Varietals
Great wine begins with great grapes. Capitalizing on the state’s diverse geography and climates, California wine-grape growers can grow a wide range of grape varieties and styles. The Golden State boasts more than 100 different varieties of wine grapes, thanks to its diverse topography, soils, climates and growers.
With respect for tradition and a propensity for innovation, California’s wine-grape growers are able to produce some of the best grapes, and wines, in the world. Here’s a look at some of California’s most notable wine grapes:
Pronunciation
Cabernet Sauvignon is pronounced ka-bur-nay so-vin-YON.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Red)
Cabernet sauvignon is the second most popular wine grape variety grown in California, after chardonnay. The grapes have particularly thick skins, resulting in dark purple wines that are full bodied, intensely flavored and long lasting.
Taste: Cabernets are typically aged longer, in both oak barrel and bottle, than other wines to soften and smooth the young tannins. The wines display a range of flavors from brambly black fruit to cassis, mint and even mild green pepper. Cabernet sauvignon is often blended with other red grape varietals to add depth and complexity.
Perfect Food Matches: Meat with strong flavor, such as charcoal grilled steak or lamb chops, filet mignon or calf’s liver.
Varietal grape photos: Copyright © The Regents of the University of California.
