California

Region Hierarchy
Climate(s) Moderate, Warm
Links Wiki
Grape(s)
Color Grape Notes
Red Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Grape notes: High tannins due to thick skin. Buds late and needs a long growing season. Often blended with Merlot to gain softness. Usually destemmed and crushed.
Red Grenache / Grenacha Grape Grape notes: Often used to make Roses. Often blended with Syrah or Tempranillo. Thin skin; late ripening. Garnacha in Spain; all elsewhere Grenache. Resistant to heat.
Red Malbec Grape Grape notes: Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot. Originally from France.
Red Merlot Grape Grape notes: Aroma/Flavors vary according to ripeness. Often blended with Cab. Sauvignon to add softness. Buds and ripens early.
Red Pinot Noir (Nero) Grape Grape notes: Low tannins due to thin skin. Susceptible to rot. Early budding and ripening.
Red Sangiovese (Chianti) Grape
Red Syrah / Shiraz Grape Grape notes: Shiraz in Australia; all elsewhere Syrah. Small with thick, dark skins.
Red Zinfandel / Primitivo Grape
White Albariño Grape Grape notes: Thick skinned, fungus resistant
White Chardonnay Grape
White Gewurztraminer Grape Grape notes: This is an aromatic grape; its nose intensity will likely be pronounced.
White Pinot Gris (Grigio) Grape Grape notes: Early budding and ripening.
Two main styles:
1. Harvested early. Dry, light body, medium-to-high acidity and simple flavors.
2. Delayed harvesting. Full body, medium acidity and complex flavors.
White Riesling Grape Grape notes: Susceptible to botrytis
White Roussanne Grape Grape notes: Ripens late
White Sauvignon Blanc Grape Grape notes: This is an aromatic grape; its nose intensity will likely be pronounced.
White Semillon Grape Grape notes: Think skin makes it susceptible to Noble Rot. Commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc to add body
White Viognier Grape Grape notes: Aromatic grapes, so likely the nose is pronounced. Ripens late in the season so will have high sugar and low acidity.
Wines(s)
Type Wine Notes
Still Orange Roussanne Wine (Skin-fermented)
Still Red Cabernet Sauvignon Wine High volume brands simply labeled "California" use oak staves/chips. Intended to be drunk young.
Wine notes: Often able to age well.
Still Red Chianti Wine Wine notes: Late ripening grape.
Still Red Grenache / Grenacha Wine Wine notes: Thin skinned. Typically used in a blend (including Roses). High alcohol.
Still Red Malbec Wine
Still Red Merlot Wine High volume brands simply labeled "California" use oak staves/chips. Fruity with medium body.
Still Red Pinot Noir Wine Ripe red-fruit flavors, notable oak flavors, and possibly tertiary flavors of florest floor & mushrooms.
Wine notes: Burgundy Pinot Noir is typically drunk young.
Still Red Syrah (Shiraz) Wine Wine notes: High tannins due to thick skin
Still Rosé White Zinfandel Wine Roses are medium-sweet w/ simple red-fruit flavors. Reds are often oaked. They have red & black fruit, dried fruit, and oak flavors. Dry with med-to-high tannins, high acidity, and full body.
Wine notes: Usually low alcohol
Still White Albariño Wine Wine notes: Better young. Sometimes a bit of lees contact to add body and complexity.
Still White Chardonnay Wine High volume brands simply labeled "California" use oak staves/chips. Peach and pineapple flavors, medium acidity and body.
Still White Gewurztraminer Wine Wine notes: Usually high alcohol, complex and flavorful.
Still White Pinot Grigio Wine (Italy)
Still White Riesling Wine
Still White Sauvignon Blanc Wine
Still White Semillon Wine
Still White Viognier Wine Wine notes: Usually high alcohol



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