Know your wines – Wine Varietal Chart
Use the Wine Varietal Chart to understand the major varieties of wines. For each varietal 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 varietal is growing in California wine country regions.
You might also be interested in the Wine Varietal Chart with our article on Matching Food and Wine. Choose a varietal and then choose a menu to match.
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 |
More on wines
- Wine and Food Pairings
- Which wines for dinner – how to decide
- Host a wine tasting
- Taste many varieties of wine in the Sierra Foothills