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Wine Basics: Varietal Guide What's in a name? If you're looking at a wine label that says Merlot or Chardonnay, it's really telling you the type of grape that was used to make the wine. Different types of grapes make different wines. To be classified as a varietal, at least 75% of a specific grape must be used to make the wine. Here are some varietals that you'll find at your local H-E-B:  White Wines: Chardonnay (shar-doh-NAY) Chardonnay is the most popular of all white wine grapes and produces a medium to full-bodied wine. It is know for its richness, complexity and depth of flavor. Chardonnay can be crisp and fruity or full and buttery. Gewurztraminer(geh vertz tra mee ner) Gewurztraminer produces a floral, refreshing, spicy wine that can vary from dry to sweet. Pinot Grigio (PEE-noh GREE-gio) Since Pinot Grigio grapes often vary in color, the wines they produce can appear white to slightly pink and range in style from crisp, light and dry to rich, full-bodied and sweet. Riesling (REES-ling) The Riesling grape produces a light to medium-bodied whitewine with a great deal of honeyed fruit flavors. Styles can vary from off-dry to very sweet. Sauvignon Blanc (SOH-vihn-yohn BLAHNGK) Usually a dry-medium to medium-full bodied white wine, Sauvignon Blanc is recognized for its intense, aromatic character and flavors that span from distinct vegetable and herbal essences to grapey and smokey undertones. It is a very versatile wine that can be served with a wide variety of foods. Red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon (ka-behr-NAY soh-vihn-YOHN) Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular red wine varieties in the world. Known for its remarkable aging potential, it is more likely to turn into a truly great wine than any other varietal. It has a deep color, full body and ranges from light and fruity to full and rich. Gamay (gam-MAY) This grape is used to produce the famous wines of Beaujolais. These brightly-colored red wines are light and fruity. Merlot (Mehr-LOH) Softer than Cabernet, yet similar in flavor, Merlot is the darling of red wine. It is revered for its rich fruitiness and lush velvet-like texture. Merlot tends to be a mild, supple wine that's light-medium to full-bodied. Pinot Noir (PEE-noh NWAHR) Recognized as a great wine grape, Pinot Noir is one of the world's oldest grape varieties to be cultivated for making wine. It is used to produce Burgundy wine in France and is prized for its rich, complex character and soft, velvety texture. Sangiovese (san-joh-VAY-zeh) Believed to have originated in Tuscany, Sangiovese is one of the top two red grapes in Italy. It produces a versatile, fruity, medium-bodied dry red wine and is also used to make Chianti. Shiraz (SHIH-rahz) Also know as Syrah in France, this grape is responsible for deep colored, complex red wines that are spicy and tannic when young. As Shiraz matures, it develops hints of sweet blackberries and a slight smokiness. Zinfandel (ZIHN-fuhn-dehl) Zinfandel produces fine wines in a remarkable range of styles and types. It can be light and fruity, lively and complex or rich and very powerful. Zinfandel is one red varietal that is probably best enjoyed in its youth, within three to five years of the vintage. Blush Wine: White Zinfandel One of the most popular blush wines in the United States, White Zinfandel is flavorful and fruity with a sweet taste. It is made from the Zinfandel grape and ranges from fruity and light-medium to sweet and tangy. |
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