There are a variety of wines available, with their own unique aromas and flavors. The preferences for wine can differ based on location, but certain varieties have become well-known among drinkers.
Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Riesling dominate as the most loved white wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec are the top options for red wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, deep red color and has a large body. It usually has aromas of black cherry as well as dark berries, tobacco, vanilla, and cedar. It is perfect to blend and goes well with other wine. It’s one of the most important grapes in Bordeaux blends derived from to the Left Bank and Pessac Leognan as well as playing an essential part in Napa Valley wines and in blended wines made in Italy (called Super Tuscans). The phenolic component that is found in the green bell pepper, called methoxypyrazine, tends to be a negative element in Cabernet Sauvignon but is often diminished by the use of proper winemaking methods in the course of time.
Merlot is a grape variety with a variety of flavors and aromas. It’s a well-loved alternative in place of Cabernet Sauvignon. The moderately bodied tannins in this red wine makes it more supple and more mellow in comparison to Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is great for a variety of foods and is sipped by all age groups.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the white grape which is perhaps one of the most adaptable in the wine world is able to make everything from unoaked Chablis-style wines, through up to New World wines with oaked flavors that have a buttery and nuttiness. The variety of styles is largely due to its pliable character which permits it to be able to adapt a variety of flavors that are influenced by the climate and winemaking techniques.
Chardonnays cultivated in cooler climates are marked by the lemon and apple flavor. The varieties that are grown on limestone soils show some mineral taste. Chardonnays from warmer climates have exotic notes that include mango, pineapple and Guava. The styles that are influenced by oak often contain some vanilla and cinnamon as well, while styles that go through malolactic fermentation may have sweet notes of butter.
Because of its broad spectrum of flavor, Chardonnay is a fantastic option to pair with nearly any meal. Lighter, unoaked expressions like Chablis can be enjoyed with shellfish and soft cheeses. The wines with a medium body are able to stand up to cream sauces and larger fish dishes, such as herring and swordfish. The wines aged in oak can be enjoyed with aged cheeses and tenderloins of pork.
Merlot
Rosie joined 1874 in 2016 and oversees all content including those on the Discovery pages. She is passionate about food and Bordeaux wines.
The Merlot wine has a supple and affluent style, with softer tannins and a balanced acidity. It is able to produce varietal wines and blends and is extensively cultivated across all over the globe, in France (especially those of Saint-Emilion as well as Pomerol), to Italy, Chile, Australia and even beyond.
This grape is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s a half-sibling of Malbec as well as Petit Verdot. It is a favorite to be grown in cool climates, where it exhibits a more refined structure and earthy tastes. The fruity, plusher taste of Merlot grown in warmer climates such as California, Italy or South Africa is common.
It can be one of the best wines around if it is handled correctly. From the right bank of Bordeaux which plays a big role in Pomerol as well as St-Emilion to the fruity blends of Tuscany and California and California, it is able to produce various varieties that taste great when paired with food. The fruity Merlot is a great partner to pork, chicken, and pasta from the week. Likewise, more structured, savory Merlots pair well with duck, lamb as well as hearty bean dishes.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio (pee-noh gree-uh) is a light, zippy white wine that can pair perfectly with many dishes. Click here! is served chilled, which enhances its citrusy flavors. It also has hints of honey and pear. If it is grown in cooler regions such as Germany the grape is famous by its mineral and floral smells.
Pinot grigio wine is typically less dry than Chardonnay. Its roots are traced in Burgundy, France, and the southwest region of Germany in which the grape continues to flourish today. The grape is also extensively grown throughout Italy. Pinot Gris has a rich history throughout Alsace in Alsace, where it is often referred to by the designation Pinot Gris. It continues to play a major role in some of that region’s finest bottles. Pinot Gris is also a extremely popular variety of grapes in Oregon, and many other New World nations. The grape produces wines with energy and refinement.
This versatile wine is known for its refreshing and inexpensive quality, regardless of whether it is in a simple, cheap bottle, or an expensive older Pinot Gris. It pairs well with light seafood dishes like grilled or broiled fish, shrimp and scallops, salads with vinaigrette dressings; lighter poultry dishes like roasting turkey and chicken; as well as soft cheeses.
Airen
Airen grapes are grown primarily in central Spain. The grape is used in numerous sparkling wines as well as in Sherry. It is usually blended but some producers produce one variety. The pale yellow colour and aromas of fresh nectarines and peaches pair well for lighter meals like salads, vegetable salads, organic green vegetables and chilled gazpacho.
An unnoticed fact is that Airen was once the most extensively planted white grape in the world however it has been overtaken by Merlot as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of Airen’s vineyards are located in central Spain within La Mancha. Specifically, in Valdepenas, and La Mancha appellations, the climate is dry and hot, and the soils infertile.
The grape is also planted in California and southern France. The grape has historically been used as a blending variety for mass-produced, cheap wine, however it’s experiencing a renaissance amongst discerning producers.