Grapes

Popular Reds
- Cabernet Sauvignon
  “King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...
- Pinot Noir
  “With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...
- Syrah
  The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...
- Merlot
  The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...
- Zinfandel
  Parentage of the grape: Crljenak to Austria to America. In the 1970s, claims surfaced that the Italian Primitivo is l...
- Grenache
  You’re a member of the ‘Rhône Ranger’ band. Your groupies think you’re ‘hot’, even when you're boozy and "strung out"...
- Tempranillo
  History of the grape: Origins of Tempranillo are murky. It could be indigenous to the Spanish countryside, or it coul...
- Nebbiolo
  History of the grape: Two schools of thought exist as to the origins of Nebbiolo (which means “little fog” either for...
- Sangiovese
  Prounounced “San-joh-vay-say,” this Italian wine varietal is Tuscany’s #1 red wine grape. It’s the pistol of Central ...
- Gamay
  History of the grape: Legend has it that it was brought over by the Romans in the first century BC to the town of Bea...
- Lambrusco
  History of the grape: There is evidence that the ancient Romans were drinking wines made from Lambrusco, a grape that...
- Malbec
  History of the grape: Some believe Malbec is named after a Hungarian peasant who spread plantings along the French co...
- Nero d'Avola
  History of the grape: The name translates to “Black [grape] of Avola,” referring to the town in Sicily where it was f...
- Barbera
  History of the grape: Barbera is a native to the Piedmont, where it has been growing for centuries, and is now the fo...
- Mourvèdre
  History of the grape: Monastrell is a native of Spain, first grown in Murviedro near Valencia, and was eventually bro...
- Pinotage
  History of the grape: In 1925, Stellenbosch University Chief Horticulture Professor Abraham Izak Perold created the P...
Popular Whites
- Chardonnay
  British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...
- Sauvignon Blanc
  Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in California -- at over 15,000 acres, it’s now the third most planted variety -- and...
- Pinot Grigio
  History of the grape: Pinot Gris was planted in Burgundy, France as far back as the 1300s. It then spread through Eur...
- Riesling
  History of the grape: As with many varietals, exact details of Riesling’s origins are unclear. It is known that in 14...
- Chenin Blanc
  History of the grape: Modern day French oenologist Pierre Galet states Chenin Blanc has been in France at least since...
- Pinot Blanc
  History of the grape: Pinot Blanc was first grown in Burgundy and Champagne, France, and can be traced by some source...
- Sémillon
  History of the grape: Little is documented about the early years of this grape, which is surprising due to its distin...
- Viognier
  This special and exciting variety has taken California by storm and young plantings already demonstrate that this out...
- Muscat
  History of the grape: Muscat existed as far back as the Ancient Greeks. It spread throughout the world as empires gre...
- Verdejo
  History of the grape: Verdejo has existed in the region for centuries, thought to have first been planted by the Moor...
- Gewürztraminer
  Gewürztraminer’s direct and obvious charm has made it a popular varietal in almost every corner of the wine world. Ex...
- Müller-Thurgau
  This variety was developed by Dr. Hermann Muller in 1882. When naming the new grape, he added the name of the Swiss c...
- Silvaner
  Grape: Silvaner Color: White Synonyms: Sylvaner, Gruner Silvaner Main Regions: Germany (Franke...
- Ugni Blanc
  Because so many Italian varieties are known as Trebbiano, its history is unclear. It may be named after the river Tre...
- Marsanne
  Avilleran, Champagne Piacentina, Ermitage, Grosse Roussette, Hermitage, Johannisberg, Marsan Belyi, Marsanne Blanche,...
- Tannat
  History of the grape: Tannat has been growing in southwest France for many centuries. The grape has the distinction o...

A-B

Abouriou
Abouriou is a black-skinned red wine grape grown mainly in South West France. It is primarily found as a blending com...
Acolon
Wines made from Acolon grapes are described as having cherry, berry and spice flavors, with a subtle plum aroma gener...
Agawam
Agiorgitiko
The term Agiorgitiko means "Saint George's grape". This could refer to Saint George's Day, a Greek celebration that o...
Aglianico
History of the grape: There is documented proof of the existence of Aglianico in Basilicata, Italy as far back as the...
Agria
Agria has also found its way into North America via British Columbia, where it is sometimes blended with Pinot Noir....
Aidani
Aidani is a white variety most commonly found on the island of Santorini. This grape produces pleasantly aromatic win...
Airén
n is a white Vinifiera variety, and is by acreage the most widely grown grape in the world. Native to Spain, this gra...
Albania
Albany Surprise
Albariño
History of the grape: Legend has it that Cluny monks from Burgundy brought the parentage of the grape, either Rieslin...
Albillo Real
Alden
Alden (Ontario x Grosse Guillaume). From Cornell University's Geneva, New York experiment station. One of the larges...
Aleatico
Limited plantings of this minor red wine variety are found in warmer areas of California and Australia. Aleatico is m...
Alibernet
Alicante Bouschet
History of the grape: Like all good biographies, the rise and fall of Alicante Bouschet begins with its grandparents....
Aligoté
In North America, Aligoté’s cold-weather tolerance has provided it with homes in Washington State, British Columbia a...
Alvarelhão
Alvarinho
Amber Queen
Amerbonte
America Grape
Ancellotta
Traditionally cultivated in Reggio Emilia and in smaller amounts in Emilia Romagna. After WW1 was planted in Val d'A...
Angelina
This grape has been widely grown in the Lodi area of Calfornia’s hot Central Valley since the dawn of the 20th centur...
Aragonêz
Aramon
Arinarnoa
Arinarnoa is a human-made wine grape. First conceived in the 1950s in the south of France, it is a combination of M...
Arinto
Arneis
The first records of Arneis plantings in Piedmont go back to the 1400s in the Roero area. Today, many call Arneis the...
Arnsburger
Assyrtiko
Assyrtiko is a white Greek wine grape indigenous to the island of Santorini. Assyrtiko is the most widely planted on ...
Athiri
Athiri is an ancient Greek variety found on the island of Santorini (or Thira as it was known in ancient times.) Athi...
Atoka
August Giant
Aurora
Aurore
A 19th century French hybrid, Aurore was created by Albert Seibel and named after the Roman goddess of dawn. At one t...
Auxerrois
Auxerrois' tendency towards low acidity makes it suitable to cooler climates, such as England, Ontario's Niagara Peni...
Auxerrois Blanc
Bacchus
Named after the Roman god of wine, Bacchus is found in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, in the Unit...
Baco 22A
Baco Blanc
A cross between Folle Blanche and Noah, Baco Blanc is the creation of famed French hybridizer Francois Baco. Also kno...
Baco Noir
Baco Noir is a hybrid red wine grape created at the beginning of the 20th century by French hybridizer, Francois Baco...
Bailey
Barbera
History of the grape: Barbera is a native to the Piedmont, where it has been growing for centuries, and is now the fo...
Bastardo
Currently under threat of extinction. Grape: Bastardo Color: Red Synonyms: Trousseau Main Regions:...
Ben Hur
Biancolella
Binachetta
Bixby
Black Corinth
Black Rose
Blanc du Bois
Blanc du Bois was developed at the University of Florida for use in that state. It is a white wine-producing grape wi...
Blauer Portugieser
Blaufränkisch
Blaufränkisch is the most important Austrian red variety to many Austrian vintners despite the fact it is not the mos...
Bluebell
Bluebell is a cold-hardy grape created by the University of Minnesota. It produces small, blue skinned grapes that ri...
Bonarda
History of the grape: Bonarda is a confusing grape to describe because, depending on where it was made, one person’s ...
Bondola
Bourboulenc
Bourboulenc is a white wine grape variety found mostly in the French regions of Southern Rhône, Provence and Languedo...
Brianna
Brown Muscat
Bual
Bual (or Boal) is a grape variety used in Madeira production. It is the second sweetest of the four noble Madeira gra...
Burger
How low this once mighty grape has fallen! There was a time when Burger produced more wine in California than any oth...
Burger Grape