Encyclopedia of Wine

Encyclopedia of Wine is a growing first-party wine knowledge base for varietals, regions, appellations, and wine terms. Pages combine original explanations, common aliases, and links to public registry evidence where useful.

Wine Varietals

Albariño White Wine

A white grape from Spain's Galicia region and Portugal (Alvarinho), known for high acidity, citrus…

28 label records
Barbera Red Wine

An Italian red grape from Piedmont, known for high acidity and low tannin. In the U.S. COLA registry…

22 label records
Cabernet Franc Red Wine

A red grape from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, more aromatic and lighter-bodied than Cabernet…

122 label records
Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine

A thick-skinned red grape originating in France's Bordeaux region, now the world's most widely…

484 label records
Carignan Red Wine

A high-yielding red grape from Spain and southern France, widely planted in California's older…

17 label records
Chardonnay White Wine

A versatile white grape grown on nearly every wine-producing continent. In the COLA registry it…

406 label records
Chenin Blanc White Wine

A white grape from France's Loire Valley, capable of a wide range of styles from sparkling to…

19 label records
Grenache Red Wine

A red grape native to Spain (Garnacha), widely planted in France's southern Rhône and Spain's Rioja…

72 label records
Malbec Red Wine

A red grape native to southwest France that became the signature variety of Argentina's Mendoza…

83 label records
Merlot Red Wine

A soft-tannic red grape from Bordeaux, planted widely in California and Washington. In the COLA…

154 label records
Montepulciano Red Wine

An Italian red grape primarily associated with the Abruzzo region, where it produces deeply colored…

26 label records
Mourvèdre Red Wine

A thick-skinned red grape from Spain (Monastrell) and southern France, commonly blended with…

34 label records
Nebbiolo Red Wine

The red grape of Italy's Barolo and Barbaresco wines, known for high tannin, high acidity, and long…

46 label records
Petit Verdot Red Wine

A red grape from Bordeaux traditionally used as a minor blending component to add color and…

52 label records
Petite Sirah Red Wine

A red grape planted widely in California, genetically distinct from Syrah despite the similar name.…

39 label records
Pinot Grigio White Wine

The same grape variety appears in the COLA registry under both "Pinot Grigio" (Italian-influenced)…

88 label records
Pinot Gris White Wine

The Alsatian and Pacific Northwest name for the grape also labeled Pinot Grigio in the Italian…

23 label records
Pinot Noir Red Wine

A thin-skinned red grape widely regarded as one of the most challenging to grow. It appears in the…

378 label records
Riesling White Wine

A white grape associated with Germany's Rhine and Moselle regions, producing wines that range from…

115 label records
Sangiovese Red Wine

The primary red grape of Italy's Tuscany region, where it is the base of Chianti and Brunello di…

56 label records
Sauvignon Blanc White Wine

A white grape with strong herbaceous and citrus characteristics, commonly associated with New…

204 label records
Syrah Red Wine

A deep-colored red grape producing wines that range from savory and peppery to rich and…

135 label records
Tempranillo Red Wine

Spain's signature red grape, used in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. In the U.S. COLA registry it…

74 label records
Viognier White Wine

A white grape from France's northern Rhône, characterized by floral aromatics and stone-fruit…

36 label records
Zinfandel Red Wine

A red grape historically tied to California, where it has been grown since the nineteenth century.…

45 label records

Wine Regions & Appellations

Explore U.S. American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), documented with original first-party summaries and sourced from official TTB federal designations.

Wine Glossary

Plain-English definitions of common wine terms, from Aeration to Vintner. Sourced from first-party material with no third-party copying.

Educational content on this site is original first-party copy. Third-party ratings and reviews are not used.