Category Archives: Grape Files

Grape Files: Pinotage

Posted on January 25, 2013 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: South Africa   Profile: This crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault (which was locally known as Hermitage) is very much its own creature, unabashed in its dark, smoky, charred fruit and leather flavors. Some versions … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Mourvèdre

Posted on January 18, 2013 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Provence, southern Rhône, Languedoc-Rousillon (France); Spain; California and Washington (U.S.); Australia   A.K.A.: Monastrell (Spain), Mataro (Spain, Australia, U.S.)   Profile: Mourvèdre loves hot weather. It’s thick-skinned and takes a while to ripen, so the … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Corvina

Posted on January 11, 2013 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Veneto (Italy)   Profile: This is the main grape in Valpolicella (including Ripasso, Amarone or Recioto) wines, which can be dry or have a bit of rich sweetness. Amarone and Recioto are made by the … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Aglianico

Posted on January 4, 2013 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Campania, Basilicata (Italy)   Profile: This early-budding and late-ripening grape needs a nice long growing season to build up its deep flavors and flesh out its high-acid and high-tannin structure. Wines made from Aglianico are … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Sémillon

Posted on December 28, 2012 by stevie

Color: White   Grown in: Bordeaux (France); Riverina, Margaret River, Hunter, Barossa Valley (Australia)   A.K.A.: Hunter Riesling (Hunter Valley, Australia); Semillon (without accent é, in Australia)   Profile: Susceptible to botrytis — both the good and bad kind — Sémillon … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Carmenère

Posted on October 26, 2012 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Chile; Veneto, Trentino, Friuli (Italy); Bordeaux (France)   Profile: Once one of the grapes of Bordeaux, Carmenère is now virtually extinct in France. However, it’s made a great new name for itself halfway around the … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Merlot

Posted on October 17, 2012 by laura

Color: Red   Grown in: Bordeaux, Languedoc-Rousillon, Southwest France (France); Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, Tuscany (Italy); California, Washington (U.S.); Spain; Bulgaria; Chile; Australia; New Zealand   Profile: This plushly fruited, blue-black grape is the most widely planted in the French wine … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Sangiovese

Posted on February 25, 2012 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Abruzzo, Le Marche (Italy); California   A.K.A.: Brunello (in Montalcino, Tuscany); Prugnolo (in Montepulciano, Tuscany); Morellino (in Scansano, Tuscany)   Profile: The signatures of Sangiovese are its bright, orangey-red color and definitive … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Muscat

Posted on February 18, 2012 by stevie

Color: White   Grown in: Alsace, Rhône, Languedoc (France); Austria; Piedmont (Italy); Jerez, Málaga (Spain); Australia; South Africa; Greece   A.K.A.: Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains; Muscat de Frontignan; Muskateller (Austria); Moscatel (Spain)   Profile: Light and aromatic, Muscat is one … Continue reading →

Grape Files: Pinot Noir

Posted on February 11, 2012 by stevie

Color: Red   Grown in: Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Jura, Alsace (France); Alto Adige, Lombardia (Italy); Germany; Switzerland; New Zealand; United States; Chile; Argentina   A.K.A. Pinot Nero (Italy); Spätburgunder (Germany)   Profile: Pinot Noir can be stunningly, heartbreakingly beautiful. It can … Continue reading →