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- Oct 27, 2021
- 1 min
Blaufränkisch
Blaufränkisch is a dark skinned, late ripening grape produced all around eastern Europe and carries many different names. It is sometimes...


- Oct 5, 2021
- 1 min
Rkatsiteli
Rkatsiteli is a grape varietal that I have only recently researched myself. I have been exploring wines that challenge me to think...


- Aug 6, 2021
- 1 min
Carignan/Cariñena
Carignan is a grape varietal from the Rhone Valley in France, not as well known as Grenache or Syrah, it is usually a lesser ratio of the...


- Jul 31, 2021
- 1 min
Cinsault
Cinsault is yet another Rhone Valley grape used to make thick extracted red wines. As with the other Rhone varietals, Grenache, Syrah,...


- Jul 30, 2021
- 1 min
Muscadelle
Last month, I wrote about Muscat also called Moscato. Last week I wrote about a grape called Melon de Bourgogne, produced in Muscadet, in...


- Jul 29, 2021
- 2 min
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the grape that most frequently is associated with the wines of Rioja, Spain. Popular in the production of wines in Ribera...


- Jul 28, 2021
- 1 min
Barbera
Barbera is a purple skinned grape used to produce light bodied red wines in Piedmont, Italy as well as New world productions in...


- Jul 27, 2021
- 2 min
Aligoté
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...


- Jul 20, 2021
- 1 min
Roussanne
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...


- Jul 19, 2021
- 2 min
Marsanne
Marsanne is a grape varietal from the northern Rhone Valley of France. Marsanne usually portrays the role of rounding out the acidity in...


- Jul 18, 2021
- 2 min
Melon de Bourgogne
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....


- Jul 12, 2021
- 1 min
Carmenère
These days Carmenère is a grape varietal that many people may associate with Chile, although it is found all over the new world....


- Jul 10, 2021
- 2 min
Cabernet Sauvignon
Early in my restaurant career, I worked at a big budget steakhouse in Minneapolis, a couple of them actually. Cabernet Sauvignon...


- Jul 9, 2021
- 2 min
Malbec/Auxerrois
Malbec is from Bordeaux, France, where it is used as a blending grape in the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the Medoc and the Merlot...


- Jul 8, 2021
- 3 min
Merlot
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...


- Jul 7, 2021
- 2 min
Petit Verdot
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...


- Jul 5, 2021
- 1 min
Picpoul de Pinet
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...


- Jul 2, 2021
- 2 min
Grenache/Garnacha
Often blended with Syrah and Mourvedre especially in the Rhone Valley of France. Grenache stands alone very well. The grape does very...


- Jun 28, 2021
- 2 min
Zinfandel
Over the past decade, I have found that Zinfandel has become one of my favorite domestic grape varietals. It is definitely a United...


- Jun 23, 2021
- 1 min
Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner is produced in Austria, and has had an exciting growth in the last decade in the United States. These Austrian white...