Wine Varietal Chart | Wine Types | Know Your Wines

Use this wine varietal chart of the major California wines for paining food and wine, to learn the aroma and flavors of different varietals, and to identify the body (weight) of a wine.

Use this chart with our pages on Matching Food & Wine and our pages on How To Taste Wine

Important Tip: Always use a good wine glass. It’s a common practice to bring out your finest crystal for a great wine. These may or may not be the best wine glasses for bringing out the best in wine. A good wine glass is an essential wine appreciation. Choose the right wine glass.

White Wines	Aromas and Flavors	Body
Sparkling Wine	Apple, pear, yeast	Medium
Sauvignon Blanc (also Fume Blanc)	Herbaceous, grassy, hay, citrus, grape-fruity	Light to Medium
Chardonnay	Pear, apple, oak, buttery,creamy	Medium to Heavy
Viognier	Floral, peach, apricot, pear, fruity	Medium
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio	Crisp, pear, peach, apricot	Light
Pinot Blanc	Pear, apple, floral	Medium
Chenin Blanc	Peaches, fruity	Light
Gewurztraminer	Lychee nut, spices, rose petals	Medium
Riesling	Apple, lemon, floral, apricot, fruity	Light
Red Wines	Aromas and Flavors	Body
Pinot Noir	Strawberry, berries, cherry	Light - medium
Merlot	Blackberry, plum, current, chocolate, vanilla	Medium
Zinfandel	Berries, jammy, cherry, earthy	Medium to heavy
Cabernet Savignon	Blueberries, black current, cassis, raspberries, oaky	Heavy
Syrah	peppery, spice, blackberry, cinnamon	Medium to heavy
Petite Syrah	Blackberry, pepper, jammy	Heavy
Sangiovese	Cherry, fruity, spice	Light to medium
Cabernet Franc	Raspberry, casis, herbacious	Medium
Barbera	Berries	Medium