Most of us probably have our go to wine varietal, "I'm a Cab girl", "I only drink Sauvignon Blanc", or "Ew I HATE Chardonnay". While these preferences are helpful for us to know what to order on a wine list, sometimes it's fun to try something different. The best moments are the time you try a really good version of that varietal you thought you could never drink, and suddenly you realize "I don't hate ALL Chardonnays, just some versions, there's others that I actually LOVE!"
Here's a list of varietals to try based on what you currently like:
If you like Cabernet Sauvignon:
- Try Cabernet Franc: The parent grape of Cab Sauv and Merlot, produced largely in France, known for it's bell pepper flavors, but still those nice dark fruits, a little more medium body and lighter tannin than most Cab Sauv's.
- Try Petite Sirah: Really nice dark luscious flavors like a cab, big body, higher tannin, I love the peppery notes that it tends to have along with the blueberry, chocolate notes.
- Try Nero D'Avola: Sicilian grape variety, something totally different to grab off the shelf that will still deliver those full-bodied, black plum, licorice flavors you love in your Cab Sauv's.
If you like Chardonnay:
- Try Viognier: From the Northern Rhone of France, lovely flavors of peach, mango, rose, and, with some oak aging, those vanilla, oaky flavors we crave in our Chards.
- Try Marsanne: Primary blending grape in the Rhone Valley of France blended often with Roussanne, another variety to try; very yummy rich, creamy, fruity characteristics like Chardonnay.
- Try Chenin Blanc: This grape has a variety of styles, Chard lovers should find Chenin Blancs from warmer climates with the ripest grapes like Paarl, South Africa, where this wine is often oak aged and has flavors of sweet fruit, all spice, honeysuckle and that oily buttery texture we love.
If you like Sauvignon Blanc:
- Try Sancerre: Hint: Sancerre IS Sauvignon Blanc, just grown in the Loire Valley of France! From working in restaurants this is the number one white wine I would recommend to pretty much anyone who asked for "a good white wine" It's quite the people pleaser, lovely lime, grapefruit, with nice acidity and crisp minerality, can pair great with almost any food!
- Try Albarino: From Spain and Portugal, this wine is a delightful new find for most white wine palates, high acidity that pairs well with most food, flavors of lemon, lime, honeysuckle, and a little bit of that beeswax and orange zest.
- Try Chablis: Now, this is for those of you that think you dislike Chardonnay. Chablis IS Chardonnay, just grown in Burgundy, France. It is normally unoaked and grown in a cooler region so it will be leaner and have higher acidity than your typical California Chardonnay. It's known for it's crisp minerality, citrus and white blossom flavors. I can never promise you will like it, but please give it a try and let me know what you think! I'd love if it could change your opinion on Chardonnay!
If you like Pinot Noir:
- Try Beaujolais: From the Gamay grape in Beaujolais, France. In my Sommelier course, this was the wine the master Somm's all said was the most underrated, but because of this you can find amazing value for this great light-bodied wine from France! Fruity, floral, and super easy drinking, definitely give this one a try!
(My kitty Brooklyn thinks it's paw licking good, too!)
I love this article and have become such a fan of Viogner myself.