First release from Dr. Bruce Reisch's "no spray" grape breeding program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva. High disease resistance and potential to produce red wines of good quality. Good resi...
Grown primarily in the Piedmont, Barbera is the second most planted variety in Italy. It has a high level of natural acidity even when fully ripe, so is best suited for hot climates.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a vigorous, variety with late bud break and late maturity. It is one of the world's most widely renowned red wine varieties, grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectr...
An old Bordeaux variety largely replaced by Merlot in France, but widely grown in Chile where vines planted as Merlot turned out to be Carmenère. Ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chambourcin is a late ripening grape that can produce a highly rated red wine when fully mature. It requires a long growing season and at least 3000 GDD to fully mature. Vines tend to over-produce, so some cluster thinni...
Dornfelder is considered to be the most successful red German vinifera cross with substantial plantings in the late 20th Century. The wine is notable for its depth of color, good acidity, attractive aromatics, and abili...
Rare, jet-black variety with loose, medium-sized clusters and berries. Can be used to make deep red wines, typically with strong foxy flavor and odor that can improve with time; still used in commercial juice production...
Malbec was once popular in Bordeaux, but plantings have declined as it is susceptible to various viticultural hazards such as frost, coulure, and bunch rot. Known to require a milder climate than varieties such as Merlot...
Merlot is Bourdeaux's most planted grape variety, known for its smooth texture and outstanding varietal wines, but often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon, but not as winter hardy.
Mourvédre is Spain's second-leading red variety (after Grenache) and is also a popular variety in southern France, and has been grown in California since the 1870s. Mourvédre needs a very warm climate with long summers...
Nebbiolo is native to the Piedmont region in northern Italy where it produces the region's most distinguished wines, and some of Italy's best, long-lived wines.
Noiret produces an excellent full-bodied, richly colored wine. The wines can resemble Shiraz (Syrah) with a distinct black pepper character, moderate tannins, and notes of raspberry, blackberry and mint. Vines are vigoro...
Norton (also known as Cynthiana) is a V. labruscana x V. aestivalis hybrid with a long history in eastern US wine production, particularly in Missouri and Virginia. Norton produces small to medium clusters of firm, round...
Petit Verdot is one of the classic black Bordeaux varieties. It is known for high quality where it can fully ripen, which is later than that of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Petite Sirah became popular in France for its resistance to downy mildew but has since fallen from favor there, it is currently being planted on an experimental basis in many locations in the US.
Pinot Noir is the classic red Burgundy cultivar, it ripens best under cool, dry conditions and is best suited for cool but moderate climates. Wines are lower in tannins and pigments than the other great French wine varie...
Regent is a relatively new German hybrid, mostly vinifera, with good fungal disease resistance. Regent wines can have intense color, high tannins, moderate acidity, and show aromas of cherry and black currant.
Sangiovese is the most planted grape variety in Italy, the principal variety for fine red wine in Tuscany, and the base wine for the production of Chianti. It is a late-ripening red that produces wines with pronounced t...
Shiraz is the Australian synonym for Syrah, an ancient, noble variety capable of producing outstanding wines with long aging potential. The wines have a wide range of flavor depending on the climate and soils where the g...
An important variety in Uruguay, Tannat produces deeply colored wines that are astringent and often blended with other varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tempranillo is one of Spain's most important varieties, it can produce wines that are deeply-colored and long-lasting, typically not high in alcohol content.
Zinfandel is known as an exotic black variety predominantly grown in California and recently found to be identical to the Italian variety Primitivo. Typically made into varietal wines that can age well.
Zweigelt is widely grown in Austria where it was developed and is now the country's most popular dark-skinned grape. Zweigelt ripens earlier than Lemberger but buds out later than St. Laurent and tends to produce liberal...
A component of many Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Franc matures earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and is more suitable for cooler climates. One of the more winter hardy vinifera varieties, it is becoming more popular in easte...
Not to be confused with cheese, Lemberger is used to produce low acid, varietal wines. It is gaining a reputation in the Finger Lakes region of NY as a variety with good wine potential and easier to grow than Pinot Noir.