Green More tart than fruity, due to the use of unripe grapes.
GRENACHE A red-wine grape widely grown in Spain, the south of France and also California. Used most notably in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the famous blend that also includes Mourvedre and Cinsaut, under the appellation Cotes du Rhone Villages. Also used in Provence to make good rosés. The wines produced from this grape on the Central Coast of California tend to be high in alcohol content and have a distinct orange tint.
GREY RIESLING See Trousseau Gris.
GRIGNOLINO A red-wine grape widely grown in the Piedmont region of Italy. Used to make a light, very fruity red.
Grip Firmness of flavor and structure.
GROLLEAU A red-wine grape widely grown in France. In the Loire region, it is blended with Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc to create a somewhat rustic dry and semi-sweet Anjou rosé. Also called Groslot.
GROS PLANT A minor grape related to the Folle Blanche primarily grown in the Loire-Muscadet region of France. Used for local blends.
GROSLOT See Grolleau.
GRUENER VELTLINER A white-wine grape grown in Austria. Used to make notable fresh, fruity whites best drunk very young. Also known as Veltliner.
H
Hard Especially tannic and undeveloped.
Harmonious Displaying a perfect balance of fruit, acid, and tannins.
Heady Especially full-bodied, including being especially high in alcohol content.
Herby Having a flavor and aroma of plants such as mint, sage, thyme, or eucalyptus.
Honest Flawless, but also lacking in complexity.
Honeyed Having an aroma or flavor of honey. See also Botrytis cinerea.
HUXELREBE A Chasselas-Muscat hybrid white wine grape grown primarily in the Rheinhessen region of Germany. Used for sweet white wines that meet Auslese Pradikat standards in better vintages.
I
Intricate Especially complex.
ISABELLA A French-American hybrid grape grown in New York state, and colder regions of eastern Europe. Being replaced by grapes of less foxy character.
ITALIAN RIESLING Called Riesling Italico in Italy, Welschriesling in Austria, Laski Rizling in Slovenia, and Olasz Rizling in Hungary. Possibly originated in Romania. Austria`s best vintages meet Auslese Pradikat standards, with greater acidity, but less aging potential than Johannisberg Riesling. Has no relationship to the German Riesling grape, which is called the Riesling Renano in Italy.
J
JOHANNISBERG RIESLING A white-wine variety widely grown along the Rhine river and tributaries, including Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Mosel, Nahe regions of Germany. It is also grown successfully in upper New York state and the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Used to produce a variety of styles from dry and crisp (e.g., Alsace), to semi-dry (e.g., Spatlese), to flowery and fruity (e.g., Kabinett), to semi-sweet (e.g., Mosel), to late-harvest (e.g., Auslese). Also called Riesling in Germany, Rheinriesling in Austria, Weisser, or White Riesling, in South Africa.
