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KING OF WINE

Most wine drinkers like to drink wines that are familiar to them. In this article we are going to cover a few other varietals of the red grape. REMEMBER one of the great experiences to enjoying wine is experimenting with new ones. When we think of Red Wine most of us will pick up a Cabernet, Pinot Noir or a Merlot.

There are other varietals that are excellent too and are worth trying like Syrah which is bold and somewhat spicy, a rich and a fruit-forward wine. The grape was originally from France but now is the most popular Australian grape that is spelled Shiraz “down under.” Here we grow Syrah in two different climates both warm and cold. The grape is strong and will do well in both climates but each will have different characteristics. New World Syrah wines from Australia, the U.S. and South America usually have fruit driven characteristics with lots of spice.

Zinfandel is another grape that will do well in most climates and was originated in Europe, somewhere between Italy and Croatia. It is known as Primitivo over there. The Zin is a big, rich, luscious style of Red wine a little spicy but still on the sweet side. Zin is a wine that is high in alcohol content. Most of the locations the grapes are grown in, are a warmer climate. I prefer the Zinfandels from the cooler climates since it is more balanced and a little less sweet. Both the Syrah and Zin can go well with heavier gamey foods.

Malbec is a grape that comes from the wine region of Argentina/Mendoza. Mendoza lies on the western slopes of the Andies Mountains. It is also bold and deep with a ruby color. It is nice to sip by itself or with your favorite meet dish. More vineyards are growing this grape in California now, and there are several vineyards here.

There are a few more varietals like the Spanish grape/Tempranillo which has a medium body and is usually low in alcohol. Another unique wine is Charbono which is made from an Italian grape. This wine is a very inky, dark purple with a rich red fruit flavor. Cherry and raspberry dominate the palate with a bit of spice on the finish. The Charbono grape is linked to the Bonarda grape that is another varietal which is grown in Argentina. All three of these varietals originated in France.

The Petite Sirah is very popular in the Mediterranean and is growing more famous in the U.S. as well. The name comes from the size of the grape which is produced in very small clusters but don’t let this fool you the Petite Syrah is a very bold wine, dark in color and peppery.

So who is the king of wines ? Definitely the Cabernet Sauvignon.

We worship this grape and in every top restaurant, it is the most expensive wine on the list, some can go up to several thousand dollars. No other varietal can go so high with the exception of the French Bordeaux which we will cover in another article.