Grape Varieties
Know your grapes
Understanding the grape is the first step to understanding the wine. Each variety has its own logic of flavor, structure, and terroir expression.
Red varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon
The world's most widely planted red grape is a natural cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Its thick skin produces tannic, structured wines with remarkable aging potential — from Napa's opulent blockbusters to Bordeaux's restrained classics.
Pinot Noir
The most mercurial and site-sensitive of all red grapes, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow but transcendent when conditions align. Its translucent garnet and silk-weight texture are unmistakable; its aromatics range from delicate red fruit to earthy forest floor.
Shiraz / Syrah
In France it's Syrah — the northern Rhône's noble grape, producing Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie of haunting elegance. In Australia it became Shiraz — lush, concentrated, spiced. Same variety, two distinct idioms defined by climate, soil, and philosophy.
Tempranillo
Spain's signature red grape is the backbone of Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and a dozen other appellations. Medium-bodied with naturally high acidity, Tempranillo's versatility means it can be made for early drinking or for Gran Reservas requiring decades of bottle age.
White varieties
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world's most popular white grape — a chameleon that takes on the character of its terroir and winemaking. Unoaked, it's lean and mineral; barrel-fermented and aged on lees, it develops extraordinary richness, texture, and longevity.
Riesling
The world's most misunderstood grape — often assumed sweet but spanning a spectrum from bone-dry Alsace Riesling to luscious Trockenbeerenauslese. Riesling's defining character is its electric acidity, which gives even off-dry examples remarkable freshness and an unmatched capacity to age.