Cinsault is yet another Rhone Valley grape used to make thick extracted red wines. As with the other Rhone varietals, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre this grape enjoys warm climates. We see increasing acreage in the United States especially California, and recently Washington. Cinsault is also produced widely in South Africa. Cinsault is rarely the leading lady in blends, and very few producers ferment and bottle it as an independent varietal wine. When they do, it is a medium

Last month, I wrote about Muscat also called Moscato. Last week I wrote about a grape called Melon de Bourgogne, produced in Muscadet, in the Loire Valley of France. I have received numerous questions about their similarities, of which there are few. I will know open a third door of area of opportunity for confusion by writing about Muscadelle. This grape is grown in Bordeaux, France. It is used most frequently in Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers to add bright fruit to the acidic S

Tempranillo is the grape that most frequently is associated with the wines of Rioja, Spain. Popular in the production of wines in Ribera del Duero, Cataluña, and the Duoro in Portugal where it is called Tinta Roriz. The wines frequently show dark fruit, blackberry, and plum flavors. In these regions the wines are generally oak aged, frequently American oak barrels are employed. The oak offers fresh aromas, and gradual oxidation to balance acid and tannin in the resulting wine

We are off to wine country! The WineTime Online crew is going to Napa and Sonoma to meet with some wine professionals and select wines for upcoming wine classes, perhaps a little fun as well. We are leaving from San Francisco to spend a few days in the north coast. On the first day we will visit Castello di Amorosa and check out the castle, it's majestic grounds and try their Italian inspired wines made of Sangiovese, Barbera, and Pinot Bianco. We will tour the castle and wal

Barbera is a purple skinned grape used to produce light bodied red wines in Piedmont, Italy as well as New world productions in Washington, California, and Australia. It generally thrives in cooler, moderate climate zones. The wines are medium to full bodied, dark ruby colored, with red berry and blackberry aromas and flavors. Exceptional examples include Barbera d'Asti, and Barbera d'Alba in Piedmont. When I introduce Barbera to a guest, I usually show it to someone who nor

I am on a mission to enlighten people to a variety of wine producing grapes that do not get the attention that they deserve, but produce unique, frequently beautiful wines. Shall we begin alphabetically, like tropical storms? Aligoté is a light-colored green grape, barely green at all. It is a cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. Aligoté is freckled around Burgundy, France as the secondary grape of white wine production. In Burgundy, Chardonnay is king, and Aligoté is genera

One thing that I love about this project is how I get inspired to write about a grape, and I end up writing about the grapes frequently associated with the region of origin at the same time. Then, I get inspired to shop for airline tickets. Roussanne is a green grape from the Rhone Valley of France. Roussanne is usually just an addition to Rhone Valley white blends, adding acidity to the weighty Marsanne, the aromatic Viognier, and giving the blend balance. It is also used in

Marsanne is a grape varietal from the northern Rhone Valley of France. Marsanne usually portrays the role of rounding out the acidity in the white wines produced of it's partner grape Roussanne. If you have enjoyed Rhone Valley whites, they frequently contain both grapes as well as Viognier. In the last several years Marsanne has found a home in the new world, and we now have the opportunity to taste the grape in 100% varietal composition. Well, maybe there will still be 10-1

Melon de Bourgogne is rarely seen on the label of a wine bottle. The grape is used in the Loire Valley to produce the wines of Muscadet. The grape generally produces a high acidity white wine, perfect for pairing with the shellfish and seafood dishes produced in the western Loire region of France. The fruit is very green appley, some citrus notes, and floral, herbal, saline aromatics are often present. The Loire Valley is a relatively cool climate region, and one tool is empl

The Loire Valley is one of my favorite areas from which to source wines that win over guests to French wine. Loire wines are perhaps less rustic and more finessed than wines from Bordeaux or the Rhone Valley. The white wines produced here are made of Sauvignon Blanc, in renown locales like Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Quincy. Chenin Blanc is used to make the wines of Vouvray. Melon de Bourgogne is used to produce the white wine known as Muscadet. Cabernet Franc is used to make

After all of my winters in Minnesota, I have determined that I can handle winter here only by spending January in the southern hemisphere each year from now on. I am returning to New Zealand in January 2022, and have decided that South Africa will be my January 2023 trip. I am very excited, and will have plenty of pictures, videos, stories, and insights to share about wine production. I have been excited by the wines of South Africa for many years. They do not dominate the ma

These days Carmenère is a grape varietal that many people may associate with Chile, although it is found all over the new world. Carmenère made it's way to Chile from Bordeaux, France, where it was, historically, the sixth permitted grape in the red blends. Upon it's arrival in Chile, many early producers identified the grape as Merlot, and there was some confusion as to why Chilean Merlot was so good. Because it was Carmenère! Not to say there is anything wrong with Merlot,

Early in my restaurant career, I worked at a big budget steakhouse in Minneapolis, a couple of them actually. Cabernet Sauvignon portrayed a major role in the body of the wine program. I had the opportunity to drink big bold Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and of course the wines produced in Bordeaux, France that inspired the California Meritage style. They are hugely different products, to be sure. When looking at Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Margaux, St Julien and St.

Malbec is from Bordeaux, France, where it is used as a blending grape in the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the Medoc and the Merlot produced in St. Emilion and Pomerol. As an independent grape varietal, we look to warmer drier climates like Cahors in southern France, where the grape is called Auxerrois, Pressac, or Cot. Though the wines have plenty of fruit, this author prefers the rustic qualities of these wines from Cahors to their new world counterparts. Malbec has thick

I find Merlot to be the red Chardonnay in some ways. Merlot is a French word, but not an intimidating one, and like Chardonnay that played an undeniable role in it's success in the United States. Merlot and Chardonnay exploded in the United States wine culture late in the 1970's and dominated sales here until the late eighties. Both varietals have associated preconceived opinions by consumers. Both varietals are produced all over the world, and have entirely different resulti

You may have never seen a bottle labelled Petit Verdot, but you may have enjoyed a small amount in a blend. Seeking solo varietal, Petit Verdot is a challenge, and when I have seen them, they are most likely part of a tasting kit. Petit Verdot is the fifth permitted grape varietal in the red wines from Bordeaux, France, it usually makes up a very small percentage of the blend. Petit Verdot is inky dark, with heavy tannic extraction from the skins, so a little goes a long way

One easy way to impress a food and wine person is to show them something that they have likely not seen in the past. Picpoul de Pinet is the perfect grape for this. Never heard of it? Most people have not. I never heard of it myself until I was studying for the Sommelier exam back in 2004. The wine is produced in southern France in the Coteaux du Languedoc. The name of the grape means "lipstinger" and it does not disappoint. The acidity is brilliant, and yet, because of the w

Absolutely some of my favorite wines produced in the world come from Alsace, on the French German border. The region lies between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. The Vosges Range creates a rain shield allowing the region to remain relatively dry, and resulting in a long dry growing season. The Rhine River moderates the climate in this relatively northern area of France. The border has been historically blurred by the French and German perspectives resulting in a uni

Often blended with Syrah and Mourvedre especially in the Rhone Valley of France. Grenache stands alone very well. The grape does very well in dry, hot climates like the southern Rhone, Spain, California, eastern Washington, and Australia. In these areas it develops great sugar ripeness, and frequently higher alcohol content. I seem to push French wines frequently, but in the case of Grenache, I think I would recommend opening the door to looking first to Spanish Garnacha. Ful