Know your wines – Wine Varietal Chart
Use the Wine Varietal Chart to understand the major varieties of wines. For each wine grape, the chart shows its characteristics and the weight of the wine, from light to heavy-bodied. You can dig deeper into the Wine Varietal Chart by clicking on the name of the wine to learn additional information about the grape. You can also find out where the variety is growing in California wine country regions.
A good way to learn about wine is to select a variety of wine that you have not tried before. Be open to new wines and wine regions. Too many wine folks stick with Chardonnay for white and Cabernet Sauvignon for red. Branch out and try a different wine variety each week.
White Wines |
Aromas and Flavors |
Body |
| Sparkling Wine | Apple, pear, yeast | Medium |
| Sauvignon Blanc (also Fume Blanc) | Herbaceous, grassy, hay, citrus, grapefruity | Light to Medium |
| Chardonnay | Pear, apple, oak, buttery, creamy | Medium to Heavy |
| Viognier | Floral, peach, apricot, pear, fruity | Medium |
| Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio | Crisp, pear, peach, apricot | Light |
| Pinot Blanc | Pear, apple, floral | Medium |
| Chenin Blanc | Peaches, fruity | Light |
| Gewurztraminer | Lychee nut, spices, rose petals | Medium |
| Riesling | Apple, lemon, floral, apricot, fruity | Light |
Red Wines |
Aromas and Flavors |
Body |
| Pinot Noir | Strawberry, berries, cherry | Light-medium |
| Merlot | Blackberry, plum, currant, chocolate, vanilla | Medium |
| Zinfandel | Berries, jammy, cherry, earthy | Medium to heavy |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Blueberries, black currant, cassis, raspberries, oaky | Heavy |
| Syrah | peppery, spice, blackberry, cinnamon | Medium to heavy |
| Petite Sirah | Blackberry, pepper, jammy | Heavy |
| Sangiovese | Cherry, fruity, spice | Light to medium |
| Cabernet Franc | Raspberry, cassis, herbaceous | Medium |
| Barbera | Berries, red fruit | Medium |
| Malbec | Cherry, strawberry, plum | Medium |
Enjoy Wine Country – Try these trips or activities
- Winter fun in the Napa Valley
- Fair Play in El Dorado and Sierra Foothills
- Hopland wine country – Mendocino County