Richard Allen

What Is Petit Verdot? Petit Verdot is a thick-skinned red grape varietal that is small and highly valued for its color depth. Commonly used as a red blender in the traditional blends of Bordeaux, Petit Verdot plantings have started to appear in many regions outside France, such as Southern Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Historically, […]

What Is Mission? Mission, also known as País in Chile and Criolla Chica in Argentina, is a thick-skinned red grape variety with a long history. Mission was one of the first Vitis vinifera grape varietals exported from Spain to Mexico in the 16th Century. That said, despite its historical importance, it is seen as a

What Is Viognier? Viognier is a white grape varietal renowned for giving aromatic, textural wines with pronounced stone fruit flavors. It comes from the Northern Rhône region of France, where it thrives on the steep slopes of Condrieu. The grape faced a hard time during the 20th century. In the 1960s, only a bunch of

What Is Grenache? Grenache (also known as Garnacha in Spain) is a black grape variety widely cultivated in France, Spain, the United States, and Australia. The grape grows extensively in the Southern Rhône wine region, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. For the most part, it is found next to Mourvèdre and Syrah to create the prestigious Southern

What Is Grüner Veltliner? Grüner Veltliner is the signature and, by far, the most widely planted grape variety in Austria. This high-quality grape that shows spicy expressions has made Austria a point of difference in export markets. The best Grüner Veltliner wines are produced from fruit cultivated next to the Danube River and specifically in

What Is Zinfandel? Zinfandel, also known as Primitivo, is a dark-skinned grape variety widely planted in California in the United States. It found its way to the U.S. from Italy in the 19th Century, and since then, it has been a success in both Sonoma and Napa counties. The grape has been used to produce

What Is Tempranillo? Tempranillo is Spain’s top red grape variety. It is grown in the Rioja, the Ribera Del Duero, and the La Mancha regions of Central and North Spain. Often, however, it is referred to by one of its numerous synonyms: Tinto Fino, Tino de Pais, Tinto de Toro, Ull de Liebre, Cencibel, and

What Is Pinotage? Pinotage is the star variety of South Africa. In fact, it is synonymous with wine cultivation in the country and one of the most renowned grape varietals in the world. Grown almost exclusively in South Africa, Pinotage is produced in an impressive range of styles from table wines to incredibly concentrated wine

What Is Carignan? Carignan or Cariñena in Spain (also Cariganen in the United States) is a thick, black-skinned grape variety native to Aragon in Northeastern Spain. Also, it is found in the Languedoc-Rousillon region in Southern France. There, Carignan blends with Grenache. However, the wines vary in style, depending on grape ripening and the vineyard

What Is Barbera? Barbera is a thick, dark-skinned grape varietal found in wine regions in Italy, including Campania, Puglia, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, and the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Two decades ago, Barbera was one of the most most-commonly planted red wine varieties, just behind Montepulciano and Sangiovese, but today that is not the case. For