California Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon
Fruity flavors are typically described as black cherry and current. The jewel in California's crown, this varietal grape produces a dry red wine. One of the most popular grapes

Barbera
This grape generates a red deep-colored, full bodied wine. Produces a somewhat dry and tannic (mouth dry sensation) wine that ages well and softens with time. This wine has high alcohol content and can exhibit a ripe, current flavor with a hint of smokiness.

Grenache
Naturally sweet, fruity and very low tannin. Grenache is used to produce Rose wines or red wines when blended.

Merlot
Distinctive, aromatic, spicy, medium red table wine is produced from this varietal grape. An abundance of fruit and a velvet like quality.

Petite Syrah
These grapes produce a deep colored robust and peppery wine that packs plenty of tannin and has a good aging ability. Goes well with big well seasoned meals.

Dolcetto
Low acid vine grown almost exclusively in th provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria in Piedmont, Northwest Italy. The wine produced is a gentle, fruity and fragrant wine with flavors of liquorices and almonds with deep red color and purple tones.

Pinot Noir
Limted availability. Order early. Originally from France where it is used in all of the great red burgundies. This grape produces a wine that is clear, brilliant and medium to deep red in color. It is rich, velvety and full of flavors such as cherries, plums, raspberries and straw berries.

Ruby Cabernet
A child of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignane. The grape has a dry Cabernet like aroma, good acidity and fruity flavors. It is good for first time wine makers because it consistently makes a great red wine.

Sangiovese (Chianti)
The dominant grape in Chianti, it is usually blended with 20% white Malvasia in Italy. The California grape is lighter in color. The grape can be blended with Zinfandel or Cabernet. This wine also needs longer aging in the barrel.

Syrah
Clonal cousin of Petite Sirah makes a full bodied tannic wine. This grape is able bodied enough to be made straight or used as a blending component to strengthen any wine.

Zinfandel
Three styles of red wine are produced from this varietal grape depending on what region the grape comes from. A light spicy flavor with a berry like aroma. Oak aged. Intense, berry like, full bodied and dark in color, or a rose style White Zinfandel.


California Red Blends

Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel
80% Cabernet and 20% Zinfandel. Over the past few years the Cabernet has not been dark in color but has been great in taste and body. The addition of Zinfandel will ensure good color and will add more flavor to the wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Barbera
75% Cabernet and 25% Barbera. Barbera will add the needed color and soften this blend, while the Cabernet will supply the backbone and complexity. This is a great everyday table wine.

Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet. Will add some color to the Merlot.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
80% Cabernet and 20% Merlot. Typical Bordeaux style blend.

Chateauneuf Du Pape Style
This famous French Rhone Valley blend includes the main varieties of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alicante. The choices are endless.

Barolo
A great blend of Nebbiolo, which is rich in color and Barbera, which is lighter and full in flavor. Petite Sirah can be added for more color. This is one of the finest wines in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Lou's Special Italian Blend
Lou's grandfather blended these grapes and it has become a favorite through the years. A blend of 30% Alicante, 30% Petite Sirah, 30% Grenache and 10% Muscat.

Red Meritage
Asorted mixed blends. A favorite is Cabernet, Grenache, Barbera, and Alicante.

Super Tuscany
Made from a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barbera/Petite Sirah
70% Barbera and 30%Petite Sirah. This blend produces a fruity, well balanced wine that is great in color. This is one of Lou's favorites.

Zinfandel/Barbera
70% Zinfandel and 30% Barbera. This blend has all the qualities of a great Zinfandel with the added softness from the Barbera.

Chianti Giuseppe
70% Sangiovese 20% Cabernet and 10% Black Malvasi. This blend has all the qualities of a classic chianti. Petite Sirah can be substituted for the Cabernet, but at least one is necessary to help add body and color to the California version of the Sangiovese.


California White Wines

Chardonnay
This premier California varietal grape yields a full bodied moderately acidic dry austere wine. Flavors can be described as buttery, creamy, nutty and smoky. Excellent with fruit and cheese.

Chenin Blanc
Produces a fresh, fruity, dry to sweet wine. Makes a well balanced wine with delicate floral characteristics with a hint of melon. Popular as a cocktail wine.

Viognier
Produces a wine with a bright color and a rich texture. Tasters often refer to peaches and apricots when describing this wine . Viognier, a hedonistic, aromatic wine should be consumed in its youth..

Pinot Grigio
Excellent Italian style white wine.

Riesling
A classic German grape variety. Has the potential to make a wine with tremendous flavors. Light in body and low in alcohol yet intensly flavored with a zesty bouquet.

Sauvignon Blanc
A grape producing white table wines ranging from sweet to dry. When considered "dry" it is excellent with seafood or poultry. When considered "sweet" it is a great sipping wine when chilled. Sometimes the Fume name will appear before or after the Blanc, which brings a drier, grassy or smoky taste.

Muscat
Produces outstanding sweet dessert white wines. Forms the basis for Asti Spumante and other Italian sparkling wines. Persistent, perfume, musk and ripe grape characteristics.

Chilean Grape Offering

Malbec
The ripe, lush black grape variety Malbec was once popular in Bordeaux as a blending component. It's still used for blending with Bordeaux varietals worldwide and at times, in varietally labeled bottlings in the U.S., but now it's better known on its own. South America, where wine drinkers like potent reds, have made Malbec into a real regional specialty. Malbec's rich, inky color and fat, juicy personality make it brilliant with mellow, long-simmered dishes like braised red meats and stews. The deep legendary "black" wine of Cahors is traditionally matched to hearty rib-sticking dishes.

Carmenere
Carmenere is a member of the Cabernet family of grapes originating in Medoc, Bordeaux. At optimal ripeness, the wine is fruity (cherries), crimson in color, full-bodied, with spicy, earthy notes. The after taste is particularly long; with Integrated tannins allow early consumption, although the wine ages well. On the nose there is a slight gamey aroma (sometimes referred to as beetroot) intermingled with ripe red fruits. The flavors are earthy and fruity and, on the finish, you may find the hint of a pleasant metallic flavor that I've encountered only in carmenere. Not available in Bordeaux but now enjoying a resurgence in Chile.

Merlot Powerful fruit and spice flavor with mellow tannins for a velvet finish. Will develop quicker than the Cabernet and will stand up to similar food pairings.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Just as big and bold in Chile as in other regions of the world! As the king of the red grape this produces a wine that is rich in color, intensely flavored, and tannic with hints of mint, blackberry, and black currant.

Syrah
Also known as "Shiraz" in Australia, this grape will produce a dark, rich, full-bodied wine with a chocolate aroma. Chile has come a long way in growing high quality grapes in this varietal. If you love syrah, this is a great choice; the flavor characteristics in the "Chilean Version" are more bold and pronounced.

Chilean Blends
The possibilities are endless but here are some suggestions.


Malbec/Carmenere
70% Malbec and 30% Carmenere. Carmenere will soften this wine and add a hint of sophistication. This has the possibility of being a Chilean Bordeaux.

Carmenere/Malbec
70% Carmenere and 30% Malbec. Malbec will add more depth of color and complexity to this truly Chilean Blend

Merlot/Carmenere Blend Made with 80% Merlot and 20% Carmenere. All the softness of the Merlot with a bit more sophistication and an added depth of flavor and color.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere Blend
The blending of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Carmenere makes for an intense wine with plenty "strength of character". This is a good solid wine for the Cab-Lover. The Carmenere really adds a "Chilean Style" to the wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
The classic Bordeaux blending of 80% Cabernet and 20% Merlot, produces a bold wine with lots of tannic structure, with the added smoothness and character of Merlot.

Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
Bourdeaux style with a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet. This wine will be able to be consumed young and still have some of the tannic balance contributed by the Cabernet.

Syrah/Malbec
70% Syrah and 30% Malbec. The Malbec adds earthy tones to an already spicy Syrah producing a very "heady" wine.

Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon
Made by blending 70% Syrah with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet brings a bit more stability the sometimes feral character of the Syrah.

Syrah/Merlot
Made by blending 50% Syrah with 50% Merlot. This is an excellent wine for the Merlot fan looking for a little excitemnet. The Merlot really softens the wine while the Syrah adds that spice!