| Wine Varietal Profiles |
White Wines
Albarino
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, lime, peach, melon, apricot, green apple, kiwi, pear, citrus
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, bitter almonds, minerals, ginger & grass
Oak: vanilla, not usually oaked though
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: butter & cream, but not usually done on Albarino
Color: light green or yellow
Style: Dry
Hint: Very similar to Pinot Grigio with heavier body. No oak or Malo
Chardonnay
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: Stone fruits - apple, pear, peach & apricot / Citric fruits - lemon,
lime, orange & tangerine / Tropical fruits - pineapple, banana,
mango, guava & kiwi
Floral/Spice: acacia & hawthorne
Oak: vanilla, sweet wood, coconut, smoke, toast & yeast
Acidity: very little if from New World, pretty high from Burgundy, France
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: butter, cream and hazelnut
Color: yellow to dark golden
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Big body and oak in the nose. Buttery and very little acid
Gewurztraminer
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lychee, peaches, apricots, mangos & bananas
Floral/Spice: rose, gardenia, honeysuckle, geranium, acacia, verbena & violets
Oak: almost never used
Acidity: not that much
Body: full bodied
Malolactic: almost never done
Color: light to dark golden yellow with a copper tone
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Very aromatic with an oily texture. Will smell sweet, but taste drier
Muscat
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: peach and orange or tangerines
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, coriander
Oak: never
Acidity: medium to very little
Body: medium
Malolactic: never
Color: clear to light green
Style: usually sweet
Hint: Effervescent, very floral and heavy on orange scents and flavors
Pinot Grigio
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, apple (red), pear, citrusy
Floral/Spice: flint and floral perfume
Oak: usually never, but sometimes vanilla
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: not usually done, but can be creamy
Color: light green or yellow
Style: very dry
Hint: Dry tart wines, like Sauvignon Blanc without any herbal scents, waxy
texture
Riesling
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: pear, peach, apricot, tangerine, apples (green, yellow or red)
Floral/Spice: woodruff, rose petals, violets, flint, steel, gunmetal, smoke and
petroleum
Oak: almost never
Acidity: very light to medium
Body: very light to medium
Malolactic: never done
Color: pale green
Style: Bone dry to very sweet and everything in between
Hint: Petroleum is a dead giveaway
Sauvignon Blanc
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, lime, grapefruit, green apple, pineapple, pear, melon, lychee
and mango
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, honeysuckle, jasmine, grass, dill, celery, asparagus
and green olives
Oak: lightly woody when used
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: almost never used
Color: light green or yellow
Style: very dry
Hint: Crisp, high acidity, lime or grapefruit and lots of herbal accents
Semillon
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: fig, lemon, pear, lime, nectarine, citrus
Floral/Spice: saffron, grass, bell pepper and gooseberry
Oak: vanilla, toast and smoke when used
Acidity: very low
Body: full
Malolactic: butter and cream
Color: light to dark yellow
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Lemon-lime with a heavy body and very little acidity
Viognier
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: apricots, kiwi, lime, lychees, guava, tangerines, mango, pineapple
Floral/Spice: orange blossoms, roses, violets, jasmine, honey suckle
Oak: very rare, but vanilla when used
Acidity: very low
Body: full
Malolactic: creamy and buttery when used
Color: light to dark green
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Wildly floral and a big mouthfeel – apricots
Red Wines
Cabernet Franc
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: raspberry, cherry, plum, strawberry
Floral/Spice: violet, bell pepper, stems, musk, mushroom, earth, tobacco
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium level
Body: medium
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: medium to dark red
Style: dry
Hint: Very herbal in both the nose and the palate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, black cherry
Floral/Spice: bell pepper, green or black olive, green peppercorn, chocolate,
leather, tobacco, eucalyptus
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to high
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: deep red or crimson
Style: Dry
Hint: Big mouthfeel, lots of tannins and complex taste and nose
Grenache
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, raspberry & cherry cola
Floral/Spice: rustic, violets, dusty
Oak: vanilla, smoke, tar, toast, cigar box
Acidity: medium to high
Body: medium
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: redish purple and a little light
Style: dry to slightly off-dry
Hint: Fruity and gamey tasting
Malbec
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, cassis, plums, blueberries
Floral/Spice: black pepper and clove
Oak: vanilla, tar and toast
Acidity: moderate to high
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: Dark reddish purple
Style: dry
Hint: Chalky tannins and sometimes rustic tasting, heavier than Merlot
Merlot
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: currant, black cherry and plum
Floral/Spice: violet, rose, green peppercorn, bell pepper, green olive, bay leaf
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to light
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: red, crimson
Style: dry
Hint: Like cab without the tannins and acidity
Pinot Noir
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: cherry, strawberry, raspberry
Floral/Spice: violet, rose petal, rosemary, cinnamon, green tea, black olive,
mushroom, earth, barnyard
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to very high
Body: light to almost full
Malolactic: buttery and creamy when used
Color: light ruby red
Style: dry
Hint: Light color, feminine in style, high acidity
Sangiovese
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: strawberry, red cherry, blueberry, plum, orange peel
Floral/Spice: violet, cinnamon, clove, thyme, rustic
Oak: vanilla, smoke, toast and tar
Acidity: pretty high
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: never done
Color: bright red to dark red
Style: bone dry
Hint: Rustic with dusty tannins and red fruits
Syrah/Shiraz
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, blueberry
Floral/Spice: black pepper, licorice, clove, thyme, bay leaf, sandlewood, cedar,
truffle, earth
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: medium to high
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: Black as night!
Style: dry
Hint: Big tooth staining wine, heavy on dark fruit flavors
Tempranillo
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: strawberries, blackberries, prunes, plums
Floral/Spice: licorice, tobacco, leather, chocolate
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: very little
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: purple, very dark red
Style: dry
Hint: Rustic like Sangiovese, but with dark fruits instead or red
Zinfandel
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: Jammy fruits like; raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, cranberry,
black cherry
Floral/Spice: briar, licorice, cinnamon, black pepper, clove
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: medium
Body: medium to almost full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: brighter red
Style: dry to slightly sweet
Hint: Hands down the fruitiest red wine, high alcohol
Albarino
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, lime, peach, melon, apricot, green apple, kiwi, pear, citrus
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, bitter almonds, minerals, ginger & grass
Oak: vanilla, not usually oaked though
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: butter & cream, but not usually done on Albarino
Color: light green or yellow
Style: Dry
Hint: Very similar to Pinot Grigio with heavier body. No oak or Malo
Chardonnay
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: Stone fruits - apple, pear, peach & apricot / Citric fruits - lemon,
lime, orange & tangerine / Tropical fruits - pineapple, banana,
mango, guava & kiwi
Floral/Spice: acacia & hawthorne
Oak: vanilla, sweet wood, coconut, smoke, toast & yeast
Acidity: very little if from New World, pretty high from Burgundy, France
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: butter, cream and hazelnut
Color: yellow to dark golden
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Big body and oak in the nose. Buttery and very little acid
Gewurztraminer
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lychee, peaches, apricots, mangos & bananas
Floral/Spice: rose, gardenia, honeysuckle, geranium, acacia, verbena & violets
Oak: almost never used
Acidity: not that much
Body: full bodied
Malolactic: almost never done
Color: light to dark golden yellow with a copper tone
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Very aromatic with an oily texture. Will smell sweet, but taste drier
Muscat
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: peach and orange or tangerines
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, coriander
Oak: never
Acidity: medium to very little
Body: medium
Malolactic: never
Color: clear to light green
Style: usually sweet
Hint: Effervescent, very floral and heavy on orange scents and flavors
Pinot Grigio
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, apple (red), pear, citrusy
Floral/Spice: flint and floral perfume
Oak: usually never, but sometimes vanilla
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: not usually done, but can be creamy
Color: light green or yellow
Style: very dry
Hint: Dry tart wines, like Sauvignon Blanc without any herbal scents, waxy
texture
Riesling
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: pear, peach, apricot, tangerine, apples (green, yellow or red)
Floral/Spice: woodruff, rose petals, violets, flint, steel, gunmetal, smoke and
petroleum
Oak: almost never
Acidity: very light to medium
Body: very light to medium
Malolactic: never done
Color: pale green
Style: Bone dry to very sweet and everything in between
Hint: Petroleum is a dead giveaway
Sauvignon Blanc
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: lemon, lime, grapefruit, green apple, pineapple, pear, melon, lychee
and mango
Floral/Spice: orange blossom, honeysuckle, jasmine, grass, dill, celery, asparagus
and green olives
Oak: lightly woody when used
Acidity: very high
Body: light to medium
Malolactic: almost never used
Color: light green or yellow
Style: very dry
Hint: Crisp, high acidity, lime or grapefruit and lots of herbal accents
Semillon
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: fig, lemon, pear, lime, nectarine, citrus
Floral/Spice: saffron, grass, bell pepper and gooseberry
Oak: vanilla, toast and smoke when used
Acidity: very low
Body: full
Malolactic: butter and cream
Color: light to dark yellow
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Lemon-lime with a heavy body and very little acidity
Viognier
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: apricots, kiwi, lime, lychees, guava, tangerines, mango, pineapple
Floral/Spice: orange blossoms, roses, violets, jasmine, honey suckle
Oak: very rare, but vanilla when used
Acidity: very low
Body: full
Malolactic: creamy and buttery when used
Color: light to dark green
Style: Dry to semi-sweet
Hint: Wildly floral and a big mouthfeel – apricots
Red Wines
Cabernet Franc
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: raspberry, cherry, plum, strawberry
Floral/Spice: violet, bell pepper, stems, musk, mushroom, earth, tobacco
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium level
Body: medium
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: medium to dark red
Style: dry
Hint: Very herbal in both the nose and the palate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, black cherry
Floral/Spice: bell pepper, green or black olive, green peppercorn, chocolate,
leather, tobacco, eucalyptus
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to high
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: deep red or crimson
Style: Dry
Hint: Big mouthfeel, lots of tannins and complex taste and nose
Grenache
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, raspberry & cherry cola
Floral/Spice: rustic, violets, dusty
Oak: vanilla, smoke, tar, toast, cigar box
Acidity: medium to high
Body: medium
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: redish purple and a little light
Style: dry to slightly off-dry
Hint: Fruity and gamey tasting
Malbec
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, cassis, plums, blueberries
Floral/Spice: black pepper and clove
Oak: vanilla, tar and toast
Acidity: moderate to high
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: Dark reddish purple
Style: dry
Hint: Chalky tannins and sometimes rustic tasting, heavier than Merlot
Merlot
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: currant, black cherry and plum
Floral/Spice: violet, rose, green peppercorn, bell pepper, green olive, bay leaf
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, toast, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to light
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: red, crimson
Style: dry
Hint: Like cab without the tannins and acidity
Pinot Noir
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: cherry, strawberry, raspberry
Floral/Spice: violet, rose petal, rosemary, cinnamon, green tea, black olive,
mushroom, earth, barnyard
Oak: vanilla, coconut, smoke, tar, cedar, cigar box
Acidity: medium to very high
Body: light to almost full
Malolactic: buttery and creamy when used
Color: light ruby red
Style: dry
Hint: Light color, feminine in style, high acidity
Sangiovese
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: strawberry, red cherry, blueberry, plum, orange peel
Floral/Spice: violet, cinnamon, clove, thyme, rustic
Oak: vanilla, smoke, toast and tar
Acidity: pretty high
Body: medium to full
Malolactic: never done
Color: bright red to dark red
Style: bone dry
Hint: Rustic with dusty tannins and red fruits
Syrah/Shiraz
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: black currant, blackberry, blueberry
Floral/Spice: black pepper, licorice, clove, thyme, bay leaf, sandlewood, cedar,
truffle, earth
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: medium to high
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: Black as night!
Style: dry
Hint: Big tooth staining wine, heavy on dark fruit flavors
Tempranillo
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: strawberries, blackberries, prunes, plums
Floral/Spice: licorice, tobacco, leather, chocolate
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: very little
Body: full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: purple, very dark red
Style: dry
Hint: Rustic like Sangiovese, but with dark fruits instead or red
Zinfandel
Aromas & Flavors
Fruit: Jammy fruits like; raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, cranberry,
black cherry
Floral/Spice: briar, licorice, cinnamon, black pepper, clove
Oak: vanilla, smoke, coconut, toast, tar, cigar box and leather
Acidity: medium
Body: medium to almost full
Malolactic: not usually done
Color: brighter red
Style: dry to slightly sweet
Hint: Hands down the fruitiest red wine, high alcohol
