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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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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.
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Cabernet Sauvignon is our most popular selection. It is the most widely planted and recognized red wine variety in the United States. It is suitable for all growing regions where grapevines can be grown. Cabernet Sauvignon is easy to grow and care for and has low disease susceptibility. It is very tolerant to cold winter temperatures as well as high summer temperatures.
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A parent to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is another of the Bordeaux varieties. Cab Franc is lighter than Cab Sauv with different flavor profiles. It ripens a little earlier than Cab Sauv and is very popular on the East Coast of the U.S. as it has a good tolerance for cold winter temperatures. Like Cab Sauv, Cab Franc has small, thick skinned berries that have a high tolerance to diseases.
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Like Sangiovese and Montepulciano, Barbera is one of the more popular grape varieties of Italy. It is very productive with tight clusters and large berries. It also benefits from a long, hot, dry growing season. It is not suitable to cold winter temperatures. The wines are a deep, ruby red with higher acidity. This makes it a good wine to pair with food.
