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Pinot Noir has most recently become a popular variety in the United States. It will grow anywhere that grapes are grown. However, it prefers cooler summers to achieve the highest quality. The clusters are small to medium sized with small berries. It has medium disease and winter cold tolerance. Some of the most sought-after wines in the world are made from Pinot Noir grapes.
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More popular as Petite Sirah in the U.S., this variety produces inky, black, full bodied wines. It is often used as a blender with Zinfandel. But, it is also blended in small amounts with other varieties to add color, and structure. The berries are small (petite) and the clusters are tightly packed making it highly susceptible to bunch rot. It is not considered a cold tolerant variety.
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This is the latest ripening variety of the Bordeaux family of grapes. It produces rich colored wines with high tannins. The clusters and berries are small. It is grown throughout the world in small quantities. But, it is not considered a winter hearty variety.
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Perlette is a white seedless table grape. It is a very early season variety with small, round, "pearl shaped berries." It is a very good raisin variety. This variety performs best with cane pruning.
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Also known as Mataro, is a variety that prefers hot dry regions and tends to ripen later. Mourvedre is most commonly found in Blends of Syrah and Grenache although it does very well on its own or as a rose. The wines tend to be full bodied with earthy undertones and a dried strawberry backbone of fruit.
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Montepulciano is notable grape variety in Italy. It is a productive, late ripening variety that likes a hot, dry growing season. It is susceptible to Winter temperatures below 20 degrees F so is not recommended in cold climates. Typically, it is used in high quality wines of Central and Southern Italy. The wines produced have a deep ruby color with moderate acidity.
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Another Bordeaux variety, Merlot is one of the most widely planted varieties in the world. It produces medium tannic wines with black fruit characteristics. It is consistently productive with loose clusters and large berries. It is suitable in hot and cooler climates and has good winter hardiness.
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A white grape variety most commonly found in the Northern Rhone region of France. This variety often produces a relatively heavy crop of loosely clustered berries that prefer dry warm regions to grow in. The wine shows flavors of melon, honeydew and mineral, along with undertones of nuttiness. This could be a great substitution for Chardonnay or could be blended with Roussanne.
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One of the six main Bordeaux varieties, Malbec, or Cot as it is called in France, is a great stand-alone variety but normally used as a blender. It is fairly productive and provides deep color. It is grown throughout the world including France, the U.S., Argentina and Chile. However, it is not very winter hardy, so it is not recommended for regions dipping below 20 degrees F.
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La Crescent is a French-American Hybrid variety. This white grape provides a very cold hardy and moderately disease resistant variety for growers.
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Grenache is a late ripening variety that prefers hot and dry climates. Given the right conditions this variety can produce a large crop that will need to be balanced in the vineyard for quality wine production. The wines produced from this variety usually show bright red fruit and subtle spice characteristics.
