When we think of grapes, we often think of them as red, green, or purple-colored fruits. But they’re so much more than that! There are multiple varieties of grapes (more than a thousand) that are grown and cultivated across the world. And the wine grape characteristics are all unique. If you didn’t know already, grapes […]
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Have you ever poured a glass of wine only to realize that it has a strange moldy smell? Did your wine suddenly become flat and tasteless? If you have faced such situations, then your wine was most likely cork tainted or “corked.” So, what is cork taint? Cork taint is a term used to describe
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What Is Valdiguié? Valdiguié is a think-skinned red grape variety that used to be widely planted in Languedoc-Roussillon in Southwest France. Today, it grows as a minor varietal in Vin de Pays, Provence, and Languedoc. Outside France, it was planted in California and had gathered a small following. There, the grape was known as Gamay
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What Is Arneis? Arneis is a local Italian grape variety from Piedmont, a respected wine region. Arneis is similar to Viognier and other renascent varietals, as it almost faced extinction. In recent years, it is enjoying a revival. By the middle of the 20th century, only a few producers were making wine from Arneis. But
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What Is Norton? Norton is a thick, dark-skinned hybrid varietal found in the Northeast of the United States. Also known as Cynthiana, Norton is considered a fantastic hybrid variety due to not having the intense animal aromas that usually spoil the brightness in wines. Furthermore, Norton wines have a medium-to-full body with vivid red fruit
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What Is Muscat? Muscat, also known as Muscato in Italy and Greece, or Moscate in Spain and Portugal, is an ancient grape varietal. Being one of the oldest and most widespread varieties, Muscat has been cultivated for at least a thousand years. In fact, the Muscat grapes of today originated in the Middle East and
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What Is Roussanne? Roussanne is a soft-skinned white grape variety from France. Most of the Roussanne plantings are in France, particularly in the Northern Rhône Valley. Together with Marsanne, its blending partner, Roussanne plays a significant role in Northern Rhône wine blends, some of which are considered the best white wine expressions in the world.
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What Is Albariño? Albariño (or Alvarinho) is a thick-skinned green grape varietal originating in Galicia on the Northern Atlantic coast of Spain. Best known for being the primary variety in the Rias Baixas wines, Albariño is also made as a sparkling Vinho Verde wine in Portugal. Known there as Alvarinho, it is labeled as a
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What Is Chenin Blanc? Chenin Blanc is an ancient white-wine grape varietal native to France, where it has been cultivated for approximately 1300 years. Most commonly associated with Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc is a unique variety. Its naturally high acidity can be vinified into several wine styles, from bone-dry to full-bodied or even lusciously sweet
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What Is Alicante Bouschet? Alicante Bouschet is a red wine which is also called Garnacha Tintorera in Spain. Born from a cross between Petit Bouschet and Grenache in the late 19th Century in the South of France by Henri Bouschet. One of the most unusual of Alicante Bouschet characteristics is the color of the fruit.
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