Cinsault (pronounced “San-so”) is an ancient Mediterranean grape variety known for its role in blending and its ability to thrive in warm climates. Valued for its fresh fruit character and soft tannins, Cinsault is increasingly bottled as a single-varietal wine, showcasing its unique qualities. Cinsault originated in the Mediterranean and has deep historical roots in […]
Nebbiolo is one of Italy’s most revered and complex red wine varietals, responsible for some of the finest and longest-lived wines in the world. It has been known in the Piemonte region of northwest Italy since at least the 13th century. Modern Piemonte has shown its respect for Nebbiolo by restricting its planting to a […]
Gewurztraminer is a white wine grape varietal of the pink-skinned Savagnin. It is known for producing aromatic, slightly spicy wines. It’s primarily grown in cooler wine regions and is famous for its rich, floral, and fruity flavours, often with notes of lychee, rose, and tropical fruits. The varietal is typically medium to full-bodied with low acidity and […]
Cabernet Merlot wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and contributes to Bordeaux wine in France. Other varietals that can play a role in the Bordeaux blend are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere. Depending upon the winemaker, region and style of the blend, the proportion of both grapes may vary. Bordeaux blends […]
Gamay is an ancient Burgundian red grape variety used as the primary grape in Beaujolais. Wines can be named after their varietal or the region in which the wine is grown and produced. In the case of Beaujolais, this is a wine-producing region north of Lyon, covering parts of Rhone in Burgundy, France. In the […]
Generally, there are three main types of wine: Still, sparkling, and Fortified. Still is by far the largest category and is further broken down into Red, White and Rose. Wines can be single varietals, made with one single grape variety (like Shiraz) or blends produced by mixing different blends together (like Semillion Sauvignon Blanc or Bordeaux). Five main characteristics are generally […]
Pinot Meunier is a red wine grape most noted for being one of the three main varieties used in the production of Champagne (the alternates being Pinot Noir or Chardonnay). It is also one of the most widely planted grapes in France. Meunier is one of the four grape varieties in the Pinot family. Originating in France, the name Pinot is derived from the […]
Chambourcin is a relatively new French hybrid red wine varietal that has only been available since the early 1960’s. The crossing of varieties resulted in grapes resistant to many fungal diseases, especially downy mildew, which can be a major problem in areas with high summer rainfall. This resistance makes it ideal for more humid regions, […]
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most recognisable wine varietals and is grown in all countries where wine is produced. According to Forbes in 2018, the varietal was the most planted wine grape in the world, covering 340,000 hectares internationally. It has been affectionately coined ‘King of the Reds” Despite its notoriety in the […]
Carmenere is a red wine varietal originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, yet now predominantly grown in Chile. It was recently discovered to be genetically identical to Cabernet Gernischt, a major red grape grown in China. Today, there are only a few hundred acres left in France. It has many taste similarities to […]
