(Wine) Red Varietals Flashcards
Gamay
A light-bodied red wine that’s similar in taste to Pinot Noir. In fact, this variety is a cousin of Pinot Noir and it grows primarily next to Burgundy
Black Currant • Raspberry • Violet • Potting Soil • Banana
Dry • Medium Body • Low Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the world’s most popular light-bodied red wine. It’s loved for its red fruit, flower, and spice aromas that are accentuated by a long, smooth finish.
Cherry • Raspberry • Mushroom • Clove • Hibiscus
Dry • Medium Body • Low Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Barbera
Barolo is what everyone talks about from Piedmont, but Barbera is what everyone drinks! This everyday red can be found in vineyards around the world.
Tart Cherry • Licorice • Blackberry • Dried Herbs • Black Pepper
Bone-dry • Medium-full Body • Low Tannins • High Acidity
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is the parent grape of both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Complex reds result, with aromas of raspberry, bramble, and bell pepper (pyrazines).
Strawberry • Raspberry • Bell Pepper • Crushed Gravel • Chili Pepper
Dry • Medium Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Carignan
Carignan (“care-in-yen”) is a medium-bodied red wine that grows mostly in Southern France where it’s a major blending grape in Côtes Catalanes, Corbières, Minervois, Fitou and Faugères
Grenace
Grenache (aka Garnacha) produces rich, flavorful red wines and deep, ruby-tinted rosé. The French have championed this grape in the Southern Rhône Valley but it’s original home is Spain!
Stewed Strawberry • Grilled Plum • Leather • Dried Herbs • Blood Orange
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium Tannins • Medium Acidity
Merlot
Merlot is loved for it’s boisterous black cherry flavors, supple tannins, and chocolatey finish. On the high end, it’s often mistaken with Cabernet Sauvignon and commonly blended with it.
Cherry • Plum • Chocolate • Bay Leaf • Vanilla
Bone-dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Montepulciano
A popular Italian red grape found mostly labeled as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. The best examples deliver complex black fruit flavors and a smoky-sweet finish.
Red Plum • Blackberry • Dried Thyme • Baking Spices • Mesquite
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Negroamaro
A red wine that grows in abundance in Puglia but almost nowhere else; producing wines with rich black fruit flavors with a distinct finish of dried herbs.
Black Cherry • Black Plum • Blackberry • Prune • Dried Thyme
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Rhône / GSM Blend
GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre – three important grapes grown in the Côtes du Rhône region of France. Today, this blend is produced throughout the world and is loved for its complex red fruit flavors and age-worthy potential.
Raspberry • Blackberry • Rosemary • Baking Spices • Lavender
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Sangiovese
Italy’s most planted wine variety and the pride of the Tuscan regional wine, Chianti. Sangiovese is a sensitive grape that takes on different stylistic expressions based on where it grows.
Cherry
Roasted Tomato • Sweet Balsamic • Oregano • Espresso
Bone-dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Zinfandel
A fruit-forward-yet-bold red that’s loved for its red fruit flavors and smoky exotic spice notes. Originally from Croatia and related to top Croatian grape, Plavic Mali.
Blackberry • Strawberry • Peach Preserves • Cinnamon • Sweet Tobacco
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium-low Acidity
Aglianico
If Nebbiolo is king of Northern Italy, then Aglianico is king of the South. A wine with incredible quality, and a unique savory flavor that’s best enjoyed aged.
White Pepper • Black Cherry • Smoke • Game • Spiced Plum
Bone-dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Aglianico
If Nebbiolo is king of Northern Italy, then Aglianico is king of the South. A wine with incredible quality, and a unique savory flavor that’s best enjoyed aged.
White Pepper • Black Cherry • Smoke • Game • Spiced Plum
Bone-dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Bordeaux Blend
A red blend that’s dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with several other grape varieties native to the Bordeaux region of France.
Black Currant • Black Cherry • Graphite • Chocolate • Dried Herbs
Bone-dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium Acidity
Cabernet Sauvignon
The world’s most popular red wine grape is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, France. Cabernet Sauvignon is loved for its high concentration and age worthiness.
Black Cherry • Black Currant • Cedar • Baking Spices • Graphite
Dry • Full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Malbec
Argentina’s most important variety came by way of France, where it’s commonly called Côt (sounds like “coat”). Wines are loved for their rich, dark fruit flavors and smooth chocolatey finish.
Red Plum • Blackberry • Vanilla • Sweet Tobacco • Cocoa
Dry • Full Body • Medium Tannins • Medium-low Acidity
Mourvedre
A deeply bold, smoky red wine found in abundance in Central Spain and Southern France (where it’s known as Mourvèdre). Monastrell is the “M” in the Rhône / GSM blend.
Blackberry • Black Pepper • Cocoa • Tobacco • Roasted Meat
Dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium Acidity
Nebbiolo
One of Italy’s most important red wine varieties made famous by the Barolo region of Piedmont where wines offer delicate aromas accompanied by strong tannins.
Cherry • Rose • Leather • Anise • Clay Pot
Bone-dry • Medium-full Body • High Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
Nero D’Avola
Sicily’s most important red wine variety is often likened to Cabernet Sauvignon due to its full-bodied style and flavors of black cherry and tobacco.
Black Cherry • Black Plum • Licorice • Tobacco • Chili Pepper
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Petit Verdot
Considered a minor blending grape in Bordeaux, Petit Verdot has shown promise as a single-varietal wine in warmer climates where it makes smooth full-bodied reds.
Black Cherry • Plum • Violet • Lilac • Sage
Dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium Acidity
Petite Sirah
Petit Sirah is loved for its deeply colored wines with rich black fruit flavors and bold tannins. The grape related to Syrah and the rare French grape, Peloursin. The French call it “Durif” but this wine is rare outside of California.
Sugarplum • Blueberry • Dark Chocolate • Black Pepper • Black Tea
Dry • Full Body • High Tannins • Medium Acidity
Pinotage
South Africa’s own hearty red was created in 1925 and is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir. Oddly enough, Pinotage is bolder than both its progenitors.
Black Cherry • Blackberry • Fig • Menthol • Roasted Meat
Dry • Full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Low Acidity
Syrah
A rich, powerful, and sometimes meaty red wine that originated in the Rhône Valley of France. Syrah is the most planted grape of Australia where they call it Shiraz.
Blueberry • Black Plum • Milk Chocolate • Tobacco • Green Peppercorn
Dry • Full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium Acidity
Tempranillo
Spain’s top red wine, made famous by Rioja, where wines are classified (in part) by how long they age in oak. What’s amazing, is a well-made Tempranillo ages for over 20 years.
Cherry • Dried Fig • Cedar • Tobacco • Dill
Dry • Medium-full Body • Medium-high Tannins • Medium-high Acidity
