Grape Varieties (Hachette Wine Library)

160 pages. You don't need to own a vineyard to benefit from knowing what it takes to tur n grapes into fine wines. Tour the areas throughout the world where the 36 great est grape varieties are produced, and bring your own expertise to the wine exper ience, so you can analyze and identify such classics as Cabernet-Sauvignon, Char donnay, Chasselas, Chenin, Cinsaut, Clairette, Colombard, Gamay, Gewurtztraminer , Muscat, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sylvaner, Syrah, and Vermentino. As you learn th e history of each variety, you come to see what makes each one a favorite of con noisseurs today. The whole story of how a lowly grape becomes a great wine start s with basic facts regarding growth cycles and diseases of healthy and unhealthy vines, leaves, and clusters. It continues through profiles of major vineyards, likely yields, alcoholic strengths, vintage years, color and taste--everything y ou need to be familiar with the process for producing a truly premium product.