RED WINES

Old world red wines are as bold and striking as the European terroirs, people and cultures they come from. They are filled with character and nuance that invites perfect pairings with rich dishes. These expressive wines transport oenophiles to the terroirs of French, Spanish and Italian vineyards and introduces them to regions that have excelled in winemaking for more than two millennia.

Spain produces thriving red grapes in it’s warm climate which embody the flavors of its storied soil. Watch for the following grape varietals:

Tempranillo. World-renowned for its quality, this indigenous grape inspires traditional Rioja-style wines, soft modern wines, and rich international school wines. Younger Tempranillo wines exhibit a spicy, fleshy, tart character while aged Tempranillo softens to a sweet, dried quality.
Garnacha. Recognized as “Grenache” in France, Garnacha grapes find their roots in Spain. Young Garnacha produces a fruity bouquet while higher end varieties exude a bold, high-tannined complexity.
Monastrell. Monastrell grapes boast structure and strength with black plum, chocolate, and black pepper flavors.

France is truly the home of world-class red wines boasting more 92+ point scores than any other wine-producing nation. The outstanding terroir and the long history of it’s skilled winemakers sets this region apart from the rest. Look for these grape varietals:

Cabernet Sauvignon. Most famous of the red grape varieties worldwide and France’s most popular planting. It is dark red-purple in color and full-bodied with flavors of blackcurrant and plum.
Merlot. A beautiful dark red wine, it is widely planted in Bordeaux and has fruit-forward flavors of black cherry, plum and chocolate.
Pinot Noir. This is Burgundy’s primary varietal. It has a softer red color with earthy flavors of fruit and spice.
Syrah. Commonly found in the Rhône Valley, this grape produces a full-bodied red wine with flavors of blackcurrant, earth and pepper.
Grenache. Often blended with other varietals to create a full-bodied, fruit-forward wines. Known as “Garnacha” in Spain.
Cabernet Franc. This varietal is also commonly blended with other red grapes from Bordeaux and it has some acidity with medium-body.
Mourvèdre. Also known in Spain as “Monastrell”, this varietal thrives in the warm sunny climate of southern France.

Italy, produces more wine than any other country in the world with famed wine-making skills that stretch back for at least three millennia. From pre-Roman times to the present, Italian culture has continued to dominate the development of viticulture and oenology. These are its most famous red grape varietals:

Sangiovese. This earthy grape is found throughout Italy with flavors varying from black cherry notes to hints of strawberry driven by the range of soils and climate.
Montepulciano. A beautiful dark red wine similar to Syrah grown in central Italy.
Barbera. Typically grown in Piedmont, acidic with black cherry notes and tastes of licorice.
Nero d’Avola. Commonly grown in Sicily, fruity, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.

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