Pronouncing Most Popular Wines

Pronouncing wine names can be tricky. Some refuse to even try for fear of saying it wrong. 
There's no need to get nervous if you are unsure. Just ask,

“How do you pronounce this wine name?” 

The waiter will be delighted to pronounce it for you. 

Learning how to read wine names is part of wine’s mystic appeal. So we can continue the subtle mystery of our love for wines -- let's include:

How to Pronounce Popular Wine Names

Are you ready?

The WHITES

GEWURZTRAMINER (Gah-vurtz-tra-meener)

This is a varietal wine in an intense spicy bouquet to fruity flavors of peach, lychee, allspice and rose petals. This wine is best known in Alsace, Germany, and the USA.

CHARDONNAY (Shar-doe-nay)

This white wine from the Chardonnay grape has a variety of flavor characteristics. The grape is one of the most widely-planted of the world's noble grape varieties. It is often wider-bodied and more velvety with rich citrus flavors. It can also come in the buttery creaminess of vanilla, toast, toffee, and coconut.

SAUVIGNON BLANC (So-vee-nyon-Blah)

Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that is generally lighter than Chardonnay. It has herbal characters with the dominating flavors of sour green fruits of apple, pear, to tropical fruits of melon, mango, and blackcurrant. Sauvignon Blanc originates from the Bordeaux regions of France and Loire Valley, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

RIESLING (Rees-ling)

Riesling is a very old white grape variety. This wine covers an array of tastes from sweet to off-dry and is usually fresh with aromas of fresh apples. Reisling grows in all wine district historically in Alsace (France), Austria, Germany, Italy and the US.

CHAMPAGNE (Sham-payn)

Champagne is a carbonated wine made from the grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Champagne, or sparkling wine in general, is known as a celebratory drink due to its vibrant acidity and effervescence (bubbly character). It has a crisp, flinty flavor of bright citrus, berry, spice, hazelnut, honey, coffee tones and biscuit in various sweetness. The name "champagne" originated from the champagne region of Northeastern France stretching from Flanders to Burgundy, Western Europe, Australia, and the USA.

SEMILLON (Se-miyon)

Semillon is a golden thin-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines. It makes up 80% of the blend of famous dessert wines. Semillon varietal wines are fairly full-bodied and low in acidity with aroma and flavor ranging from fruity - fig, lemon, pear, herbal - saffron, grass, to vegetal - bell pepper and asparagus. Semillon is easy to cultivate white variety grown in Bordeaux, France. This grape is widely grown in Chile, Australia, and the USA. Semillon wines hold an antique spectrum of unfortified wines.

The REDS

ZINFANDEL (Zin-fan-dell)

Zinfandel is a very versatile wine grape. Its versatility creates a zesty flavor with berry and pepper. Zinfandel is only found in California.

SYRAH/SHIRAZ (Sah-ra or Shi-raz)

Syrah or Shiraz is a varietal red wine with the rich flavors and aroma of wild black fruit. This wine is famous in France's Rhône Valley, California, and Australia.

MERLOT (Mare-low)

Merlot is a thin-skinned red grape variety popular for blending. It is the most widely planted grape in France's Bordeaux region where it is used as the primary grape in Bordeaux blends. Merlot ripens early in the season than Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is also among the most popular red wine varietals that are usually medium-bodied, fruitier and softer to drink with the full flavor and aroma of black cherry, berry, plum, currant, cedar and herbal flavors. Originated in Bordeaux and now grown in the US West Coast, Australia, and other countries.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON (Ka-bur-nay So-vee-nyon)

The most exciting grape of all, Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick-skinned red grape known to be the "king of grapes. Its juice is high in color, tannin and extracts creating the most sought-after varietal red wines. It makes deeply colored wines. Along with Chardonnay, this grape is accepted as one of the world's best varieties often used in wine production, and like Merlot, it is also among the most widely-planted and significant grape in the Bordeaux region. Typically, Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bloodied varietal wines for its fruity, herbal and spice flavors and aromas, blackcurrant, blackberry, bell pepper, asparagus, green olive, ginger, and peppercorn. Primarily produced in France, Italy, Austria USA, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.

PINOT NOIR (Pee-no Nwar)

Pinot Noir is one of the noblest red wine grapes that is difficult to grow and rarely blended. Fermenting Pinot Noir wine is also difficult, yet it is among the most popular varietal wines  The intensity of its aroma is often one of the most complex of all varietals in the notes of ripe grape, raspberry or black cherry scents with the spiciness of cinnamon, sassafras, ripe tomato, mushroom, barnyard, and peppermint. Pinot Noir varietal wines are full-bloodied but not heavy, high in alcohol yet neither acidic nor tannic. Pinot Noir grape is grown around the world in cooler regions to be used in the production of sparkling or still red wines.

BARBERA (Bar-beh- rah)

Barbera is an ancient grape variety and the second most widely planted red grape, after Sangiovese. This grape is naturally high in acid but low in tannin content. Barbera varietal red wines are medium to heavy body, bright ruby red in color with the ripe aroma of red fruits like blackberries and currants. The grapes are most frequently used in blending for its neutral aroma, high color, and acidity. Barbera has its roots in the Piedmont region of Italy, also grown in Lombardy, Slovenia and in California.

ROSE (Roh-ZAY)

Rose is a pink wine that is neither red wine nor white wine but in most respects white in character. The actual color depends on the grapes involved producing either a pale orange or a near-purple tinge. Roses are light-bodied, slightly sweet and low in alcohol that is sometimes called "summer wines", because of its light and lively acidity and fruity aromas. It has the notes of lemon, lychee, grapefruit, wild berry and herbs, toasts, to intense rose petals.

See? It's fun!

Even though mastering how to pronounce wine names can be difficult at first, the secret is to enjoy it and have fun all along. Was it interesting?

Cheers!