Lesson 2 Objectives: This lesson will expose you to the basic grapes and their personality. You should be able to identify the types of wine that you will like as well as the best time to drink them.
Popular wines and their grapes
Common Grapes for Red Wines
| Grapes | Personality (Aroma, Taste) | Aging Time | Best Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
Cabernet Sauvignon |
Known as the king of red wines, it is primary grape in the French Bordeaux, Midi, and Meritage. Most associated aroma is blackcurrant, the longer aged one might have hints of cedar and cigar. Intensive, complex and full-bodied at its best, Cabernet Sauvignon’s high tannic backbone allows its flavor to improve with aging. Most New World Cabernet and the less expensive ones are less tannic, complex and full-bodied. They won’t age as well so you can drink right away with proper aeration. | Premier cab: 20+ years; New world and cheaper ones: 2-6 years. |
Bordeaux (France) |
Merlot |
Merlot is often known as the “cab without the pain”. Compared to the cab, it is less tannic, rounder, and medium-bodied. Commonly associated aromas are black cherries and plums. Many producers use Merlot to “round up” a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. Pomerol and St Emilion (Bordeaux regions) use Merlot as their primary grapes. | Drink it young with the exception of top Bordeaux Merlots which age well over 15-20 years. | Pomerol, St Emilion (Bordeaux, France) |
Pinot Noir |
If you have watched the movie “Sideways”, you will know that a good Pinot Noir is very hard to find. But Pinot at its best is heavenly – fruity and floral, silky in texture, light and crispy with a lingering aftertaste. It is ruby and translucence in color and perfumes of raspberries, cherries, and violets. American Pinot Noir tends to be lighter and fruitier; French Pinot Noir (a.k.a. red Burgundy) is earthier and spicier. | Generally, drink young (in 5 years). | Burgundy (France), California (US) |
Syrah (Shiraz) |
The grape behind the French Hermitage wine. Intense, spicy, mouth-filling, and peppery. Deep dark red in color, the wine has a tannic nature. As it ages, it adopts a smoother texture and perfumes of sweet blackberry. | 5-15 yrs | Rhone (France), Australia |
Zinfandel (red) |
There is a wide variety of red Zinfandels: off dry to dry, light-bodied to moderate-bodied, and fruity to spicy. The better red Zinfandels are richer, darker, and moderately tannic. They are also smoother in texture and perfume of spicy raspberries and blackberries. | Generally, drink young (< 5 years). | California (US) |
Common Grapes for White Wines
| Grapes | Personality (Aroma, Taste) | Aging Time | Best Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
Chardonnay |
Chardonnay is the cabernet sauvignon in the world of white wines. Full-bodied, rich, and complex in taste and flavor. Depending on regions, aromas range from lemon, honey, green apple, kiwi, melons to oaky and hazulnutty. The California Chardonnay, enjoying sunshine and fully ripen, are well-known for their full-bodied and buttery texture. French Chardonnay, having undergone cooler climate, are more subtle and crispy. | Drink young, good up to 5 years | Chablis, Burgundy (France), California (US) |
Sauvignon Blanc |
Delightfully aromatic with a distinctly grassy, gooseberry, peach, and melon-like aromas. Dry, acidic, and medium-to-full body, the best sauvignon blanc is crispy and offers a long finish. The most well-know French Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume from Loire Valley, are more acidic, grassy and tangy. The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, benefiting from its friendly climate, is more aromatic and less acidic. | Drink young and chilled | Marlborough Region (New Zealand), Loire Valley (France) |
Riesling |
Though commonly associated as the German sweet wine, not all Rieslings are sweet nor from Germany. Alsace and Australia have developed distinctive Riesling. Light-bodied, clean, and crispy, Riesling has varying bouquet, ranging from apple, peaches, lime, honeysuckle, to minerally. Rieslings are highly acidic in nature which means they are great food partners and age well. | Can drink now, good up to 12 years. | Johannesburg (Germany), Alsace (France) |
BetterTastingWine Summary:
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Intense, full-bodied, tannic, and blackcurranty.
- Merlot: Softer version of cab - cherry and plum-like, juicy, moderate bodied.
- Pinot Noir: Light-bodied and silky. Hard to find a great bottle.
- Syrah: Warm black-cherry, mouth-filling, spicy, and peppery.
- Zinfandel: Light to moderate bodied, spicy berries.
- Chardonnay: The cab of white wines. Intense, full-bodied, fruity and floral.
- Sauvignon Blanc: Crispy, gooseberry, and grassy.
- Riesling: Can be dry or sweet. Acidic, light-bodied. A very clean wine.