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 Wine 101
   
 
An Overview of the Major Wine Producing Regions of the World

 
1)      United States of America
a)      California
i)        Major Regions - Napa Valley, Sonoma, Carneros, Russian River, Lake County, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterrey, and Lodi
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Franc
 
b)      Oregon
i)        Major Regions – Willamette Valley, Columbia Valley and Walla Walla
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir
 
c)       Washington State
i)        Major Regions – Columbia Valley, Walla Walla and Yakima Valley
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals - Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
 
d)      New York State
i)        Major Regions – Finger Lakes and Long Island
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc
 
2)      France
a)      Bordeaux
i)        Major Regions – Paulliac (left bank), St. Emilion (right Bank)
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Merlot (mostly right bank), Cabernet Sauvignon (mostly left bank), Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
 
b)      Burgundy
i)        Major Regions – Cote de Nuits (mostly red wines) and Cote De Beaune (red and white wines)
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Chardonnay
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir
 
c)       Rhone Valley
i)        Major Regions – Cote Rotie (Northern Appellation) and Chateauneuf du Pape (Southern)
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mouvedre and Counoise
 
d)      Loire Valley
i)        Major Regions – Pouilly Fume, Vouvray and Chinon
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Muscadet
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Cabernet Franc
 
e)      Alsace
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir
 
f)       Champagne
i)        Major Regions – Epernay and Reims
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Chardonnay
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
 
3)      Italy
a)      Piedmont
i)        Major Regions – Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Moscato and Cortese
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto
 
b)      Tuscany
i)        Major Regions – Chianti and Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino)
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Vermentino
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Canaiolo
 
c)       Tre Venezia
i)        Major Regions – Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Emilia-Romagna and Friuli-Venezia Giulia
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Trebbiano
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Corvino, Rondinella and Molinara (Amarone and Vallpolicella)
 
4)      Spain
a)      Rioja
i)        Major Regions – Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja
ii)       Major White Grape Varietals – Viura, Malvasia
iii)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache)
 
b)      Priorat
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Granacha Blanc, Macabeo
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Garnacha and Carinena
 
c)       Rias Baixas
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Albarino
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Brancellao
 
d)      Ribero Del Duero
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Albillo
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and Garnacha (Grenache)
 
e)      Bierzo
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Godello, Malvasia and Palmino
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Mencia and Garnacha
 
f)       Jumilla
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Arien
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Monastrell, Garnacha and Cencibel
 
g)      Toro
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Malvasia and Verdejo Blanco
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon
 
h)      Rueda
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Verdejo and Viura
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon
 
i)        Jerez-Xeres-Sherry
i)        Major Grape Varietals – Palomino, Pedro Ximenez, Moscatel
 
5)      Portugal
a)      Vinho Verde
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Alvarinho
 
b)      Douro
i)        Major White Grape Varietals – Malvasia
ii)       Major Red Grape Varietals – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cao
 
6)      Germany
a)      Major Regions – Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rhine, Mittelrhein, Rhingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz
b)      Major White Grape Varietals – Riesling, Silvaner and Muller-Thurgau
c)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir
 
7)      New Zealand
a)      Major Region – Marlborough
b)      Major White Grape Varietals – Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
c)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Pinot Noir
 
8)      Australia
a)      Major Regions – Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and South Eastern Australia
b)      Major White Grape Varietals – Chardonnay, Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdeho, Semillion
c)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
 
9)      Chile
a)      Major Regions – Maipo Valley, Casablanca, Rapel Valley and Maule Valley
b)      Major White Grape Varietals – Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
c)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Carmenere, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
 
10)   Argentina
a)      Major Regions – Mendoza
b)      Major White Grape Varietals – Viognier and Chardonnay
c)      Major Red Grape Varietals – Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot