In order to select, pair, understand and appreciate wine, it’s essential that one becomes familiar with the different characteristics each grape varietal has to offer. The characteristics have been defined based on our experience, and from some of the most highly regarded wine reference texts in print.
Below are a few charts the nosnob.com editors have created to assist in your everyday enjoyment of wine.
Wine Grape Descriptions
In order to select, pair, understand and appreciate wine, it’s essential that one becomes familiar with the different characteristics each grape varietal has to offer. The characteristics have been defined based on our experience, and from some of the most highly regarded wine reference texts in print.
Below are a few charts the nosnob.com editors have created to assist in your everyday enjoyment of wine.
| Grape |
Grape Characteristics |
Baco Noir
( BAK-oh NWAR ) |
| character |
earthy, plum, cherry |
| body |
medium |
| food |
pizza, bbq |
| color |
inky purple |
|
Cabernet Franc
( ka-behr-NAY FRAHNK ) |
| character |
dark cherry,violet, tobacco |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
herb rubbed chicken or pork |
| color |
garnet |
|
Cabernet Sauvignon
( ka-behr-NAY soh-vihn-YOHN ) |
character
(cool climate) |
cassis, blackberry, cedar, tobacco |
character
(warm climate) |
ripe blackcurrant, eucalyptus, plum |
| body |
full body |
| food |
steak, bbq, pasta with red sauce or oil |
| color |
dark purple |
|
Gamay
( ga-MAY ) |
| character |
strawberry, cherry, banana |
| body |
light body |
| food |
roasted vegetables, blue cheese |
| color |
pale purple |
|
Grenache / Gamacha
( GREN-osh ) |
| character |
black cherries, raspberries, spice |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
grilled sausage, lamb |
| color |
brick |
|
Malbec
( MAL-beck ) |
| character |
plum, anise, earth |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
grilled meat |
| color |
deep garnet |
|
Merlot
( mur-LO ) |
character
(cool climate) |
plum, vanilla, cherry |
character
(warm climate) |
cherry, plum, chocolate, mint |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
pasta, grilled meat, chicken |
| color |
ruby |
|
Pinot Noir
( PEE-no NWAR ) |
| character |
strawberry, cherry, rose, raspberry |
| body |
light body |
| food |
cheese, fish, vegetables |
| color |
light garnet |
|
Sangiovese
( SAN-gee-oh-VAY-SEE ) |
| character |
sour cherry, raspberry, spice, anise |
| body |
medium-full body |
| food |
pasta with tomato sauce, pizza |
| color |
dense purple |
|
Syrah / Shiraz
( Cer-rah / SHER-azz ) |
character
(cool climate) |
blueberry, prune, coffee, leather, pepper |
character
(warm climate) |
raspberry, blackberry, pepper, chocolate |
| body |
full body |
| food |
burgers, bbq |
| color |
dark purple |
|
Tempranillo
( temp-PRAH-nil-oh ) |
| character |
cherry, plums, mint |
| body |
light-medium body |
| food |
lamb, duck, chorizo |
| color |
light brick |
|
Zinfandel
( ZIN-fan-DEL ) |
| character |
raspberry, cherry, spice |
| body |
fully body |
| food |
red meats, firm cheese, roast chicken |
| color |
dark ruby |
|
Beaujolais
Gamay
Pinot Noir
Valpolicella
Sangiovese (Chianti)
Baco Noir
Malbec
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Zinfandel
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Grape |
Characteristics |
Chardonnay
( CHAR-donn-ay ) |
character
(cool climate) |
citrus, apple, mineral, vanilla |
character
(warm climate) |
peach, pineapple, butter, vanilla |
| body |
full body |
| food |
seafood, shrimp, roast pork, chicken |
| color |
golden |
|
Gewurztraminer
( geh-VERTS-trah-miner ) |
| character |
tropical fruit, lychee, spice |
| body |
full body |
| food |
spicy asian |
| color |
golden |
|
Muscat
( mus-KAT ) |
| character |
honeysuckle, orange blossom, musk |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
fruit dessert |
| color |
light gold |
|
Pinot Grigio / Gris
( PEE-no GREE-gee-oh ) |
| character |
pear, melon, citrus, mineral |
| body |
light-medium body |
| food |
light fish, salad, cream sauce |
| color |
pale straw |
|
Riesling
( REES-ling ) |
character
(cool climate) |
green apple, citrus, mineral, floral |
character
(warm climate) |
peach, honey, melon |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
asian, thai, turkey |
| color |
golden straw |
|
Sauvignon Blanc
( soh-vihn-YOHN BLAHNK ) |
character
(cool climate) |
gooseberry, citrus, grass |
character
(warm climate) |
citrus, melon, asparagus, gooseberry |
| body |
medium body |
| food |
pork, shellfish, goat cheese |
| color |
pale straw |
|
Viognier
( vee-on-NYAY ) |
| character |
peach, apricot, honey, floral |
| body |
light-medium body |
| food |
scallops, lobster, cream sauce |
| color |
golden |
|
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscat
Viognier
Pinot Grigio / Gris
Gewurztraminer
Riesling
Chardonnay |
