Red Wines:

Cabernet Sauvignon is the top red wine grape in the world today.  It originated in France, but has spread to nearly every other growing region. Cab Sauv produces complex wines that can age for many years in the bottle.  It is often blended with other red varieties to make even more complex wines. The grape itself is small, dark and thick-skinned.  It needs more heat units than most other varieties to properly mature.  Cabernet Sauvignon is believed to be descended from Cabernet Franc.

Merlot is related to Cabernet Sauvignon in some respects. However, it is able to reach maturity in cooler temperatures than Cab.  It also makes wines that are slightly softer and less bold. Merlot is typically dry and smooth. Merlot is more susceptible to fungus and mildew, which may be a concern in many areas.  Merlot is grown in Bordeaux, California and Washington, among other areas.

Pinot Noir, also known as the “heartbreak grape”, is a difficult grape to make into good wine.  But, the risk can be rewarding, as it’s also one of the best when grown well.  Pinot Noir is very finicky, needing warm days and cool nights, with not much variance in the total amount of heat units required.  The top growing areas for Pinot Noir are Burgundy, France, New Zealand, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which is known as “Pinot Country”.

Syrah is French in origin, but if it’s grown in Australia, it’s called Shiraz. It is also grown successfully in the United States, mainly in California and Washington.  Like Cabernet Sauvignon, it produces rich wines of intense flavor.  In warmer areas, the Syrah grape results in wines that taste ripe and sweet. In cooler climates, it often exhibits more peppery and spicy flavors. The Shiraz grape is the most widely planted red grape variety in Australia where it is sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s important to restrict the growth of the vine and the fruit crop to yield optimum results.

Zinfandel is found almost exclusively in California, although other areas, such as South America, are starting to grow this grape.  The Zinfandel grape produces wines with good fruit and fairly complex taste.  The grape has a thick skin, making it hardy and convenient to ship to other locations for winemaking.  Zinfandel has gained popularity with the invention of “White Zinfandel”, a rosy-colored, slightly sweet wine.

White Wines:

Chardonnay is possibly the most popular wine grape in the world today.  It is the unquestioned leader in the white wine world, and is able to be grown successfully in many different regions. Chardonnay generally likes cooler climates, and a little time in the barrel once the grapes are harvested. It usually produces wines that are dry and crisp, although the excessive crispness can be managed with winemaking techniques.

Gewurztraminer thrives in cool climate areas, such as Germany, the Western United States, and Alsace, France, where it is used to make late-harvest dessert wines of the highest quality. The dry, white wine typically displays spicy overtones, and is best paired with foods of a similar nature. The grape is purple-skinned, and retains high amounts of natural sugar. Gewürztraminer is particularly intolerant to extreme soil and climate types. The vine is vigorous, but is susceptible to diseases. It is also prone to damage from frost, and the fruit ripens late, often with uneven results.

Muscat produces the world-famous Asti Spumante, the Italian sparkling wine. It is grown best in Europe, but also has had some success in America.  The grapes have a sweet, floral aroma that permeates the Muscat wine. It is also used to produce sweet dessert wines. Muscat grapes have been shown to possess antioxidants in abundance, which prevent heart-disease.

Pinot Gris (France) is the same grape as Pinot Grigio (Italy), but wines produced can vary quite a bit depending on their region.  Like its cousin, Pinot Noir, this grayish grape prefers cool climates with long, mild growing seasons.  The grapes grown in France and Oregon tend to make fuller wines than those from Italy andCalifornia, displaying more fruitiness and lasting finish.

Riesling is among the grapes that succeed in the coldest growing regions. It’s grown best in Europe, and is highly frost-resistant. The wine from Riesling grapes is usually semi-dry, but also fruity and aromatic. An offshoot of the typical dry white is “Late Harvest Riesling”, which is a sweet dessert-style wine.  The late harvest Riesling results from a mold known as botrytis, which evaporates the water in the grape, and concentrates the sugar.