Cabernet Sauvignon: A full-bodied red wine with tastes of black cherry, black currant and cedar. It was first heavily planted in the Bordeaux region. Now it’s one of the most popular wines in the world. Pairs well with lamb, beef, smoked meats, and aged cheddar.
Chardonnay: Created with a yellow citrus with yellow pomaceous fruits (pear and apple) and tropical fruits. It is a dry, full-bodied white wine also invented in France. Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pork, cream sauces, and soft cheeses.
Sauvignon Blanc: An aggressively citrus driven wine with some exotic fruits and a hint of an herbaceous quality (ex: mint, green pepper). Surprise, it was also created in France. Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pork, Mexican, Vietnamese, and goat cheese.
Pinot Noir: A bold red fruited wine made of cherry and cranberry with a hint of vegetal notes of beet, rhubarb or mushrooms. It is a dry light-bodied wine that has higher acid and soft tannins. Perfect with chicken, pork, veal, duck, and soft cheeses.
Pinot Grigio: Made of a delicate citrus (lime water and orange zest) and pomaceous fruits (apple and pear) with hints of white floral. It is a dry, light-bodied white grape wine and easy to drink. Pairs well with salad, poached fish, and mild cheeses.
Riesling: A citrus (lime and lemon juice) and stone-fruit wine (peach and nectarine) with a hint of floral and herbal elements. Pairs best with chicken, pork, duck, turkey, and asian ethnic foods.
Syrah: Also known as Shiraz, it is a full-bodied red wine that has intense fruit flavors and has an aggressively meaty quality. Has tastes of bluberry, plum, meat and black pepper. Pairs well with lamb, beef, Mediterranean, and american firm cheeses like white cheddar.
Zinfandel: A broad, exotic array of fruits from stone (overripe nectarine), to red, blue, black berries with spice powder and sweet tobacco taste. Has a medium-bodied style that was originated in Croatia. Zinfandel is a red grape that may be better know as the rosé wine White Zinfandel. Pairs well with chicken, pork, cured meat, lamb, barbecue, Chinese, Thai and Indian..
Merlot: Often regarded as the underdog to the Cabernet Sauvignon because cheap commercial Merlot has given the varietal a bad reputation. However, good Merlot wine is first class. Its primary characteristics include cherry, raspberry, plum, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, clove and mocha. Pairs well with chicken and other light meats and duck. Avoid pairing with spicy foods.
Riesling: An “off-dry style” wine with citrus (kefir lime, lemon juice) and stone-fruit (think nectarine and white peach) tastes, as well as floral and herbal elements. People find dry styles too acidic and sweet styles too cloying. Pairs with poultry, pork, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and German.
Champagne: Ah yes, everyone’s favorite celebratory bottle. But did you know authentic champagne only comes from the vineyards of Champagne, France? All others are just considered sparkling wine. The regulations for making Champagne are incredibly strict, unlike here in the U.S. where methods of sparkling wine are not regulated. While the wine itself is meticulously created, the ingredients used are also very expensive. That’s why it’s so expensive!