From the category archives:

Grape Varieties

Gamay

June 12, 2010
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Whilst perhaps not as well known as many other red wines hailing from France (the legendary Burgundy being a good example), Gamay red wine nevertheless has a staunch following among those who really know their red wine. Also known as Beaujolais because it principally hails from the Beaujolais region of Burgundy in France, the Gamay [...]

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Nebbiolo

April 30, 2010
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An Italian red wine grape which is used to make some of the country’s finest wines, Nebbiolo is rich in tannins and its wines lend themselves well to ageing. The grape is most commonly associated with the Piedmont region of Italy, where it is known as Nebieul in the local dialect. Typically, Nebbiolo produces red [...]

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Malbec

March 5, 2010
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A red wine grape that is used to produce some of the world’s most popular wines, Malbec benefits from its ability to adapt well to varied weather conditions and soil types. Originating in the Bordeaux region of France, where it is seen principally as a blending wine, Malbec grapes have found fame in their own [...]

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Zinfandel

June 2, 2009
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Archaeologists believe that the original vine Vitis vinifera has existed since around 6000 BC, and the process of turning its fruit into wine was discovered shortly after. Winemaking fever quickly spread across the Mediterranean. At one point in history, Croatia grew several indigenous varieties that are now thought to be related to Zinfandel, which was [...]

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Grenache

May 28, 2009
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Introduction This hugely popular red wine is produced from what used to be one of the most widely planted red grape varieties in the world, but which has now been surpassed by the fast expanding Tempranillo. However, it is still the dominant variety in Southern Aragón. Grenache is sometimes referred to as Tintorera, a nod [...]

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Tempranillo

May 24, 2009
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Tempranillo is a black grape that makes full-bodied red wines. Widely planted in its native Spain, it is the principal grape variety used to produce Rioja, and is often referred to as Spain’s “noble grape”. Tempranillo derives its name from the Spanish word for early, temprano, due to its ability to ripen several weeks earlier [...]

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Pinotage

May 13, 2009
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This deep rouge coloured South African beauty resulted from a viticultural cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (the South African name for Cinsaut) in 1925. Pinotage is budget friendly and lends itself as a great accompaniment to a variety of meals. Pinotage Grape Pinotage vines are easy to grow, with the grapes ripening early with [...]

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Syrah or Shiraz?

April 28, 2009
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Syrah and Shiraz are genetically the same grape, yet the wines they produce can be very different in style, depending on their origin. In a nutshell, the typical old-world syrah could be described as lighter and more subtle than the rich, intense and full-bodied shiraz wines of the new world. In some areas, the title [...]

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Sangiovese

April 2, 2009
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Sangiovese is a red light-bodied Italian beauty whose name is translated from the Latin Sanguis Joivs meaning ‘the blood of Jove’, the Roman name for the god of Jupiter. History Traced to Tuscany since the 16th century, research suggests that Sangiovese derived from the ancient grape varieties of Calabrese Montenuovo and Ciliegiolo. The first documented [...]

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Pinot Noir

March 26, 2009
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Pinot Noir has long been a favourite tipple amongst wine lovers, and sales of the versatile wine escalated rapidly in the wake of the film Sideways, which follows the escapades of a Pinot-loving wine buff as he travels the vineyards of California. It is also known as one of the oldest varieties of wine grape [...]

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Merlot

March 20, 2009
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One of the most widely planted grapes in the world, Merlot is a flexible variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France but is now succesfully planted in wine growing regions the world over. It is thought that the grape’s genetics stem from the Cabernet Franc variety, and that it is also closely related [...]

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