Important Wine Grape Varieties

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• April 10, 2008
• WIN 121 Introduction to Viticulture

• Important Wine Grape Varieties

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Wine Grape Variety Lecture Overview

• White Varieties
• Gewurztraminer
• Riesling
• Semillon
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Viognier

• Red Varieties
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Mourvedre
• Cabernet Franc
• Petit Verdot
• Pinot Noir
• Grenache
• Zinfandel

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• Gewurztraminer

• Famous for production in Germany (Alsace)
• Beautiful perfume and slight red tinge to skin
• Spicy aroma sometimes with lots of residual sugar
  in wine
• Lychee, roses, high alcohol, deep colored

Riesling

• Famous for production in Germany (Alsace)
• Powerful scents, delicate, lime, minerals honey,
  flowers
• Botrytized wine varietal

Semillon

• Famous for production in France (Semillon) and
  WA!
• Used to make Sauternes
• Most planted white grape in Bordeaux
• Dry wines with oak (Graves, Fr.)
• Botrytized wine varietal
• Thin skin
• Figs, citrus, rich and full-bodied candied-fruit

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• Chardonnay

• Famous for production in France (Burgundy)
• Easy to grow and ripen and buds early
• Most popular white grape in world
• Champagne, Chablis, barrel fermentation and
  maturation and sweet wine production
• Broad aroma, fruity and versatile

Sauvignon Blanc

• Famous for production in France (Loire)
• Best drunk young due to brightness and aroma
• Excessive vine vigor
• Blended with Semillon in Bordeaux or chardonnay
  in South Africa
• Grassy, green fruit, mineral and crisp (unoaked)

Viogner

• Famous for production in France (Condrieu) and
  WA!
• Very full bodied white
• Heavy, full-bodied, apricots
• Keep acid with alcohol.

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• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Famous for production in France (Medoc)
• Late ripening with thick skins with tiny, dark
  red/blue berries
• Remarkable color, flavor, tannins and great for
  aging
• Dark colored, black currant, cedar, high tannins

Merlot

• Famous for production in France
  (Bordeaux-Pomerol)
• Easier to ripen than Cab Sauv. bigger berries,
  thinner skins, less tannin
• Velvety with plum notes

Syrah

• Famous for production in France (Rhone Hermitage/
  Cote Rote) and, Barossa, Australia WA!
• Early ripener with moderately thick skins
• Aromas of violets, wild herbs, licorice, anise,
  earth
• Moderate strong tannins
• Black pepper, dark cocoa and red-black color

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• Mourvedre

• Famous for production in France Spain (Rhone
  and Monastrell)
• Late ripening, appreciable tannin, southern rhone
  for blencing
• Spicy aromasblack pepper! Black berry
• Tannic, high alcohol, structure, spice and dark
  fruit

Cabernet Franc

• Famous for production in France (Bordeaux)
• Survives cold wineters, early ripening, higher
  acidity
• Leafy and veggie aromas, light front-palate wine

Petit Verdot

• Famous for production in France (Bordeaux)
• Prized for its black-red color
• High acid! Early ripening
• Medium to thin skin
• Red fruits, earth, slightly veggie

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• Pinot Noir

• Famous for production in France (Burgundy)
• Cooler climate variety, earlier ripening and
  sensitive!
• Relatively thin skins
• Earthy flavors with subtle complexity of fruit
• Balancedto veggie, cherry, violets, ruby hue,
  gamey

Grenache

• Famous for production in France and Spain
  (Bordeaux -Catalonia)
• Late ripening, hot arid conditions are preferred
• Oxidizes easily and high alcohol
• Sweet strawberry and red fruit notes, rose

Zinfandel

• Famous for production in California
• Late ripener with thick skins
• Strong tannins
• Very spicy, raisins, dark fruit