Most wines you find in shops and restaurants are named in two basic ways: for the variety of the grape or for the place the grapes are grown. This instant guide decodes common wine names and tells you the wine's color.
| Wine Name | Grape or Place | Wine Color |
|---|---|---|
| Barbera | Grape | Red |
| Bardolino | Place/Italy | Red |
| Barolo | Place/Italy | Red |
| Beaujolais | Place/France | Red |
| Bordeaux | Place/France | Red or white |
| Burgundy (Bourgogne) | Place/France | Red or white |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Grape | Red |
| Chablis | Place/France | White |
| Champagne | Place/France | White or rosé |
| Chardonnay | Grape | White |
| Chianti | Place/Italy | Red |
| Côtes du Rhône | Place/France | Red or white |
| Dolcetto | Grape | Red |
| Merlot | Grape | Red |
| Mosel | Place/Germany | White |
| Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris | Grape | White |
| Pinot Noir | Grape | Red |
| Port (Porto) | Place/Portugal | Red (fortified) |
| Pouilly-Fuissé | Place/France | White |
| Rhine (Rheingau, Rheinhessen) | Place/Germany | White |
| Riesling | Grape | White |
| Rioja | Place/Spain | Red or white |
| Sancerre | Place/France | White |
| Sauternes | Place/France | White (dessert) |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Grape | White |
| Sherry | Place/Spain | White (fortified) |
| Soave | Place/Italy | White |
| Syrah/Shiraz | Grape | Red |
| Valpolicella | Place/Italy | Red |
| Viognier | Grape | White |
| Zinfandel | Grape | Red or pink |
