Types of Wine

Listed below are some of the most common types of grapes used in making wine, with a brief description of a wine made from that variety.  Bear in mind actual wines may vary greatly.  This is followed by a two-page grape and wine key telling you the name of a wine, the grape(s) used to make it, and where it is from.  Keep this as a future reference.

White Wines

Chardonnay--Straw-yellow color and a richly scented nose.  Medium to full-bodied with a dry, lingering aftertaste.

Sauvignon Blanc--Pale yellow with greenish hues; green apple and grassy aromas; a light, dry, crisp wine.

Chenin Blanc--Pale gold color, fruit aromas, fresh melon flavors with a medium-dry finish.

Viognier--Golden yellow, ripe, luscious and fruity with honeysuckle, melons and spices.

Riesling--Citrus fruit aromas, pale yellow color, hint of sweetness balanced by a crisp finish.

Gewürztraminer--Aromatic, floral and spice nose, delicate straw yellow color, spicy clean finish.

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)--Mildly perfumed, light-bodied wine, dry and crisp.

Trebbiano/Malvasia--Light, delicate wines used in Rome to make refreshing white wines (Frascati).

Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon--Rich garnet color, berry aromas, cherry and black pepper on the palate with a dry, full-bodied finish.

Merlot--Black cherry aromas and flavors with medium body and soft tannins on finish.

Pinot Noir--Medium-bodied wine, brick red color.  Good balance of fruit and earthy aromas with a silky finish.

Zinfandel--Bright ruby color, spicy aromas and flavors; dry, medium to full-bodied.

Gamay--Grapey aromas and flavors; medium to light-bodied wine.

Syrah--Spice and lush black fruit, darkly colored, hearty, robust, dry and richly flavored wine.

Grenache--Varies from light and fruity to huge, massive, powerfully intense red wine.

Petite Syrah--Blackberry fruit, spice and wood, deeply colored, hearty and tannic.

Sangiovese--Medium to full-bodied red, with aromas of black cherry and spice.

Nebbiolo--Orange-red color, but intense, tannic and full complex flavors and aromas.

Corvina--Primary grape of Valpolicella, Bardolino and Amarone from Italy .  Fresh grapey aromas and flavors, with a pleasant slightly bitter almond finish.

Blush Wine

Created from red grapes with limited contact between the skins and juice during alcoholic fermentation.

White Zinfandel--Slight pink in color, strawberry nose, sweet to off-dry with a fresh, fruity finish.

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