Wines are typically made from 100% grape juice. There are many varieties of wine making grapes and several components come into play that dictate the final wine produced.

The Grape

The type of grape from which the wine is made will greatly reflect in the finished product. The vine-ripened grapes contain natural sugars which are converted into alcohol. If you are growing your own grapes for wine making, it is important to make sure that the grapes are not just ripe, but mature, before picking, and then to store them in cool, dry conditions.

The grape skins contain most of the flavor and all of the color. The larger the grape, the less skin proportionately, but the more juice there is. This is fine for a light wine, but smaller grapes with proportionately more skin, will produce a much richer color and a more concentrated flavor.

The varieties of grapes you choose for making your wine will depend on the kind of wine you want to make, or the type of grapes you can obtain if you don’t grow your own. There are a few “noble” grapes which are most popular. For red wine, the favorite red wine making grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Barbera. The most popular of white wine grapes are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer. White wine grapes are younger and contain more acidity which delivers the tarter taste in most white wines.

The Climate

Where the grapes are grown will also have an impact on the resulting wines taste. These are the two main factors: Warm and sunny weather will produce a ripe, sweet flavorful grape. Cloudy and cool weather will give you a less ripened young, tart grape.

The Soil

A well drained soil is best in growing a strong grape vine. This forces the roots to dig deeper for moisture. The acidity in the soil will also shape the taste of the grape. Vineyards are usually planted in a sloping area to provide drainage and insulation from the weather. In cooler climates, the vines are planted closer together and trained low to conserve the heat of the day. .In warmer climates the opposite is true. The vines are planted further apart and trained high to give shade and disperse the heat. They are also spaced further apart to allow for better drainage.

Red Wines

Red Wines are normally classified by the type or variety of grape used in their making.

If only one variety of grape is used, the wine is labeled varietal and named after the grape type with a capital inserted. Quite often, more than one type of grape variety is used in a wine and the names of these would be included on the label.

Different varieties of grape bring their individual taste to a wine, and the art of the winemaker is to blend these different tastes to produce a pleasing result.

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is widely accepted as one of the world’s best varieties that can produce long-lived wines of great subtlety. Cabernet Sauvignon is often aged in oak barrels before being bottled. This reduces the acerbic qualities of the wine and imparts flavors from the wood to bring about a meld of tastes and complexity in the final wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon is rich in tannins. The grape produces a deep, full-bodied wine that delivers the taste of blackberry, black cherry, bell pepper, hints of wood, tobacco and leather.
Cabernet Sauvignon is grown primarily in France, Australia, California, South Africa, Hungary and Chile.

Sangiovese or Chianti

From Italys Tuscany region, this grape is famous for its full dry character and robust spiciness. Delivers the flavor of cherries, blackberries and plums. This wine has very distinctive flavors.

Merlot

Merlots offer the same full-bodied flavor as Cabernet but delivers a softer balance of fruity and spicy flavors with a smooth, supple texture. It is less tannic than Cabernet Suavignon and typically does not require such long aging.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is recognized as one of the noblest varieties of red grape and the main ingredient of fine Burgundy wines, renowned for their delicate and complex flavors. The variety is not always easy to grow. The taste of Pinot Noir has been described as being of raspberries, strawberries, cherries, or plums, with hints of leather and damp earth. Pinot Noir offers a paler color and earthy aromas. This light perfumed red is not always immediately appreciated by newcomers to wine drinking.

Syrah (Shiraz)

Full. dark, tannic wine that has a strong, bold fruit flavors of black and red berries and leaves a spicy softness that leaves a distinctive taste in your mouth.

Zinfandel

This variety of grape seems to be grown almost exclusively in California. It is used to make red wines and also used to make rose or blush wines. This grape variety produces a light or richer red, with berry flavors and a peppery hint.

Barbera

The Barbera grape is another classic red wine producing variety from Italy. It is similar to Merlot is many respects and is a light wine suitable for everyday drinking. It has a juicy, black cherry or plum flavor.

These varieties of red wine grapes are those we most frequently come across, and which make up the bulk of most of the red wine drunk today. Individually, or blended, they produce red wines ranging from light, easy-drinking styles to be consumed when young, to more robust complex wines which only give of their best after years in barrel or bottle allowing their flavors to develop.

White wines

Like red wines, white wine can be classified by their grape variety. If only one type of grape is used then the wine is called a varietal, and the name is mentioned on the label. Sometimes more than one grape is used and the individual varieties are mentioned on the label. White wines can be either dry or sweet. These are the most popular white wines. There are many white grape varieties, but here are the names you will recognize quickly.

Chardonnay

The chardonnay grape originated in the Burgundy region of France, where it is still grown, producing a variety of different tasting white wines. The chardonnay grape is used to make still and sparkling wines, the most notable being champagne. The flavor and color of a chardonnay wine can vary depending on whether or not it has had contact with wood, usually oak. A well balanced grape that offers tropical, citrus aromas and flavors, with a hint of melon and vanilla. Fermenting in oak barrels adds a buttery texture and taste, plus a darker color. The fruity quality of the grape shines through and lingers to a long, crisp finish.

Riesling

The Riesling grape is the classic German variety of the Rhine and Mostel regions. These are aromatic, light wines often with balanced acidity. These can range from sweet to very dry. Grapes from the Alsace and Eastern part of the United States are somewhat drier. Rieslings deliver the flavor of green apple, peach, tangerine and honeysuckle, drinkable with or without a meal. The taste can vary depending on where the grape was grown and the method of production.

Gewurztraminer

True to its German translation: spicy. Deep color and aromatic – this wine delivers a crisp, lush refreshing taste that is a pleasure to drink on its own. It is slightly dry but with a flavor that encompasses elements of peaches and other fruits, plus the hint of spice.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is of the French origin and grown mainly in the region of Bordeaux, where it is often blended with Semillon to produce a crisp, grassy white wine. This wine making grape is usually young and fresh, producing a wine with high acidity and herbal aromas. Sharp, green flavors can include grapefruit, lemon peel, pear and green herbs. Sometimes there are overtones of melon, mango and even black current.

Semillon

Semillon is grown in the Bordeaux region of France, and also in Chile, Argentina, Australia and California. The typical taste is fig-like and berry-like, and in some regions overripe Semillon grapes are often blended with Sauvignon Blanc to produce a more even, acceptable taste. This creates a sweet, syrupy, full-bodied wine that is yellow in color and has an intense flavor