Blaufränkisch is a dark skinned, late ripening grape produced all around eastern Europe and carries many different names. It is sometimes...

If you have attended my classes, you know that I have a fairly concise description of the production process of red wines, It comes down...

Carignan is a grape varietal from the Rhone Valley in France, not as well known as Grenache or Syrah, it is usually a lesser ratio of the...

Cinsault is yet another Rhone Valley grape used to make thick extracted red wines. As with the other Rhone varietals, Grenache, Syrah,...

Tempranillo is the grape that most frequently is associated with the wines of Rioja, Spain. Popular in the production of wines in Ribera...

Barbera is a purple skinned grape used to produce light bodied red wines in Piedmont, Italy as well as New world productions in...

These days Carmenère is a grape varietal that many people may associate with Chile, although it is found all over the new world....

Early in my restaurant career, I worked at a big budget steakhouse in Minneapolis, a couple of them actually. Cabernet Sauvignon...

Malbec is from Bordeaux, France, where it is used as a blending grape in the Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the Medoc and the Merlot...

I find Merlot to be the red Chardonnay in some ways. Merlot is a French word, but not an intimidating one, and like Chardonnay that...

You may have never seen a bottle labelled Petit Verdot, but you may have enjoyed a small amount in a blend. Seeking solo varietal, Petit...

Often blended with Syrah and Mourvedre especially in the Rhone Valley of France. Grenache stands alone very well. The grape does very...

Over the past decade, I have found that Zinfandel has become one of my favorite domestic grape varietals. It is definitely a United...

Sangiovese is the principle grape in the wines of Tuscany, Italy. It is used to make Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino...

Mourvedre is one of the grapes used in the southern Rhone Valley, usually blended with Grenache, and Syrah. Though a small percentage of...

I just wrote the other day about Viognier, and I realized that almost all of my blog posts, thus far, have been about aromatic white...

Pinot Noir is the black grape of Burgundy France, it is produced all over the world and is the principle component in Champagne...

My friend asked me the other day about Lagrein. She had never heard of the varietal before, and was ordering a selection of various wines...

People often ask me, “What is your favorite wine?” The question strikes me like “what is your favorite bodily organ?” I like each of them...