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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 |
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