Varietals Library
A varietal is a wine made predominantly from one grape type. Explore our guide to the great varietals available today — some well known, others hidden treasures — and find wines to match.
Red
Barbera
Cherry, plum, subtle spice; lively and smooth.
What It Is
An Italian red known for bright acidity and juicy red fruit.
How It Tastes
Cherry, plum, subtle spice; lively and smooth.
Where It Thrives
Warm Mendocino + Lake County benchlands.
Why We Feature It
Food‑friendly, vibrant, and quietly expressive.
Red
Cabernet Franc
Red currant, violets, graphite; lifted and aromatic.
What It Is
A parent of Cabernet Sauvignon with a fresher, herbal edge.
How It Tastes
Red currant, violets, graphite; lifted and aromatic.
Where It Thrives
Inland valleys with cool nights.
Why We Feature It
Elegant structure without heaviness.
Red
Cabernet Sauvignon
Blackcurrant, plum, cedar; firm tannins.
What It Is
A classic full‑bodied red with deep structure.
How It Tastes
Blackcurrant, plum, cedar; firm tannins.
Where It Thrives
Warm, sunny sites in Mendocino + Lake County.
Why We Feature It
Powerful, age‑worthy, and region‑defining.
Red
Carignan
Cranberry, herbs, spice; bright and savory.
What It Is
A Mediterranean red with rustic charm.
How It Tastes
Cranberry, herbs, spice; bright and savory.
Where It Thrives
Old‑vine Mendocino plantings.
Why We Feature It
Characterful, lively, and quietly historic.
White
Chardonnay
Apple, pear, citrus; mineral to silky.
What It Is
A versatile white with styles from crisp to lightly creamy.
How It Tastes
Apple, pear, citrus; mineral to silky.
Where It Thrives
Coastal‑influenced Mendocino + Anderson Valley.
Why We Feature It
A cool‑climate classic with clarity and finesse.
White
Chenin Blanc
Green apple, quince, honeycomb; vibrant acidity.
What It Is
A Loire Valley white known for brightness and texture.
How It Tastes
Green apple, quince, honeycomb; vibrant acidity.
Where It Thrives
Cooler inland pockets.
Why We Feature It
Versatile, expressive, and quietly complex.
Red
Dolcetto
Blackberry, plum, almond; smooth and savory.
What It Is
A Northern Italian red known for soft tannins and dark fruit.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, plum, almond; smooth and savory.
Where It Thrives
Mendocino benchlands with good sun.
Why We Feature It
Approachable, charming, and deeply food‑friendly.
White
French Colombard
Lime, white peach, fresh herbs; zesty and bright.
What It Is
A crisp, aromatic white once widely planted in California.
How It Tastes
Lime, white peach, fresh herbs; zesty and bright.
Where It Thrives
Warm inland valleys.
Why We Feature It
Refreshing, clean, and quietly nostalgic.
White
Gewürztraminer
Lychee, rose, spice; textured and expressive.
What It Is
An aromatic white with floral lift.
How It Tastes
Lychee, rose, spice; textured and expressive.
Where It Thrives
Cool Anderson Valley sites.
Why We Feature It
Perfumed, distinctive, and beautifully regional.
Red
Grenache
Strawberry, white pepper, herbs; silky and warm.
What It Is
A Mediterranean red known for red fruit and spice.
How It Tastes
Strawberry, white pepper, herbs; silky and warm.
Where It Thrives
Sunny, well‑drained sites.
Why We Feature It
Bright, generous, and quietly complex.
Red
Malbec
Blackberry, cocoa, violet; smooth tannins.
What It Is
A dark, plush red originally from France.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, cocoa, violet; smooth tannins.
Where It Thrives
Warm inland valleys.
Why We Feature It
Bold fruit with a soft, welcoming profile.
Red
Merlot
Plum, black cherry, mocha; soft and round.
What It Is
A smooth, approachable red with plush fruit.
How It Tastes
Plum, black cherry, mocha; soft and round.
Where It Thrives
Moderate‑warm sites across Mendocino.
Why We Feature It
Comforting, balanced, and quietly elegant.
White
Moscato (Muscat)
Peach, orange blossom, honey; fresh and lively.
What It Is
An ancient aromatic grape known for floral lift.
How It Tastes
Peach, orange blossom, honey; fresh and lively.
Where It Thrives
Warm, breezy sites.
Why We Feature It
Joyful, fragrant, and expressive.
Red
Nebbiolo
Cherry, rose, tar; firm tannins, long finish.
What It Is
A noble Italian red known for structure and perfume.
How It Tastes
Cherry, rose, tar; firm tannins, long finish.
Where It Thrives
High‑sun, well‑drained Mendocino hillsides.
Why We Feature It
Complex, age‑worthy, and quietly powerful.
Red
Nero d’Avola
Blackberry, cocoa, spice; rich yet balanced.
What It Is
A Sicilian red with warm, sun‑soaked character.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, cocoa, spice; rich yet balanced.
Where It Thrives
Warm inland valleys.
Why We Feature It
Bold fruit with Mediterranean charm.
Red
Petit Verdot
Blackberry, violet, spice; firm and concentrated.
What It Is
A Bordeaux red known for color and structure.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, violet, spice; firm and concentrated.
Where It Thrives
Warm, sunny exposures.
Why We Feature It
Adds depth, intensity, and quiet sophistication.
Red
Petite Sirah
Blackberry, cocoa, pepper; dense and powerful.
What It Is
A dark, intense California classic.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, cocoa, pepper; dense and powerful.
Where It Thrives
Warm Mendocino + Lake County sites.
Why We Feature It
Deep, structured, and unmistakably Californian.
White
Pinot Blanc
Pear, apple, almond; crisp and subtle.
What It Is
A cool‑climate white with gentle aromatics.
How It Tastes
Pear, apple, almond; crisp and subtle.
Where It Thrives
Coastal Mendocino + Anderson Valley.
Why We Feature It
Clean, elegant, and quietly expressive.
White
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris
• Grigio: lemon, green apple; crisp and bright • Gris: pear, melon; rounder and textural
What It Is
Two stylistic expressions of the same grape.
How It Tastes
• Grigio: lemon, green apple; crisp and bright • Gris: pear, melon; rounder and textural
Where It Thrives
Cool coastal and inland sites.
Why We Feature It
Versatile, refreshing, and widely loved.
Red
Pinot Meunier
Raspberry, violet, soft spice; lifted and fresh.
What It Is
A light, aromatic red often used in sparkling wine.
How It Tastes
Raspberry, violet, soft spice; lifted and fresh.
Where It Thrives
Cool, fog‑influenced areas.
Why We Feature It
Delicate, charming, and quietly distinctive.
Red
Pinot Noir
Cherry, raspberry, forest floor; silky and aromatic.
What It Is
A cool‑climate red known for elegance and nuance.
How It Tastes
Cherry, raspberry, forest floor; silky and aromatic.
Where It Thrives
Anderson Valley + coastal Mendocino.
Why We Feature It
Expressive, refined, and deeply regional.
Red
Primitivo
Blackberry, spice, dried herbs; warm and generous.
What It Is
The Italian genetic twin of Zinfandel.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, spice, dried herbs; warm and generous.
Where It Thrives
Sunny, warm Mendocino sites.
Why We Feature It
Bold fruit with Italian soul.
White
Riesling
Lime, jasmine, stone fruit; dry to off‑dry.
What It Is
A high‑acid, aromatic white with great purity.
How It Tastes
Lime, jasmine, stone fruit; dry to off‑dry.
Where It Thrives
Cool Anderson Valley pockets.
Why We Feature It
Bright, expressive, and beautifully transparent.
Red
Sangiovese
Cherry, herbs, tea leaf; bright acidity.
What It Is
Tuscany’s signature grape, lively and savory.
How It Tastes
Cherry, herbs, tea leaf; bright acidity.
Where It Thrives
Warm benchlands with good drainage.
Why We Feature It
Vibrant, food‑friendly, and quietly complex.
White
Sauvignon Blanc
Citrus, passionfruit, fresh herbs; bright and zesty.
What It Is
A crisp, aromatic white with natural energy.
How It Tastes
Citrus, passionfruit, fresh herbs; bright and zesty.
Where It Thrives
Coastal and inland Mendocino.
Why We Feature It
Fresh, expressive, and endlessly refreshing.
White
Semillon
Lemon curd, beeswax, lanolin; soft and layered.
What It Is
A Bordeaux white known for texture and quiet richness.
How It Tastes
Lemon curd, beeswax, lanolin; soft and layered.
Where It Thrives
Moderate‑warm sites.
Why We Feature It
Understated, textural, and quietly luxurious.
Red
Shiraz
Plum, sweet spice, dark berries; velvety and warm.
What It Is
The riper, plusher expression of Syrah.
How It Tastes
Plum, sweet spice, dark berries; velvety and warm.
Where It Thrives
Sunny, warm sites.
Why We Feature It
Plush, generous, and crowd‑pleasing.
Red
Syrah
Blackberry, pepper, smoked herbs; structured and bold.
What It Is
A dark, savory Rhône red.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, pepper, smoked herbs; structured and bold.
Where It Thrives
Warm inland valleys.
Why We Feature It
Deep, savory, and expressive.
Red
Tempranillo
Cherry, tobacco, leather; smooth tannins.
What It Is
Spain’s flagship red with earthy depth.
How It Tastes
Cherry, tobacco, leather; smooth tannins.
Where It Thrives
Warm, dry Mendocino + Lake County.
Why We Feature It
Rustic charm with modern California brightness.
White
Vermentino
Citrus, herbs, minerality; crisp and saline.
What It Is
A coastal Mediterranean white with natural freshness.
How It Tastes
Citrus, herbs, minerality; crisp and saline.
Where It Thrives
Breezy, sun‑lit sites.
Why We Feature It
Fresh, coastal, and quietly complex.
White
Viognier
Peach, apricot, honeysuckle; soft and perfumed.
What It Is
A lush, aromatic white with stone‑fruit richness.
How It Tastes
Peach, apricot, honeysuckle; soft and perfumed.
Where It Thrives
Warm inland valleys.
Why We Feature It
Lush, expressive, and beautifully aromatic.
Red
Zinfandel
Blackberry, spice, bramble; rich and lively.
What It Is
A California heritage red with bold fruit.
How It Tastes
Blackberry, spice, bramble; rich and lively.
Where It Thrives
Old‑vine Mendocino + warm benchlands.
Why We Feature It
Iconic, expressive, and deeply rooted in place.
