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.
This white wine grape has tested highly resistant to Pierce's Disease. It has small berries and small compact clusters. It blooms relatively late and ripens mid-season. The vine has medium productivity. Tasting notes include light straw- gold color, apple-melon, lychee, floral aromas, pineapple, ...
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.
Sauvignon Blanc is responsible for some of the world's most distinctive dry white wines with a wide range of aromatics. It produces a wide range of wine styles from dry aromatic wines to desert wines in France, to ripe fruit characteristics in California, and now the leading cultivar in New Zeala...
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.
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.
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 grapes are grown, with characteristics ranging from violets to berries, chocol...
Saperavi is a popular stand-alone varietal making deep colored wines enjoyed young and aged and has been well received as a rosé as well. Originating in the early 1950's in the Soviet Republic of Georgia, Saperavi is a Vitis vinifera grape responding much like other red vinifera as far as growth ...
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 spectrum of climates. Cabernet Sauvignon makes a high quality wine if grapes are ha...
This red wine grape has great blending potential and is highly resistant to Pierce's Disease. It has a mid-season bloom and ripening period and has relatively large berries and loose clusters. It's highly productive. Tasting notes include dark red-purple color, complex fruit with herbs and earth,...
Petit Manseng is a premium white wine grape known for its small, thick-skinned, golden-yellow berries and naturally high sugar content. Perfect for crafting late-harvest, dessert, or sweet wines, it delivers intensely aromatic flavors of tropical fruit, honey, and citrus. This versatile variety t...
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.
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 and Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec is now one of the leading cultivars in Argent...
The standard of white wine grapes, Chardonnay can be used to make a wide range of wine styles from "fruit forward" wines fermented in stainless, to buttery wines fermented or finished with oak. Chardonnay is the primary variety in Burgundy and California and is one of the components of traditiona...
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 eastern North America where it is used to produce full-bodied red wines, and is als...
Sauvignon Kretos (Sauvignon x 20-3) is one of two Sauvignon crosses in a line up of mildew resistant VCR varieties that reduce the spray requirements while producing quality fruit and wine. The golden hues of Sauvignon Kretos make for a pleasantly aromatic young wine. Vines show excellent vigor w...
This red wine grape makes wine with characteristics of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah and is resistant to Pierce's Disease. This selection ripens early and the berries are relatively large and the well filled clusters are medium sized. Tasting notes include bright red fruit, tannic and ...
Viognier is a Rhone variety that produces small clusters of yellow and amber fruit. Viognier can make excellent wines with distinctive aromatic characteristics, but vines tend to have low vigor and produce relatively small crops.
Viognier is a Rhone variety that produces small clusters of yellow and amber fruit. Viognier can make excellent wines with distinctive aromatic characteristics, but vines tend to have low vigor and produce relatively small crops.
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 tannins and acidity.
