Writer: Chik Brenneman
Vermentino
MEMBERS ONLYWith its home along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, this white grape is starting to find its way to the U.S. for good reason. Learn about the history, viticultural tips, and winemaking styles of Vermentino grapes.
Aglianico
MEMBERS ONLYHailing from the southern regions of Italy, Aglianico is revered as producing big and bold red varietal wines. It is finding its way across the sea and will need some taming in order to make the best from its clusters. Get the scoop.
Notably Norton
MEMBERS ONLYA grape with a proud following regionally, Norton has roots that remain shrouded in a fog. Learn about its past, how to best tend to it in the vineyard, and bring out its bright qualities in the winery.
Live Chat with Chik Brenneman
MEMBERS ONLYLive Chat with Chik Brenneman that took place on November 30, 2022.
Verdant Verdejo
MEMBERS ONLYSpain’s fifth most planted white wine grape, Verdejo, enjoys warm climates while being able to retain some acidity. Learn the merits of this grape from the Iberian Peninsula and how to make the best wines with it.
Graceful Garnacha: A grape with many facets
MEMBERS ONLYWith origins in Spain, Garnacha grapes may now be more commonly associated with the Rhône and Languedoc-Roussillon region of France where it’s known as Grenache. Learn about Garnacha’s background and making the best version of wine with it.
Classic Catawba: America’s first true wine grape
MEMBERS ONLYSome people have called Zinfandel “America’s grape,” others say it should be Concord. Chik Brenneman is here to make the case for the first true North American wine grape variety: Catawba.
Cayuga White: Get hooked on its feeling
MEMBERS ONLYA hybrid grape that came out of Cornell University’s breeding program in the 1970s, Cayuga White has found great success while being made into a wide array of wine styles. Learn about its qualities plus a recipe to craft your own at home.
Malvasia Bianca: A Greek grape that has gotten around
MEMBERS ONLYA grape of Mediterranean origins, Malvasia grapes spread throughout the region under the umbrella name. Get the scoop on this unusual family of grapes and the variety brought to North America under the title Malvasia Bianca.
Bonarda Argentine Or Douce Noir or Charbono . . .
MEMBERS ONLYGrape varietal names can be a confusing world, typically because one grape varietal may have over a dozen names based on location. But in this case, one grape name has an array of grape varietals. Get the scoop on Bonarda Argentine, one whose history is finally making sense thanks to DNA analysis.
Live Chat with Chik Brenneman
MEMBERS ONLYLive Chat with Chik Brenneman, which took place on November 23, 2021.
Blaufränkisch or Lemberger: International grape of mystery
MEMBERS ONLYAs with many Old World grapes that are grown widely, Blaufränkisch goes by many names. And thanks to its versatility in the winery and cool-climate tolerance, its popularity is surging. Learn more about this mysterious grape.
Flexible Frontenac: Making a case for this hybrid
MEMBERS ONLYScattered throughout the Upper Midwest and Rockies, Frontenac wines are making waves as winemakers learn to coax a lot of flavor from this red grape. Chik Brenneman offers several tips and tricks to working with this hybrid varietal.
The Illustrious Chardonnay: Fine-tuning the classic
MEMBERS ONLYThe king of the white wines, Chardonnay can be expressed in a wide array of styles. Chik Brenneman takes readers on a journey through this grape’s story and tips to creating his favorite version of wine from Chardonnay grapes.
Bold Brianna: A strong and healthy grower
MEMBERS ONLYElmer Swenson’s grape breeding program has had a profound effect on the North American wine scene. One such grape to come from his program is Brianna, a grape that required an estimated 93 crosses to produce. Learn about this grape’s heritage as well as how to best work with it.
Melon De Bourgogne: Or Muscadet or just plain Melon
MEMBERS ONLYMore commonly associated by the wine it produces, Melon de Bourgogne is the grape varietal behind Muscadet wines and the sur lie aging technique. But its mystique doesn’t stop there. Learn more about this old grape varietal known by many names.
Colorful Carménère
FREESimilar to a varietal like Malbec, Carménère has come to be identified with the wine growing regions of South America, but this grape actually was one of the classics of Bordeaux. Chik Brenneman explains the history of this varietal and how to tame this grape when it gets temperamental.
Live Chat with Chik Brenneman
MEMBERS ONLYLive Chat with Chik Brenneman, which took place on November 19, 2020.
Grenache Blanc: Some lessons from the Old World
MEMBERS ONLYGrenache Blanc is a grape from the northwestern region of Spain and, as the name implies, has evolved from Grenache Noir. Chik Brenneman provides instructions on making this grape shine, starting in the vineyard and taking it through to bottle.
Cinsault: The grape that could . . .
FREEOne of the mainstay grapes found in the heat-prone regions in the Rhône Valley of France is Cinsault. It often is utilized in blends to add softness to Rhône-style wines. Another great use is to turn it into rosé wine. Chik Brenneman gives you the scoop on this varietal.
LaCrosse or La Crosse? True diversity in a grape
MEMBERS ONLYElmer Swenson helped revolutionize the greater wine world with his cold-hardy grape breeding program. One such grape varietal that emerged from all his work was LaCrosse, with five species of grapes in its heritage. Learn about this grape made popular in colder climates — for good reasons.
Rosy Roussanne: A grape that doesn’t mind a little heat
MEMBERS ONLYIn its homeland in the south of France, Roussanne grapes love some heat . . . probably one reason that it’s found a new home in the Texas Hill Country. Learn about this white grape that can stand up to being a varietal wine when conditions are right or blended with others.
Primitivo: The early-ripening varietal
MEMBERS ONLYAnyone well versed in wine grape nomenclature knows that Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically identical. Yet test trials have shown there are some differences with grape types. Learn some of the history and best practices when handling Primitivo.
Baco Noir: The emigration of a French hybrid
MEMBERS ONLYOriginally bred in southwestern France, Baco Noir is a French-American hybrid whose acreage has declined in its native country, but has since emigrated to American soil. Learn about this grape that has found success in some cooler-climate North American vineyards.
Live Chat with Chik Brenneman
FREELive Chat with Chik Brenneman, which took place on November 20, 2019.