. The grape produces a light-bodied, crisp, well-balanced wine.
Dolcetto
From northwest Piedmont it produces soft, round, fruity wines fragrant with licorice and almonds.





Reply With Quote
Bookmarks