Who's Who in the Grape World

Who's Who in the Grape World

Well over 50 different varieties of grapes are grown in the California Wine Country. Although you don't need to be on a first-name basis with them all, you'll see the following dozen again and again as you visit the wineries.

Whites

Chardonnay. Now as firmly associated with California wine making as it is with Burgundy, its home. California chardonnays spent many years chasing big, buttery flavor, but the current trend is toward more restrained wines.

Gewürztraminer. Cooler California climes such as the Russian River Valley are great for growing this German-Alsatian grape, which is turned into a boldly perfumed, fruity wine.

Riesling. Can produce wines with brisk acidity and a lush floral or fruity bouquet. In California's Anderson and Alexander valleys, late-harvest dessert wines are often made with this cool-weather grape.

Sauvignon Blanc. Hails from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Wines made from this grape vary widely, from herbaceous to tropical-fruity.

Viognier. Until the early 1990s this was rarely planted outside France's Rhône Valley, but today it's one of the hottest white wine varietals in California. Usually made in a dry style, the best viogniers have an intense fruity or floral bouquet.

Reds

Cabernet Franc. Though this Bordeaux grape is extremely important in California wine making, you'll rarely see it standing alone. A slightly softer, less tannic cousin of cabernet sauvignon, it's often blended with that grape to round out the rough edges.

Cabernet Sauvignon. The king of California red wine grapes; originally from Bordeaux. The best examples, like those from the Rutherford or Oakville AVAs, are big, bold, and often quite tannic, which means they usually require years in the cellar to reach their peak.

Merlot. A blue-black Bordeaux variety. In California it makes soft, fruity, full-bodied wine. Was well on its way to being the most popular red until anti-merlot jokes (popularized by the hit movie Sideways) damaged its rep.. for now.

Pinot Noir. The darling of grape growers in cooler parts of Napa and Sonoma, such as the Carneros region and the Russian River Valley -- but also called the "heartbreak grape" since it's hard to cultivate. At its best it has an addictively subtle earthy quality.

Sangiovese. Slow-ripening Tuscan grape that does well in warm areas. Because there are many different clones of this varietal, sangioveses can vary from simple and light to complex and earthy.

Syrah. A big red from France's Rhône Valley. With good tannins it can become a full-bodied beauty, but without them it can be flabby and forgettable. Also known as shiraz, particularly when it's grown in Australia.

Zinfandel. Often thought of as a quintessential California grape. Rich, jammy, and often spicy, zinfandel wines can be quite high in alcohol.