Wine Grape Variety Profiles

Question 1

Albariño Profile

Answer 1

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Fruity: lime, apple, grapefruit
Floral: hyacinth, linden
Spicy: almond, almond paste
Herbal: grass

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Bottle Age: (not recommended)

Mouth feel / Texture: light, crisp, bracing, mouth-watering, tangy, zippy

NOTE: Considered by many to be Spain’s premier quality white wine, Albariño is also known in Portugal as Alvarinho and often used as a component of Vinho Verde.

Question 2

Chardonnay Profile

Answer 2

Full bodied dry white wines. A very ripe Chardonnay will have flavors more towards tropical fruits like pineapple, guava and mango. A barely ripe Chardonnay will have green apple and lemon flavors.

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Stone Fruits: apple, pear, peach, apricot
Citric Fruits: lemon, lime, orange, tangerine
Tropical Fruits: pineapple, banana, mango, guava, kiwi
Floral: acacia, hawthorn

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Terroir: flint, mineral, mint
Malolactic: butter, cream, hazelnut
Oak (light): vanilla, sweet wood, coconut
Oak (heavy): oak, smoke, toast, lees, yeast

NOTE: It is the only grape permitted in the Chablis region of France, and here, it renders a “crisp, flinty” wine.
Chardonnay is the most diverse –and most planted– white wine grape in the world.

Question 3

Chenin Blanc Profile

Answer 3

Zesty white wines that smell like flowers and lemon.

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Floral: honey, honeysuckle
Fruity: quince, melon, esp. Honeydew, cantaloupe
Aggressive: iodine, "gym socks"
Herbal: grass, hay

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Mineral: flint, smoke
Light Oak: (atypical) vanilla, sweet wood, oak
Bottle Age: (drink young!)

NOTE: Chenin blanc is arguably the most versatile of all wine grape varieties. Crisp, dry table wines, light sparkling wines, long-lived nectar-like dessert wines, and even brandy are all produced in various areas of the wine world, all using dominantly or entirely chenin blanc grapes.

Question 4

Gewürztraminer Profile

Answer 4

Off-dry to sweet white wines that taste of ginger and honey.

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Floral: rose petal, gardenia, honeysuckle
Fruity: lychee, grapefruit, peach, mango
Aggressive: perfume, spice

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Late Harvest: Botrytis, honey, sweet cabbage
Mineral: petroleum, terpene, diesel
Oak: (atypical)

NOTE: While the gewürztraminer vine is prized for its wine, it can be despised for its viticultural difficulty. It buds early in the Spring, so it is particularly susceptible to damage from frost; even without this threat, it is prone to poor fruit set. Gewürztraminer also has weak defenses against viral vine infections.

Question 5

Grenache Blanc Profile

Answer 5

Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Fruity: tangerine, Mandarin orange, green apple, peach
Floral: orange blossom
Herbal: dill

Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Malolactic: cream, butter

NOTE: Especially important in Languedoc and Roussillon, it accounts for more than half the total white acreage there and is also a significant in Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc.

Question 6

Mourvedre Wine Profile

Answer 6

FRUIT: Blueberry, Blackberry, Plum,
OTHER: Black Pepper, Violet, Rose, Smoke, Gravel, Meat
OAK: Yes. Usually medium to long oak aging.
TANNIN: High
ACIDITY: Medium (+)
ABV: 12-15%

MAJOR REGIONS: Less than 190,000 acres worldwide.
Spain (150,000+ acres) Alicante, Jumilla, Almansa
France (25,000 acres) Bandol (Provence), Rhône
Australia (2500 acres) South Australia
United States (1000+ acres) California, Washington

Question 7

Pinot Noir Profile

Answer 7

The lightest red grape, trying Pinot Noir will help you to understand acidity and aromatics in red wine.

FRUIT: Cranberry, Cherry, Raspberry
OTHER: vanilla, clove, licorice, mushroom, wet leaves, tobacco, cola, caramel
OAK: Yes. French Oak Barrels.
TANNIN: Medium Low
ACIDITY: Medium High
AGEABILITY: Yes. 2-18 years depending on the style.
SERVING TEMP: Cool to touch (63 °F | 17 °C)

~290,000 acres worldwide (117,000 hectares)

France (75,760 acres) Nuits-St-Georges, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Flagney-Echezeaux, Vosne-Romanee, Aloxe-Corton
United States (73,600 acres) Sonoma, Sta Rita Hills, Santa Lucia Highlands, Willamette Valley
Germany (29,049 acres) Baden, Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Württemberg
New Zealand (10,648 acres) Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago
Italy (10,082 acres) Veneto, Alto Adige, Fruili
Australia (8,693 acres) Victoria
Chile (7,127 acres) Central Valley, Limari Valley, Maipu Valley, Casablanca Valley
Argentina (4,450 acres) Rio Negro
South Africa (2,520 acres) Western Cape, Stellenbosch, Walker Bay

Question 8

Grenache Profile

Answer 8

The candied red wine grape, Grenache shows how red wines can be light and fruit forward at the same time.

FRUIT: Strawberry, Black Cherry, Raspberry
OTHER: Anise, Tobacco, Citrus Rind, Cinnamon
OAK: Yes. Usually Medium Oak Aging
TANNIN: Medium (-)
ACIDITY: Medium
ABV: 13.5-16%

MAJOR REGIONS: About 500,000 acres worldwide

France (~250,000 acres) Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Spain (~170,000 acres) Priorat, Calatayud
Italy (~55,300 acres) Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria
United States (~10,000 acres) California, Washington
Australia (~8,000 acres) South Australia

The unmistakable candied fruit roll-up and cinnamon flavor is what gives Grenache away to expert blind tasters. It has a medium to full weight in taste, but has a deceptively lighter color and is semi-transulcent. Depending on where it’s grown, Grenache often lets off strong smells of orange rinds and ruby-red grapefruit. When Grenache is grown in Old World regions such as Côtes du Rhône and Sardinia, it can have herbal notes of dried oregano and tobacco.

Question 9

Merlot Profile

Answer 9

Merlot is can be lighter or bolder depending on how it’s made. Usually it’s fruit forward with smooth tannins.

FRUIT: Black Cherry, Raspberry, Plum
OTHER: Graphite, Cedar, Tobacco, Vanilla, Clove, Mocha
OAK: Yes. Usually medium oak aging (8-12 months)
TANNIN: Medium
ACIDITY: Medium
ABV: 12-15%

MAJOR REGIONS: ~600,000 acres worldwide.

France (~280,000+ acres) Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon
Italy (~93,000+ acres) Toscana, Campania
United States (~55,000+ acres) California, Washington
Australia (~39,000 acres) South Australia
Chile (~25,000 acres) | Argentina (~13,000 acres)

Red fruits, easy tannins and a soft finish are the characteristics of Merlot wine. But there’s more to Merlot than being smooth

Question 10

Sangiovese Profile

Answer 10

Sangiovese is aromatic like Pinot Noir, but has bigger tannins and is cherry fruit driven.

FRUIT: Tart Cherry, Red Plum, Strawberry, Fig
OTHER: Roasted Pepper, Tomato, Leather, Clay, Brick, Tobacco, Smoke, Oregano, Thyme, Dried Roses, Potpourri
OAK: Yes. Usually light oak aging in neutral oak barrels.
TANNIN: High
ACIDITY: High
AGEABILITY: Yes. 4-7 years (normal) & 10-18 years (Brunello di Montalcino)

~175,000 acres worldwide (70,820 hectares)

Italy (~155,000 acres) Toscana, Umbria, Campania
Corsica (4,800 acres) Patrimonio AOC (Nielluccio)
Argentina (2,010 acres) Mendoza
United States (~2,000 acres) California, Washington
Romania, Australia and Chile

Regardless of where it’s grown, it always exhibits cherry flavors with more subtle notes of tomato.

Question 11

Nebbiolo Profile

Answer 11

A savory high tannin/acid wine that is also very light in color.

Question 12

Tempranillo Profile

Answer 12

Tempranillo is earthy with rustic tobacco notes and high tannin

FRUIT: cherry, plum and tomato
OTHER: leather, tobacco, vanilla, and clove
OAK: Yes. Commonly 12-18 mo. in American or French Oak
TANNIN: Medium (+)
ACIDITY: Medium (-)
ABV: 13-14.5%

MAJOR REGIONS: Spain, Portugal, USA, Australia
Over 500,000 acres worldwide

Tempranillo is technically a medium-bodied wine with red fruit characteristics. Spanish Tempranillo has the flavor of leather along with cherries with a mild, smooth finish and lingering tannin on both sides of your mouth. American and other New World Tempranillo delivers tons of cherry and tomato-sauce flavors followed by chunky tannin.

Question 13

Cabernet Sauvignon Profile

Answer 13

One of the most balanced full-bodied wines of the world. Cabernet is savory with a very long finish.

FRUIT: black cherry, black currant and blackberry
OTHER: black pepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla and violet
OAK: Yes. Usually 9-18 months French oak. Some American & Hungarian oak
TANNIN: Medium (+)
ACIDITY: Medium (+)
ABV: 13.5-15.5%

Over 650,000 acres worldwide*

France (~124k acres), 
Chile (~100k acres), 
United States (~95k acres), 
Australia (~65k acres), 
Italy (unknown), 
South Africa (~41k acres), 
Argentina (~16k acres)

Fundamentally speaking, Cab is a full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavors and savory tastes from black pepper to bell pepper.

Question 14

Syrah Profile

Answer 14

Syrah offers big, bold, dark fruit flavors up front with a subtle finish and lighter tannin. Flavors from olive to blackberry and tobacco.

FRUIT: Blackberry, Blueberry and Boysenberry (tart to jammy)
OTHER: Olive, pepper, clove, vanilla, mint, licorice, chocolate, allspice, rosemary, cured meat, bacon fat, tobacco, herbs and smoke
OAK: Yes. Usually medium to high usage of oak aging (of all kinds).
TANNIN: Medium (+)
ACIDITY: Medium (+)
AGEABILITY: Yes. 5-9 years (most) & 12-25 years (age-worthy examples)

~420,000 acres worldwide (170,000 hectares)

France (165,000 acres) Côtes du Rhône: Cornas, Hermitage, St. Joseph, Côte-Rôtie
Australia (108,000 acres) Barossa, McClaren Vale, Limestone Coast
Spain (41,000 acres) Priorat, Montsant, Toro, Yecla
Argentina (31,000 acres) Mendoza, Salta
South Africa (25,000 acres) Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschoek
Italy (25,000 acres) Tuscany, Sicily
Chile (15,000 acres) Colchagua Valley, Maipo Valley
United States (~9,500 acres) San Luis Obispo County (CA), Columbia Valley (WA)

Syrah has dark fruit flavors from sweet blueberry to savory black olive. Syrah has a punch of flavor that tapers off and then has a spicy peppery note in the aftertaste.

Question 15

Malbec Profile

Answer 15

Candied similar to Grenache but instead of strawberry and cherry flavors it’s more in the blueberry/blackberry realm.

Question 16

Pinot Grigio Profile

Answer 16

Light and zesty, high acid white wines.

Question 17

Riesling Profile

Answer 17

Dry to sweet white wines that smell like lime, honey and apricots with high acidity.

FRUIT FLAVORS: Apricot, Nectarine, Peach, Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Lime, Meyer Lemon
OTHER AROMAS: Honey, Honeycomb, Beexwax, Petrol, Ginger, Citrus Blossom, Rubber, Diesel Fuel
AGED FLAVORS: Diesel, Petrol, Lanolin
ACIDITY: High
SERVING TEMPERATURE: “Fridge Cold” 43 ºF (6 ºC)

Riesling is one of the most aromatic grape varieties in the world. The primary fruit aromas in Riesling are nectarine, apricot, honey-crisp apple and pear. Riesling often smells like honeycomb or even to a chemical aroma similar to petrol/gas. Riesling is very high acid, almost to the level of a tart fruit juice like lemonade.

Question 18

Sauvignon Blanc Profile

Answer 18

Green and herbacious.

FRUIT FLAVORS: Lime, Green Apple, Asian Pear, Kiwi, Passionfruit, Guava, White Peach, Nectarine
OTHER AROMAS: Green Bell Pepper, Gooseberry, Basil, Jalapeño, Grass, Tarragon, Lovage, Celery, Lemongrass, Box of Chalk, Wet Concrete
OAK FLAVORS: Vanilla, Pie Crust, Dill, Coconut, Butter, Nutmeg, Cream
ACIDITY: Medium – Medium High
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Unoaked: 46 ºF (8 ºC), Oaked: 52 ºF (11 ºC)

Over 275,000+ acres of Sauvignon Blanc planted worldwide.

Old World Regions:
France: 71,000 acres
Found mostly in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Also known as Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers, and Touraine.
Italy: 45,000 est. acres
Found primarily in Northeastern Italy.
Spain: 6,200 acres
Grown in Central Spain.
Other Regions:
Romania, Moldova

New World Regions:
New Zealand: 41,500 acres
In the regions Marlborough, Martinborough, Gisbourne, Hawkes Bay, and Waipara Valley
USA: 40,000 acres
Found mostly in Sonoma and Napa California.
Chile: 31,000 acres
South Africa: 23,500 acres
Australia: 17,500 acres
Grown predominantly in South Australia and Victoria.

The primary fruit flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are lime, green apple, passion fruit and white peach. Depending on how ripe the grapes are when the wine is made, the flavor will range from zesty lime to flowery peach. What makes Sauvignon Blanc unique from other white wines are its other herbaceous flavors like bell pepper, jalapeño, gooseberry and grass. These flavors come from aromatic compounds called pyrazines and are the secret to Sauvignon Blanc’s taste.

Question 19

Moscato Profile

Answer 19

Sweet wines that taste like peaches, orange blossom and nectarine.

FRUIT FLAVORS: Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, Meyer Lemon, Orange
OTHER AROMAS: Honeysuckle, Vanilla Bean, Rose, Orange Blossom, Perfume, Jasmine, Caramel
DRY/SWEET: Sweet
ACIDITY: Medium
SERVING TEMPERATURE:
Sparkling Moscato Serving temperature: 45 °F (7 °C)
White Still Moscato Serving Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C)
Dessert Muscat Serving Temperature: 60 °F (15 °C)

In most cases Moscato wine is a sweet, slightly bubbly (aka frizzante) white wine made from Muscat Blanc grapes often referred to more specifically as Moscato d’Asti. (see below for examples of more Mostcato styles). Though Moscato is often sweet, its low alcohol (5-7% ABV) and refreshing flavor profile makes Moscato more than just a dessert wine.

Question 20

Semillon Profile

Answer 20

Dry medium bodied wines with lemon notes.

Question 21

Viognier

Answer 21

Medium bodied white wines that smell like flowers.