Wine is the product of the nature. The characteristics and styles of wine are the expression of the grapes it is made from, as well as the natural environment of the vineyard. Thousands of grapes are made into wine. However, there are only about two dozens better known red wine grapes and another two dozens of better known white wine grapes. Here are the other major red wine grapes, made into beautiful wines in the world, to conclude the three-part article series, Types of Red Wines around the World.

Nebbiolo: The northern Italy wine region of Piedmont is home to Nebbiolo. It produces wines with scents of roses, violets, tar, and tea leaves. These unique flavors, high acidity and good tannin make Nebbiolo a darling in the eyes of Italian wine lover.

Pinot Noir: There’s no lacking of tales and mysteries surrounding Pinot Noir. A high maintenance grape in the vineyard, and a capricious wine to make in the cellar, it continue to cast spills on winemakers & wine lovers to come back for more of it. More of its roses, strawberries, plums scents, or savory, meaty flavors! Where does Pinot Noir call home? Oregon, California, Burgundy in France, Tasmania and New Zealand all make different styles of Pinot Noir, from age-worthy to fruity.

Sangiovese: Sangiovese makes the wines of Chianti, Brunello di Montacino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from central Italy. Its strengths are good structure and sumptuous flavors supported by the high acidity.

Syrah/Shiraz: Syrah’s give-away is its ink dark color in the glass. Always with a robust structure and body, its medium to high alcohol leaves a warming sensation in the throat, while the flavors of violet, plum and peppery linger in your palate. It is synonymous to its homeland of Rhône Valley and adopted home of Australia.

Tempranillo: Tempranillo gives the un-mistakenly strawberries, bright berries nose. The major Spanish red wine grape, and affectionately called “the little early one” (“Tempranillo”), it makes the intense flavored, medium dark-colored wines in the Rioja region.

Zinfandel: Zinfandel is the blood-relative of the Italian grape Primitivo. It is the most planted red grape in California. When its shortcoming of uneven ripeness in the vineyard could be overcome by great vineyard management, Zinfandel has a lot to offer. Its lively, red fruit – both jammy or bright fruit styles, and spicy notes has long won the love of wine drinkers.

This concludes our three-part series of the types of red wines. However, it is just the beginning of the lasting and rewarding wine experience. I hope you will continue to explore these grapes and the wines they make, as well as more other grapes and wines. Let such wine experience add to your enjoyment of life, and quality time spent with family, friend and associates.

More Pinot Noir Wine Articles

When polyphenols including Resveratrol, Quercetin, and red wine grape extracts are concentrated into a daily tablet equivalent to over 100 Bottles of red wine (400 – 1000 mg) or more, there is one immediate question, is it safe?

Indeed, scientists who study these nutraceutical supplements have and are continuing to use similar scientific research techniques to those used in the pharmaceutical industry to evaluate their potential health benefits and safety.

In 2002, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences commissioned a report entitled, “Trans-resveratrol Review of Toxicological Literature.” A review of more than 200 referenced scientific studies were included, and the report stated that there were no reported adverse effects from Resveratrol on humans.

Animal studies have used the human-equivalent of over 1,000 mg (10 mg/kg of bodyweight) of Resveratrol, and have shown no toxic effects. Massive dosage studies were also performed on animals. “The no observed adverse affect level (NOAEL) was 300 mg/kg/day,” which would be a human dosage of 30,000 mg or 10 – 100 times the maximum concentrations contained in human high-concentration oral nutraceutical dosages.

Human studies also confirm the safety of Resveratrol in highly concentrated forms. Studies including those at Marywood University, University of Leicester (UK) and University of Michigan, etc. all found no significant side effects and no evidence of toxicity.

Personally, members of our company have taken 2,000 mg of Resveratrol and red wine grape extracts for extended periods with no side effects.

Many nutraceutical manufacturing plants are certified by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), TGA (Australia’s FDA Certification), NSF, USP (US Pharmacopia), etc. (be sure to check company’s websites for such information).

According to Dr. Joseph Maroon, in his recent book, The Longevity Factor, How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life (page 198) “Having seen both a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant and a dietary supplement facility I am assured that the manufacturing standards are virtually identical.”

High quality Resveratrol supplements have been on the market since the year 2000, and numerous patients, companies and doctors have reported their safety.

NOTE: Of course, any side-effects experienced as a result of taking Resveratrol, Quercetin, red wine grape extracts, or any other nutraceutical supplements should be reported to the manufacturer, and to your doctor.