Major Reds
Major Red Grape Varietals
Tempranillo
The tempranillo grape is as important to Spain as the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is to the Médoc. The great reds of La Mancha, Rioja and Ribera del Duero are Tempranillo based. This versatile grape is capable of yielding big, full-bodied reds with firm tannins and loads of complexity to very light and easy-drinking wines with light tannins. Typically Tempranillo yields red wines with red-fruit flavor, which include cherry and ripe strawberry with rustic nuances of earth. With substantial oak aging such as the Gran Reservas, Tempranillo produces elegant and complex wine with multifaceted layers of flavor. Also known as Tinto de Toro, Tinto Fino, and Tinto del Pais.
Aromas:
- Red & Dark Fruit: Blackberry, Currant, Strawberry, Plum
- Oak: Oak, Smoke, Spice, Cedar, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Earth, Coffee, Herb
Flavors:
- Red & Dark Fruit: Blackberry, Currant, Strawberry, Plum
- Oak: Oak, Smoke, Spice, Cedar, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Earth, Coffee, Herb
Styles:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Fruit forward and easy drinking
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Great fruit flavors and medium bodied with detectable tannins
- Elegant: Medium to full bodied with succulent fruit flavors, complexity and refined tannin
Food:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Tapas, Manchego cheese, Serrano Ham
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Grilled meat, game dishes
- Elegant: Salmon, Steak, Lamb, Veal
Regions:
- Spain: La Mancha, Rioja, Priorat, Ribera del duero Argentina
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of the red wine grape varieties. It offers wonderful flavors consisting of blackcurrants, blackberry, chocolate, tar and leather. The beauty of this resilient red wine grape is the many different styles of wine it is capable of yielding.
From the fresh, easy-drinking fruit-forward styles to the intensely big, dense and complex wines with firm tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in the gravelly soils of the Left Bank of Bordeaux and grows particularly well in California’s Napa Valley.
Aromas:
- Dark Fruit: Blackcurrant, Blackberry, Plum, Raisin
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Flavors:
- Dark Fruit: Blackcurrant, Blackberry, Plum, Raisin
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spic, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Styles:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Filled with fresh and bright fruit and easy drinking
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Great fruit flavors and medium bodied with detectable tannins
- Elegant: Medium to full bodied with succulent fruit flavors, complexity and soft tannins
- Highly concentrated fruit/firm tannins: full bodied and dense with loads of fruit flavors and ample tannins.
Food:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Aperitifs, light cheese
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Lamb, Venison
- Highly concentrated fruit/firm tannins: Red meat
- Elegant: Game dishes, Filet
Regions:
- Bordeaux-Left Bank-Saint Estèphe, Saint Julien, Pauillac, Margaux, Graves
- California: Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Central Coast
- Washington State: Columbia Valley
- Other: Australia, Argentina, Italy (Super Tuscans) and Chile
Merlot
Merlot has captured the attention of the everyday wine consumer because of its fresh, ripe fruit appeal. It offers red fruit components such as cherry, plum and currants with hints of cedar prominent with oak aging. Merlot dominates the Right Bank communes of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol where the wines are refined and elegant with loads of complexity. It is capable of producing wines which are full bodied and tannic, but most wine producing areas focus on the friendly, soft and fruit-forward style. Merlot is currently the world’s most popular red wine and is one of the prominent grapes in Bordeaux.
Aromas:
- Red Fruit: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Currant
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Flavors:
- Red Fruit: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Currant
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Styles:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Filled with bright, fresh fruit and easy drinking
- Intense Fruit/Medium Tannins: Great fruit flavors and medium bodied with detectable tannins
- Elegant: Medium to full bodied with succulent fruit flavors, complexity and soft tannins
- Highly Concentrated Fruit/Firm Tannins: Full bodied and dense with loads of fruit flavors and ample tannins
Food:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Aperitifs, Light Cheese
- Intense Fruit/Medium Tannins: Duck, Game Hens
- Highly Concentrated Fruit/Firm Tannins: Red meat
- Elegant: Game Dishes and Lamb
Regions:
- Bordeaux- Right Bank- Pomerol and Lalande de Pomerol, Saint Emilion and Satellites
- California: Napa Valley, Alexander Valley
- Washington State: Columbia Valley
- Other: Argentina, Chile
Pinot Noir
Wines made with Pinot Noir are known for their elegance and refinement. They often possess an exotic bouquet along with a velvety, mouth-filling texture. Pinot Noir exhibits flavors of ripe red fruit, cherry, chocolate, toast and spices. Most famous in Burgundy, where it is the only grape permitted in producing the famous red wines of the Côte d’Or, Pinot Noir thrives in cooler climates. Other fine, well-structured examples of Pinot Noir can be found in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and California’s Carneros and Russian River Valley.
Aromas:
- Red Fruit: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Currant
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Flavors:
- Red Fruit: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Currant
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Styles:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Fruit forward and easy drinking
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Great fruit flavors
- Elegant: Medium to full bodied with succulent fruit flavors, complexity and refined tannins.
Food:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Aperitifs, Light Cheese
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Game dishes
- Elegant: Salmon, Pork, Veal
Regions:
- France-Burgundy-Côte Chalonnaise, Côte d’Or
- California: Carneros, Russian River Valley
- Oregon: Willamette Valley
Syrah/Shiraz
Syrah (Shiraz in Australia) is relatively easy to grow and produces wines from the easy-drinking, fresh style to the intense, full-bodied and highly concentrated style. The traditional flavors of Syrah include dense red and dark berry, violet, tar, pepper and spice. Syrah is widely planted around the world, although it seems to flourish in Australia, Washington State, and in the Rhône valley of France. The most popular form of Syrah is produced in Australia, where it is known as Shiraz. Most consumers are not aware that Syrah dominates the northern Rhône, producing the renowned and lush Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.
Aromas:
- Fruit: Blackcurrant, Cherry, Blackberry, Plum, Raisin
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Flavors:
- Fruit: Blackcurrant, Cherry, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Oak: Oak, Cedar, Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Pepper
- Complex: Chocolate, Coffee, Tobacco, Earth, Herb
Styles:
- Fresh Fruit flavors/Easy Drinking
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Great fruit flavors and medium bodied with detectable tannins
- Highly Concentrated Fruit/Firm Tannins: Full bodied and dense with loads of fruit flavors and ample tannins.
Food:
- Fresh Fruit/Easy Drinking: Aperitifs, Light Cheese
- Intense Fruit/Ripe Tannins: Lamb, Venison
- Highly Concentrated Fruit/Firm Tannins: Red meat
Regions:
- France: Northern Rhône, Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, Saint Joseph
- Australia: Mclaren Valley, Hunter Valley, Barossa
- Washington State-Columbia Valley
- California: Central Coast, Amador, Napa Valley
