Project Green Leaf
The Wine Library
Grapes
Bonarda
A native to France, with strong characteristics in regards to its adaptability and vigorous production. It has in recent years begun to be considered a wine of quality, though the underlining quality is rendered to its blending uses. Due to the indistinctive qualities, it is not produced or developed in mass quantities as a single varietal wine.
Most Popular Production: Savoie (Douce Noir) - France, Mendoza - Argentina
Most Popular Region: Argentina
Special Notes: This varietal ripens early and produces light fruity wines, with dark skins.
Scent: Malberry, Plum, Red Fruit.
Aging: Unlimited Ageing
Cabernet Sauvignon
Small, tough-skinned grape that gives the distinction to the red wines of Bordeaux always aged
and blended with Merlot. Though initially a strong wine, it tends to release extensive aromas
once oxidized. This varietal is widely recognized for its green bell pepper flavor, which is
caused by pyrazines.
Most Popular Production: Varietal (Medoc - Bordeaux) - France
Most Popular Region: France
Special Notes: All Cabernet wines gain by age in bottle as well as wood.
Scent: Black Pepper, Green Pepper, Mint, Tabacco
Chardonnay
The grape of the White Burgundy, Champagne is produced from this grape.
It gives a firm, full, strong wine scent with out becoming sweet. This strain is very susceptible
to Botrytis.
Most Popular Production: Champagne (Burgandy) - France
Special Notes: When the wine has been conserved in oak it tends to give off a vanilla and chocolate aroma.
Scent: Green Apple, Pear, Melon, Pineapple, Banana, Flowers, Honey
Chenin Blanc
The White Grapes of Anjou and Tournaine (France) gives nervy, intense wine, honey-like when ripe
but always acidic. It should be rendered predominantly as a blending agent due to its fresh
acidity, and low evolutionary qualities.
Most Popular Production: Vouvray, Anjou (Loire Valley) - France, Steen – South Africa Most Popular Region: France
Special Note: This is the grape primarily used to make Sparkling Wines.
Scent: Peach, Mango, Pineapple, Honey, Fresh Cut Grass.
Gamay
The grape produces a particularly acid wine, but benefits from acidic soils like granite.
The granite conducts heat well and thus neutralizes the acidity. The Gamay vine tends to
root very shallow in alkaline soils producing stress on the vine with a corresponding high acidity.
The carbonic maceration produces interesting flavors and aromas – reminiscent of bananas.
Most Popular Production: Varietal (Beaujolais) France, California – United States
Special notes: Light fragrant wines at their best quite young.
Scent: Bananas, Sour Cherries, Black Pepper, Raisins
Aging: Moderate
Gewurztraminer
The strain is the spicy specialty of Alsce (Originally part of Germany but annexed to France). It’s considered
a pungent grape, with crops ripening early in the season. The alias for this variety is Savignin in the
Jura (Frances most remote wine producing region). It’s prized for its fermentation qualities.
This strain is considered a favorite blending grape in Argentina. Due to the high salinity and
mineral levels found in Argentine terrain, this variety is a major component in developing a consistent
Criolla Grande & Criolla Chica, would be considered the same family with similar blending qualities.
Most Popular Production: Alsace AOC – France, Traimer – Italy, Mendoza - Argentina
Most Popular Region: France, Argentina
Special notes: The odors present have been linked to those found in the Leeches family.
Scent: Leeches, Roses, Passion Fruit, Floral
Aging: Immediate Consumption
Grenache
This sweet grape yields products with high alcohol contents. The wine that is produced tends to have low acidity, low tannins, and faint color. What makes this wine very interesting is the long ripening process it undergoes; this also contributes to its elevated sugar levels. Its uses consist of dessert wines and light colored rose.
Most Popular Production: Rioja – Spain, Chateauneuf-du-pape AOC - France
Most Popular Region: Spain
Special Note: Used in a blend to make Chateauneuf-du-pape and on its own to make Tavel. In Australia it used for Port production.
Scent: Spicy, Berries, Coffee, Leather
Grignolino
Wine produced from this grape varietal tends to be extensively acidic and tannic. The tannic qualities are due to the abundance of pips in the grape (hence the translation).The grape produces very fruity aromas, strong acidity and extensive tannins which contribute to a phenomenal rose wine.
Most Popular Production: Piedemont D.O.C. - Italy
Most Popular Region: Italy
Special Note: Used primarily for the production of table wines, due to the extensive labor involved in producing a high quality tannic wine.
Scent: Herbs, Raspberry, Green Pepper
Malbec
The strain is the primary component and pride of the Argentinean wine market, though originally from the South of France. After very successful plantations in the region of Lujan de Cuyo, the region has become the first area pronounced with the title - Denominacion de Origen controlada (D.O.C.).
Most Popular Production: Varietal, Mendoza – Argentina, Cot Noir (Bordeaux) - France
Special Notes: Argentine Varietals tend to produce a strong caramelized plum note.
Scent: Plum, Malberry, Flowers (Vanilla, Chocolate and Coffee are present when the wine has been aged in oak).
Aging: Extensive Life
Merlot
This is the noble cousin of the Cabernet Franc, with the distinction of being fleshier and maturing faster. Used in the Medoc in a blend (up to 75%) with Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes to compensate for the low tannin and high sugar composition. It makes an excellent light wine, due to the cooler climate in the production region.
Most Popular Production: Varietal, Bordeaux, Pomerol, St. Emillion – France, Mendoza - Argentina
Special notes: The wines are usually more transparent than those produced by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Scent: Blackberry, Plum, Black Cherries, Truffles, Pepper, Leather.
Moscatel
It is considered a high yielding grape, with a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Considered a very adaptable strain demonstrated in Mendoza with the varietals of Moscatel Rosado and Torrantes.
Most Popular Production: Beaumes de Venise AOC (Rhone Valley) - France
Special Note: This variety is particularly popular in Portugal in the production of Sherry, tends to have a creamy quality.
Scent: Honey, Oranges, Fresh Grapes, Apricots, Earthy
Nebbiolo
The varietal has an extensive harvesting cycle; the vine buds early and ripens late. This vine is especially susceptible to coulure due to its long harvesting cycle. Grapes tend to be highly acidic and tannic, thus benefit from a marl soil that neutralizes the acidity. In order to create a harmonious balance with regards to sugar ration and fulfilling the grapes microclimate needs, there is special attention given to the trellis and direction of plantation in proportion to the sun.
Most Popular Production: Piedemont (Barolo, Barbaresco) D.O.C.G. - Italy
Special Note: Produces noble fruity and perfumed wine taking years to mature.
Scent: Violets, Tar, Herbs, Berries, Truffles, Tabacco
Pinot Blanc
This member of the Pinot Noir family grows in Burgundy. The wine is characterized by moderate acidity and a pungent wine. Its reputation lies in the Burgundy for its use in blending with Chardonnay for Champagne use.
Most Popular Production: Cremant d’Alsace AOC, Champagne AOC - France
Special Note: Has been confused for Chardonnay on extensive production in California
Scent: Apples, Melons, Spicy, Smokey
Pinot Noir
This is considered the World’s best red-wine grape from Cote D’Or in Burgundy, France.
In Champagne it is pressed before fermentation to make white-wine which is the better part of Champagne. At its best the scent, flavors, body, texture, of its wine are all profound pleasures.
Most Popular Production: Champagne (Burgundy) - France
Special Note: Young wines tend to have a characteristic ruby red color.
Scent: Blackberry, Mulberry, Plum, Apricots, Gamey, Fresh Cut Grass, Venison, Anisette.
Reisling
This grape produces wines with eccentric fruity attributes. It always produces a fresh acidity balanced with a high sugar composition. Same variety is responsible for Eiswein also known as Ice Wine.
Most Popular Production: Varietal, Eiswein (Rhine) - Germany, Alsace Grand Cru
Most Popular Region: Germany
Special Note: This wine is particularly famous because a special quality known as Noble Rot. The noble rot is caused by a fungus called Botrytis Cinerea, usually related to the extreme late harvests or winter harvest when extensively affected by evaporation.
Scent: Dry Flowers, Raisins, Tea, Lemon, Green Apples, Pineapple
Aging: Moderate Life
Sangiovese
This variety is the principal red grape of Tuscany producing Chianti. Grape ripens late, but with good acid balance and flavor. The most distinguished red wine made from this grape is the infamous - “Brunello di Montelcino”, which ages, it seems, forever.
It became popular in the 1980’s with it productions in Argentina, primarily cause my the massive immigration during the 1950’s.
Most Popular Production: Montelcino, Montepulciano DOC - Italy
Special Note: Young Sangiovese has a fresh fruity flavor, but readily develops when aged in oak.
Scent: Strawberry, Spice, Leather, Mulberries, Pepper
Sauvignon Blanc
The chief white Bordeaux Grape, used with Semillion and a little Muscadelle to make dry Graves and Sweet Sauternes. The berries are high in acid and sugar, nearing ripening there is a small time window when increasing sugar and decreasing acid are in balance, after which acidity plummets. In warmer climates timing of harvest is critical.
Most Popular Production: Sauternes, Barsac, Graves (Bordeaux) - France
Special Notes: Elegant acidity with a long finish
Scent: Grapefruit, Honey, Mango, Honey, Fresh Cut Grass
Semillion
The grape has a great gift, shared with the Riesling, of rotting nobly.
Under certain condition of warmth and humidity a normally undesirable fungus softens the skin and lets the juices evaporate. Thus concentrating the sugar and flavoring elements.
Most Popular Production: Wyndruif – South Africa, Varietal (Bordeaux) - France
Most Popular Region: France, Australia
Special Note: The blend is usually paired with younger fresher wines, primarily due to its early ripening and maturation.
Scent: Pears, Green Apple, Melon, Citrus, Flowers, Herbs.
Tempranillo
This variety forms a main constituent of the Spanish market, in the region of Rioja. With the use of Oak Barreling, a product indigenous to the market is known as Crianza (Oaked for 3 years). Though it has a variety of aliases in California its name is Valdepenas. Though it is commonly grown in distinctively hotter climates, the finer wines require a more subtle and cooler region.
Most Popular Production: Rioja (Crianza) – Spain, Tinta Santiago - Chile
Special Notes: Very strong tannins, which allow for extensive aging. It is commonly blended with Grenache due to its low acidity and sugar content.
Scent: Berries, Plum, Tobacco, Vanilla
Syrah
Vigorous and highly productive in sandy loam soil; its concentration and character are enhanced in the shallow granite. The small berries are high in aroma and tannin, and of good acidity which evaporates at the first instant of over-ripeness.
Most Popular Production: Rhone – France,
Special Notes: Great evolution with its abundant tannins and acidity. These varietals are notorious for not having a typical character.
Scent: Blackberry, Dark Chocolate, Smoked Meat, Mint, Liquorice, Black Pepper
Torrontes Riojano and Sanjuanino
A native variety to the North East area of Argentina it has been linked to the European strains of Austrian Muscatel. Its technical denomination is known as, “Cepajes Criollos”. They’re vigorous and productive varietals, with distinct flavors.
Most Popular Production: Salta, Mendoza – Argentina, Alsace - France
Special Notes: Tends to give off a fruity taste with a strong acidity which plays off as a sweet sensation, though the wine is extremely dry.
Scent: Honey, Musk, Kiwi, Oranges, Jasmine, Roses, Citrus, Apples, Oregano
Zinfandel
Excellent red-wine grape peculiar to California, although it may be the same as Primitivo of Puglia (Southern Italy) which makes a good lively fruity wine for drinking young, and can make top-quality, high concentrated wine for long aging (Its said to taste like a Bordeaux after 50 Years).
Zinfandel is moderately vigorous and requires a long and abundantly sunny growing season with hot days and cool nights to fully develop its flavors and maintain acidity.
Most Popular Production: California – United States, Primitivo DOC – Italy, Dalmatia - Croatia
Most Popular Region: United States
Special notes: The grape has a considerably high sugar content, which can cause it to have a alcohol content of over 15%
Scent: Raspberry, Blackberry, Anise, Pepper, Apple Skin
