The varietals can give the wine tster an idea of the taste and character of a wine.
The grape is one of the factors that determine the taste of wine.
There is also the soil, climate and methods of winemaking.
In European countries, the "Appellations" are normally associated with a varietal, corresponding to specific varietal traditionally grown in the region:
Cabernet-Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux.
Pinot noir in Burgundy.
Sangiovese in Tuscany.
In the new world countries, the same grape varietals are used to reproduce elsewhere wines that sometimes share some characteristics of the wine regions of Europe:
For example, the Australian Penfolds Grange Hermitage produced from the Syrah grape of the Rhone Valley.
Thus, both the type of grape and the place it was grown tell us about the characteristics that can be expected of a wine.
The grape varietals tell only limited information about a wine. Visual, aromatic, and taste analysis of different varietals and their specific expressions in different soils, is the way sommeliers can identify wines in blind tasting.
Finally, many wines come from a blend of different varietals. This allows to combine the qualities of these varieties while reducing their weaknesses:
A first varietal may bring the power, aromas and alcohol, a second the tannic structure while a third will supplement the level of acidity.
Two things to remember and to identify:
1. Recognize the varietal as such;
2. Recognizing the influence of places of origins and different names on the varietals.
The different varietals
