Cabernet Gernischt - Red Grape Variety

Cabernet Gernischt is said to have arrived in China during the 19th century and since then has gone on to become one of the most popular wine varietals of the country. A red wine grape varietal, which is grown widely across the country is most notably popular in the wine regions of Shandong and Ningxia. It is believed that this wine varietal arrived in China from Bordeaux, although, there are a number of theories that state otherwise.

Some experts believe that Cabernet Gernischt is actually Cabernet Franc whereas other theories suggest that it is a combination of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The aromas of green bell pepper and gamey notes characterize the wine and are hugely similar to a Carmenere. Cabernet Gernischt wine is structurally similar to a Cabernet Franc or Sauvignon wines but is differentiated on the basis of an additional spicy quality.

When it comes to food pairing, Cabernet Gernischt pairs well with dishes like pepper steak flambeed with cognac, stir-fried beef with red pepper or the deep-dish pizza because of the wine’s taste.

Marselan - Red Grape Variety

Marselan, a French wine grape variety is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. The name of this particular varietal comes from the coastal French town of Marseillan. Marselan was first bred by French ampelographer, Paul Truel in 1961. At that point of time, Marselan could only produce small berries, and owing to this reason, the variety was shelved and deemed, considered not good for commercial release.

With the change in the viticulture trends in the twentieth century, wine producers started giving more importance to quality rather than quantity. This brought Marselan back into the fold of winemaking grape varieties. Marselan was originally grown to combine the high yielding and heat tolerance capabilities of Grenache and the finesse of the Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape variety produces wines that have good aging potential, supple tannins, and great aroma. Marselan wines also tend to be deeply colored.

A collaboration between the French and Chinese government brought Marselan to the Chinese shores. The varietal is now planted in various Chinese wine growing regions including the Sino-French Demonstration vineyard in Huailai county in the Hebei province. Marselan is also grown in Penglai, Shandong.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Red Grape Variety

Easily, one of the most recognized wine varietals in the world, the Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep history that is ingrained deep in wine mythology. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular wine varietals in the world at the moment owing to the numerous advantages that it poses. The best thing about Cabernet Sauvignon is its ability to adapt to a wide range of climates and soil types.

In terms of character, the wines produced from Cabernet Sauvignon are deep red in color and have moderate acidity. They also have moderate to good tannin structure and the wines often have notes of black currant and spices.

This wine varietal has slowly made its footsteps into the Chinese wine market as well. The Chinese government has taken up a keen interest in their wine industry and this has led to many grape varietals making their way into the country, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of them.

Some of the popular Chinese wine regions are host to Cabernet Sauvignon production. It accounts for 18% of all production in the Shandong region, while the regions of Xinjiang and Hebei are also becoming popular hubs for the production of this grape varietal. The popularity of this varietal is on a significant rise because of its ability to provide a high-yield and high-quality grape harvest.

Merlot - Red Grape Variety

Merlot is one of the most popular red grape varietals across the world. It is a versatile grape that can be used as a blending grape or for direct wine production. It is a soft grape with a dark-blue color and is an early ripening grape compared to its other Bordeaux wine competitors.

In terms of character, Merlot has a thinner skin and fewer tannins compared to a cabernet sauvignon. These grapes also tend to have higher sugar content. Merlot wines are known more for their texture rather than their flavor or taste.

Merlot is slowly gaining popularity in China as a grape varietal. Poplar wine regions like Hebei, Shandong are among those having vineyards dedicated to Merlot production. One of the major advantages of Merlot is the grape’s ability to blend well with other grape varietals. Wines made from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are among the best-blended wines.

In addition to the above varietals, there are some more varietals on the list like Ugni Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.

Information on the same will make its way on this page! Stay tuned!