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

A-B C-D E-G H-J K-M N-P Q-S T-V W-Z