Good wine will be a part of any bartending experience. Climate is a big factor in making good wine. To grow wine-worthy grapes, summers can't be too hot and autumns need to be cool. Light rainfall is necessary in the winter and spring, and the rain needs to taper off in the summer and fall. Harsh, cold winters with hail, frost, and heavy winds are bad for growing grapes.
The type of grape determines the type of wine, and only certain types of grapes grow in certain climates. To make matters even more complicated, the soil of a particular region plays a big role in how its grapes turn out.
So while the climate in certain regions of California and France may be perfect for, say, chardonnay grapes, the soil in those regions affects the grapes to the point that the resulting wines from each region are different.
Many wines receive their names from the grape from which they're produced. See the following list of some popular wines named after grapes:
Barbera (red): Italy
Cabernet Sauvignon (red): France, United States
Camay (red): France, United States
Chardonnay (white): France, United States, Argentina, Australia, South America
Chenin Blanc (white): France, United States
Gewürztraminer (white): Germany
Grenache (rosé): France, United States
Merlot (red): France, United States, South America
Pinot Noir (red): France, United States
Reisling (white): Germany, United States, France
Sauvignon Blanc (white): France, United States
Semillon (white): France, United States, Australia
Zinfandel (red and white): United States
Some popular French wines are as follows. They're named after the region of France from which they originate.
Alsace (white)
Beaujolais (red) from Burgundy
Bordeaux (red and white)
Burgundy (red and white)
Rhône (red)
Sauterne (white) from Bordeaux
The following is a list of some German wines that are worth noting (all are white):
Gewürztraminer
Johannisberg Riesling
Spalleseen
Italy produces all kinds of regional wines:
Barbaresco (red) from Piedmont
Barbera (red) from Piedmont
Bardolino (red) from Veneto
Barolo (red) from Piedmont
Chianti (red) from Tuscany
Orvieto (white) from Umbria
Pinot Grigio (white) from Trentino
Riserva (red) from Tuscany
Soave (white) from Veneto
Valpolicella (red) from Veneto
Australia's wines are growing in popularity. Here are the names of just a few:
Grange (red)
Grenache (red)
Semillon (white)
Shiraz (or Syrah) (red)
Some South American wines include
Chandonnay (white)
Malbec (red) from Argentina
Merlot (red) from Chile
Torrontes (white) from Argentina
In the United States, California produces about 90 percent of all wine. Most California wine comes from Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley, and those areas produce both red and white wines in varieties too numerous to list.