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A Albarino The Spanish name for N Portugal’s Alvarinho, making excellently fresh and fragrant wine in Galicia. Both fashionable and expensive in Spain. Aligote Burgundy’s second-rank white grape. Crip (often sharp) wine, needs drinking in 1-3 years. Perfect for mixing with cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) to make a “Kir” Widely planted in E Europe, esp Russia. Arinto White central Portuguese grape for crisp, fragrant dry whites. Arneis Aromatic, high-priced grape, DOC in Roero, Piedmont. B Blanc Fume Occasional alias (in New World) of SAUV BL, referring to its “smoky” smell, particularly from the Loire (Sancerre and Pouilly). In California used for oak-aged Sauv and reversed to “Fume Blanc”. (The smoke is oak.) Bourboulenc This and the rare Rolle make someof the Midi’s best wines. Bual Make top-quality SW Madeira wines, not quite so rich as Malmsey. C Chardonnay (Chard) The white burgundy grape, the white Champagne grape, and the white grape of the New World, partly because it is one of the easiest to grow and vinify. All regions are trying it, mostly aged (or, better, fermented) in oak to reproduce the flavours of Burgundy. Australia and California make classics (but also much dross). Those of Italy, Spain, Newzealand, South Africa, New York State, Chile, Argentina, Hungary and the Midiare all coming on strong. Called Morillon in Austria. Chassela Prolific early-ripening grape with little aroma, mainly grown for eating. AKA Fendant in Swizerland (where it is supreme), Gutedel in Germany. Chenin Blanc (Chenin Bl) Great white grape of the middle Loire (Vouvray, Layon etc.) Wine can be dry or sweet (or very sweet) but with plenty of acidity. Bulk wine in California, but in creasingly serious in S Africa . See aksi STEEN. Clairette A low-acid grape, part of many S French blends. Colombard Slightly fruity, nicely sharp grape, makes everyday win in S Africa, California, SW France. D E F Fendant See Chasselas. Fiano High quality grape giving peachy, spicey wine in Campania. Folle Blanche High acid/little flavour make this ideal for brandy. Called Gros Plant in Brittany, Picpoul in Armagnac. Respectable in California. Fume Blanc (Fume Bl) See Blanc Fume. Furmint A grape of great character: the trademark of Hungary both as the principal grape in Tokay and as vivid, vigorous table wine with an appley Flavour. Called Sipon in Slovenia. Some grown in Austria. G Garganega The best grape in the Soave blend; top, esp sweet ones age well. Gewurztraminer, alias Traminer (Gewurz) One of the most pungent grapes, distinctively spicy with aromas like rose petals and grapefruit. Wines are often rich and soft, even when fully dry. Best in Alsace; also good in Germany, E Europe, Australia, California, Pacfic NW, NZ. GRAPE Varieties FOR RED WINE • Agiorgitiko (Greek) • Baga or Bairrada (Portugal) • Barbera from the Piedmonte in Italy • Baufrankisch Austria or Kekfrankos in Hungary • Brunello( Italy) • Cabernet Franc (France Australia & California) • Cabernet Sauvignon ( #1 for Medoc in France) California, Australia South Africa South America) is good for blending with other grapes eg Cab franc & Merlot • Carignan very good in S.W. France Corbieres • Camenere Chili • Cinsualt or cinsaut France & south Africa • Docetto red wine from Italy Piedmonte • Gamay Famous grape from the Beaujolais in France • Grenache France California Spain • Grignlino from Italy’s Piedmonte all day use table wine • Kekfrankos (Hungary) see also Blaufrankisch • Lambrusco Italian grape used fro fizzy Red • Lemberger (Germany) • Malbec France & Argentina • Merlot France used for St-Emillion and Pomerol very trendy as mono cepage in California Chili Australia South Africa • Montepulciano Italy Tuscany • Mourvedre France California • Nebbiolo , alias Spanna and Chiavennasca One of Italy best red grapes; makes Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Valtellina. Intense, nobly fruity, perfumed wine but v tannic: improves for years. • Periquita Ubiquitous in Portugal for firm-flavored reds. Often blended with CABENET S and also known as Castelao.Petit. • Petit Verdot Excellent but awkward Medoc grape now found largely elsewhere. Grauburgunder See Pinot Gris. Grechetto or Greco Ancient grape of central and S Italy noted ofr the vitality and stylishness of its wine. Grenache As befits a grape that has been turn its hand to almost any style of red wine, from darkly brooding behemoths, thundering with tannin, through sleek, svelte, spicy young things, to light - footed strawberry numbers with more than a dab of sweet oak scent. It's also quite good at fruity rose' Gruner Veltliner Austria’s favourite (planted in almost half her vineyards). Around Vienna and in the Wachau and Weinvietel (also in Moravia) it can be delicious: light but dry, peppery and lively, Excellent young, but the best age 5 years or so. H Harslevelu Other main grape of Tokay (with FURMINT). Adds softness and body. I J K Keknyelu Low-yielding, flavourful grape giving on of Hungary’s best whites. Has the potential for fieriness and spice. To be watched. Kerner The most successful of recent German varieties, mostly Riesling x silvaner, but in this case Riesling x (red) Trollinger. Early-ripening flowery (but often too blatant) wine with good acidity. Popular in Pfalz, Rheinhessen, etc. L Laski Rizling Grown in Northern Italy and Eastern Europe. Much inferior to Rhine RIES, with lower acidity, best in sweet wines. Alias Welchriesling, Riesling Italico, Olaszrizling(no longer legally labeled simply “Riesling”). Loureiro The best and most fragrant Vinho Verde variety in Protugal. M Macabeo The workhouse white grape of N Spain, widespread in Rioja (alias Viura) and in Catalan cava country. Good quality potential. Marsanne Principal white grape (with ROUSSANNE) of the N Rhone (eg in Hermitage, St-Joseph, St-Peray). Also good in Australia, California and Zas Ermitage Blanc) the Valais. Soft full wines that age v well. Moschofilero Good, aromatic pink Greek grape. Makes white or pink wine. Muller-Thurgau(Muller-T) Dominant in Germany’sRheinhessen and Pfalz and too common on the Mosel; it is thought to be a cross between RIESLING and CHASSELAS DE COURTELLIER but recent studies suggest otherwise. Soft aromatic wines for drinking young. Make good sweet wines but usually dull, often coarse, dry ones. Should have no place in top vineyards. Muscadelle Adds aroma to white B’x, esp Sauternes. In Victoria called Tokay and used (as well as Muscat, to which it is unrelated) for Rutherglen Muscat. Muscadet, alias Melon de Bourgogne Makes light, refreshing, v dry wines with a seaside tang round Nantes in Brittany. Muscat (Many varieties; the best is Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains.) Widely grown, easily recognized, pungent grapes, mostly made into perfumed sweet wines, often fortified (as in France’s vins doux naturels). Superb in Australia. The third element in Tokay Aszu. Rarely (eg Alsace) made dry. N O P Palomino, alias Lintan Make all the best sherry but poor table wine. Pedro Ximenez alias PX Makes very strong wine in Montilla and Malaga. Used in blending sweet sherries. Also grown in Argentina, the Canaries, Australia, California, South Africa. Petit (and Gros) Mansent The secret weapon of the French Basque country: vital for Jurancon; increasingly blended elsewhere in the SW. Pinot Blanc (Pinot Bl) A cousin of PINOT NOIR, similar to but mildr than Chardonnay: light, fresh, fruity, not aromatic, to drink young; eg good for Italian spumante. Grown in Alsace, Northern Italy, Southern Germany, and Eastern Europe. Weissburgunder in Alsace, Northern Italy , Southern Germany, and Eastern Europe. Weissburgunder in Germany. See also Muscadet. Pinot Gris (Pinot Gr) At best makes rather heavy, even “thick” full-bodied whites with a certain spicy style. Can be alias Rulander (sweet) or Grauburgunder (dry) in Germany; Pinot Gritio in Italy. Also found Hungary, Slovenia, Canada, Oregon, NZ… Pinot Noir (Pinot N) The glory of Burgundy’s Cote d’Or, with scent, flavor, and texture unmatched anywhere. Make light wines rarely of much distinction in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungry. But now splendid results in California’s Sonoma, Carneros and Central Coast, Oregon, Ontario, Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Tamania, and NZ.(Red wine) Pinot Noir (Pinot N): Superlative black grape (See “Grapes of red wine”) use in champagne and elsewhere (eg California, Australia) for making white, sparkling, or very pale pink “vin gris” Pinotage Singular S Africa grape (PINOT N X CINSAUT) Can be very fruity and can age interestingly, but often jammy. Primitivo S Italian grape making big, rustic wines, now fashionable because genetically identical to ZINFANDEL. Q R Refosco Possibly a synonym for Mondeuse of Savoie. Produces deep, flavour some age-worthy wines, esp in warmer climates. Rieling It is a strange irony that Riesling is making its re-entrance on the world-stage through, as it were, the back door. No serious commentator disagrees that Riesling stands level with Chardonnay. They are the world’s best white wine grapes, in diametrically opposite styles. While Chadonnay gives Full-bodied but aromatically discreet wines, Riesling offers a range from steely to voluptuous, always positively perfumed, and with ageing potential far beyond any Chandonnay. Germany is the great Riesling protagonist and makes the greatest Riesling in all styles. Yet its popularity is being revived, of all places, South Australia, where this cool-climate grape does its best, in body at least, to ape Chardonnay. Holding the middle ground, with forceful but still steely wines, is Austria. Meanwhile lovers of light and fragrant, often piercingly refreshing Rieslings have the Mosel as their exclusive playground. Also grown in Alsace (But absurdly grown nowhere else in France), Pacifid NW, Ontario, California, and South Africa. Roussanne: Rhone grape of great finess, now popping up in California, Australia. Can age well. Rulander: Obsolescent German name for PINOT G used for sweeter wines. S Sagrantino Italian grape found in Umbria for powerful cherry-flavored wines. Sangiovese (or Sangioveto) Main red grape of Chianti and much of central Italy. Aliases INC. BRUNELLO, MORELLINO. Interesting in Australia Saperavi Make good sharp very long-lived wine in Georgia, Ukraine etc. Blends very will with CABENET S (e.g. in Moldova). Sauvignon Blanc (Sauv Bl): Makes very distinctive aromatic grassy wines, pungent in NZ, often mineral in Sancerre, riper in Australia; also good in Rueda, Australia., N Italy , S Africa. Historically confused with less aromatic Sauvignonasse in Chile. Blended with SEMILLION in Bordeaux. Can be austere or buxom. May be called FUME BLANC or vice versa. Savagnin: The grape of Vin Jaune of Savoie: related to TRAMINER? Scheurebe: Spicy-flavoured German RIES X SILVANER (possibly), very successful in Pfalz, esp for Auslesen. Can be weedy in dry wine: must be very ripe to be good. Semillon (SEM): Contributes the lusciousness to Sauternes and increasingly important for Graves and other dry white Bordeaux. Grassy if not fully ripe, but can make soft dry wine fo great ageing potential. Superb in Australia: old Hunter Valley Semillon can be great wine. Promising in NZ. Sercial: Makes the driest Madeira (where myth used to identify it with RIESLING). Seyval Blanc (Seyval Bl): French-made hybrid of French and Amercan vines. V hardy and attractively fruity. Popular and reasonably successful in eastern States and England but dogmatically banned by EU from “qualityW wines. Silvaner, alias Sylvaner: Germany’s former workhorse grape: wine rarely fine ex in Franken – savoury and ages admirably-and in Rheinhessen & Pfalz, where it is enjoying a renaissance. Gd in the Italian Tyrol; now declining in popularity in Alsace. VG (and powerful) as “Johanisberg” in the Valais, Swizerland. Tocal Friulano N Italian grape with a flavour best described as “subtle”. No relation to TOKAY, but could be same as Sauvignonasse (see Sauvignon Bl) Spatburgunder German for PINOT N. Quality is variable, seldom wildly exciting. St-Laurent Dark, smooth and full-flavored Austrian specialty. Also in the Pfalz. Steen: S African alias for Chein Blanc, not used for better examples. Syrah, alias Shiraz The great Rhome red grape; tannic purple peppery wine which matures superbly. V imp as Shiraz in Australia, and under either name in California, Washington State, S Africa, Chili; also Switzerland, Austria, NZ. T Tannat Raspberry-perfumed, highly tannic force behind Madiran, Tursan, and other firm-structured reds from SW France. Also for rose. Now star of Uruguay. Tempronillo Aromatic fine Rioja Grape, called Ull de Llebre in Catalonia, Cencibel in La Mancha, Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Tinta Roriz in Douro, Aragonez in S Protugal. Now Australia , too. Very fashionable; elegant in cool climates, beefy in warm. Early ripening. Tokay: See Pinot Gris. Also a table grape in California & supposedly Hungarian grape in Australia. The wine Tokay (Tokaji) is FURMINT, HARSLEVELU and MUSCAT. Torrontes: Strongly aromatic, MUSCAT-like Argentine speciality, usually dry. Touriga Nacional Top Port and Douro grape, & full-bodied reds in S Portugal. Traminer: See Gewuztraminer. Trebbiano Important but mediocre grape of central Italy (Orvieto, Soave etc). Also grown in S France as Ugni Blanc, and Cognac as St-Emilion. Mostly thin, bland wine; needs blending (and more careful growing) U Ugni Blanc (Ugni Bl) See Trebbiano. V Verdejo The grape of Rueda in Castile, potentially fine and long-lived. Verdelho Madeira grape making excellent medium-sweet wine; in Australia, fresh soft dry wine of great character. Verdicchio Potentially good dry wine in central-eastern Italy. Vermentino Italiano, sprightly with satisfying texture and ageing capacity. Vernaccia Name given to many unrelated grapes in Italy. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is crisp, lively; Vernaccia di Oristano is Sherry-like. Viognier Ultra-fashionable Rhone grape, finest in Condrieu, less fine but still aromatic in the Midi. Good examples (and less good) grom California, Australia. Viura See Macabeo. W Weissburgunder See Pinot Blanc. Welschiesling See Laski Rizling. X Y Z Zinfandel (Zin) Fruity adaptable grape of California (through identical to PRIMITIVO) with blackberry-like, and sometimes metallic, flavor. Can be gloriously lush, but also makes “blush” white wine. |
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International Wine Importers Co., Ltd. 68 Lagoon Rd., Cherngtalay, Talang Phuket 83110 Thailand Tel: 076 270 852, 076 324 265 Fax: 076 270 851 E-mail: info@wineandtaste.com |