Grapes

• Popular Reds

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    Cabernet Sauvignon

    “King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...

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    Pinot Noir

    “With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...

  • 
    Syrah

    The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...

  • 
    Merlot

    The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...

  • 
    Zinfandel

    Parentage of the grape: Crljenak to Austria to America. In the 1970s, claims surfaced that the Italian Primitivo is l...

  • 
    Grenache

    You’re a member of the ‘Rhône Ranger’ band. Your groupies think you’re ‘hot’, even when you're boozy and "strung out"...

  • 
    Tempranillo

    History of the grape: Origins of Tempranillo are murky. It could be indigenous to the Spanish countryside, or it coul...

  • 
    Nebbiolo

    History of the grape: Two schools of thought exist as to the origins of Nebbiolo (which means “little fog” either for...

  • 
    Sangiovese

    Prounounced “San-joh-vay-say,” this Italian wine varietal is Tuscany’s #1 red wine grape. It’s the pistol of Central ...

  • 
    Gamay

    History of the grape: Legend has it that it was brought over by the Romans in the first century BC to the town of Bea...

  • 
    Lambrusco

    History of the grape: There is evidence that the ancient Romans were drinking wines made from Lambrusco, a grape that...

  • 
    Malbec

    History of the grape: Some believe Malbec is named after a Hungarian peasant who spread plantings along the French co...

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    Nero d'Avola

    History of the grape: The name translates to “Black [grape] of Avola,” referring to the town in Sicily where it was f...

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    Barbera

    History of the grape: Barbera is a native to the Piedmont, where it has been growing for centuries, and is now the fo...

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    Mourvèdre

    History of the grape: Monastrell is a native of Spain, first grown in Murviedro near Valencia, and was eventually bro...

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    Pinotage

    History of the grape: In 1925, Stellenbosch University Chief Horticulture Professor Abraham Izak Perold created the P...

• Popular Whites

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    Chardonnay

    British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...

  • 
    Sauvignon Blanc

    Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in California -- at over 15,000 acres, it’s now the third most planted variety -- and...

  • 
    Pinot Grigio

    History of the grape: Pinot Gris was planted in Burgundy, France as far back as the 1300s. It then spread through Eur...

  • 
    Riesling

    History of the grape: As with many varietals, exact details of Riesling’s origins are unclear. It is known that in 14...

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    Chenin Blanc

    History of the grape: Modern day French oenologist Pierre Galet states Chenin Blanc has been in France at least since...

  • 
    Pinot Blanc

    History of the grape: Pinot Blanc was first grown in Burgundy and Champagne, France, and can be traced by some source...

  • 
    Sémillon

    History of the grape: Little is documented about the early years of this grape, which is surprising due to its distin...

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    Viognier

    History of the grape: Viognier is thought to be an indigenous grape of Croatia that was brought to the Rhone in Franc...

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    Muscat

    History of the grape: Muscat existed as far back as the Ancient Greeks. It spread throughout the world as empires gre...

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    Verdejo

    History of the grape: Verdejo has existed in the region for centuries, thought to have first been planted by the Moor...

  • 
    Gewürztraminer

    Gewürztraminer’s direct and obvious charm has made it a popular varietal in almost every corner of the wine world. Ex...

  • 
    Müller-Thurgau

    This variety was developed by Dr. Hermann Muller in 1882. When naming the new grape, he added the name of the Swiss c...

  • 
    Silvaner

      Grape: Silvaner Color: White Synonyms: Sylvaner, Gruner Silvaner Main Regions: Germany (Franke...

  • 
    Ugni Blanc

    Because so many Italian varieties are known as Trebbiano, its history is unclear. It may be named after the river Tre...

  • 
    Marsanne

    Avilleran, Champagne Piacentina, Ermitage, Grosse Roussette, Hermitage, Johannisberg, Marsan Belyi, Marsanne Blanche,...

  • 
    Tannat

    History of the grape: Tannat has been growing in southwest France for many centuries. The grape has the distinction o...

A-B

• Abouriou

• Acolon

• Agawam

• Agiorgitiko

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  Aglianico

    Grape: Aglianico Color: Red   Main Regions: Italy (Apulia, Basilicata, Campania).   Description...

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  Agria

  Agria has also found its way into North America via British Columbia, where it is sometimes blended with Pinot Noir....

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  Aidani

  Aidani is a white variety most commonly found on the island of Santorini. This grape produces pleasantly aromatic win...

• Airén

• Albania

• Albany Surprise

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  Albariño

  History of the grape: Legend has it that Cluny monks from Burgundy brought the parentage of the grape, either Rieslin...

• Albillo Real

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  Alden

  Alden (Ontario x Grosse Guillaume). From Cornell University's Geneva, New York experiment station. One of the larges...

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  Aleatico

  Limited plantings of this minor red wine variety are found in warmer areas of California and Australia. Aleatico is m...

• Alibernet

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  Alicante Bouschet

  History of the grape: Like all good biographies, the rise and fall of Alicante Bouschet begins with its grandparents....

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  Aligoté

  In North America, Aligoté’s cold-weather tolerance has provided it with homes in Washington State, British Columbia a...

• Alvarelhão

• Alvarinho

• Amber Queen

• Amerbonte

• America Grape

• Ancellotta

• Angelina

  This grape has been widely grown in the Lodi area of Calfornia’s hot Central Valley since the dawn of the 20th centur...

• Aragonêz

• Aramon

• Arinarnoa

• Arinto

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  Arneis

  The first records of Arneis plantings in Piedmont go back to the 1400s. Today, many call Arneis the most interesting ...

• Arnsburger

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  Assyrtiko

  Assyrtiko is a white Greek wine grape indigenous to the island of Santorini. Assyrtiko is the most widely planted on ...

• Athiri

  Athiri is an ancient Greek variety found on the island of Santorini (or Thira as it was known in ancient times.) Athi...

• Atoka

• August Giant

• Aurora

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  Aurore

  A 19th century French hybrid, Aurore was created by Albert Seibel and named after the Roman goddess of dawn. At one t...

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  Auxerrois

  Auxerrois' tendency towards low acidity makes it suitable to cooler climates, such as England, Ontario's Niagara Peni...

• Auxerrois Blanc

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  Bacchus

  Named after the Roman god of wine, Bacchus is found in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, in the Unit...

• Baco 22A

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  Baco Blanc

  A cross between Folle Blanche and Noah, Baco Blanc is the creation of famed French hybridizer Francois Baco. Also kno...

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  Baco Noir

  Baco Noir is an important commercial variety in northern U.S states, as well as in much of Canada. A cross of Folle B...

• Bailey

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  Barbera

  History of the grape: Barbera is a native to the Piedmont, where it has been growing for centuries, and is now the fo...

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  Bastardo

    Grape: Bastardo Color: Red Synonyms: Trousseau   Main Regions: Portugal (Douro Valley, Madeira); F...

• Ben Hur

• Biancolella

• Binachetta

• Bixby

• Black Corinth

• Black Rose

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  Blanc du Bois

  Blanc du Bois was developed at the University of Florida for use in that state. It is a white wine-producing grape wi...

• Blauer Portugieser

• Blaufränkisch

  This variety is really beginning to come into its own. Austrians have only recently realized what great potential red...

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  Bluebell

  Bluebell is a cold-hardy grape created by the University of Minnesota. It produces small, blue skinned grapes that ri...

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  Bonarda

  History of the grape: Bonarda is a confusing grape to describe because, depending on where it was made, one person’s ...

• Bondola

• Bourboulenc

• Brianna

• Brown Muscat

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  Bual

  Bual (or Boal) is a grape variety used in Madeira production. It is the second sweetest of the four noble Madeira gra...

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  Burger

  How low this once mighty grape has fallen! There was a time when Burger produced more wine in California than any oth...

• Burger Grape

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