So being new to the wine drinking game I wanted to know about the different grapes and the wines they made. This is what I found.
These grapes are found in in all wine districts. The German variety are sweet a semibold acidity. Wines made from Riesling's grown in the Eastern US can be a bit different as the wines produced in this region are done a bit differently but usually are just as aromatic and less sweet. And wines made in California are typically less successful but are sweet though lacking acidity for balance.
Rieslings should be light, and fresh. With age they become more rounded and tastier.
Gewürztraminer:
Gewürztraminer are very aromatic grapes. They are grown in Germany, The West Coast of the United States and in some regions of the East Coast in the US as well.
Gewürztraminer's are very fruity sometimes taking on the taste of peaches and the floral smells of rose's, and can be a bit spicy too.
This wine may not be as refreshing as some white wines, but I found it to be really good and is now a staple in my wine rack.
Chardonnay:
Often more smooth and wider bodied than that of other white wines, it can have a somewhat citrus flavor like that of a grapefruit, and depending on how it is aged can take on that of vanilla or toffee. However if it is a Chardonnay from France the taste can be quite different.
Sauvignon blanc:
Blancs come from a variety of locations like New Zealand, France, and Australia. They tend to be less fruity and somewhat flat. In France it is mixed with Sémillon (which is another gold grape used in making dry sweet wines.)
Sauv Blanc's typically have a herbal more earthy taste like that of fresh cut grass. The stronger flavors are that of sour apples and gooseberries, with undertones of mango, and melon. Some can even be a bit smokey in flavor.
Syrah:
Shiraz grapes can be found in France, California, and Australia. When made into wine they can take on blackcurrant and peppery tones.
When aged and fermented in oak it can take one toffee and flavors. This versatile grape can make average wine or it can make more sophisticated mature wines with bold flavors that have a long shelf life.
Merlot:
Merlot is the quintessential wine that most people are familiar with or have at least heard in conversation from time to time. Considered a classic 'introduction" wine.
This grape is now being grown here in the US as well as a handful of other countries, though it hails from The Bordeaux region of France.
It has the taste of dark cherries and can have some herbal tones. You typically experience this wine in the middle of your tongue but depending on quality or age can be felt on the tip.
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet sauvignon is typically considered the best grape. When making wine it is sometimes mixed with merlot and cabernet franc in oak barrels.
These grapes are usually grown where ever red wine grapes grow. They are part of the Medoc wines in France, and part of the fine red wines of California and Australia.
It can sometimes have a vanilla smell if its aged in oak.
Pinot noir:
These grapes are considered one of the noble red wine grapes. They are very difficult to grow and are almost never blended. They can be found in California, Oregon, and France.
The wine they make is very delicate and fresh and very fruity smelling with undertones of damp soil or leather. Because of its versatile nature, it is almost impossible to pinpoint where it is grown.
But regardless the grape, or the wine, I believe we can all appreciate the long arduous process that is undertaken in order to make wine. Now personally when it comes to eating grapes I tend to like the dark purple/black ones. But I am finding when it comes to drinking wine, that I am leaning more towards whites over reds. But when I first began drinking wine, I was all about the Sweet Red, now Im really loving Moscato or Gewurztraminer.
~Cheers
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