The other stars of the show (and your palate).

Just like the many styles and techniques winemakers use to add their own flare to a given wine, wine grapes are similarly just as diverse. 

Sampl sends you seven wines at a time, but that doesn’t mean there are only seven grapes our winemakers use in them. In Sampl.01, blends like the 2016 Scherrer Huntsman Red Wine and the 2019 Front Porch Farm Red Blend show off the best aspects of multiple grapes.  

Single varietal wines in Sampl.01 like the 2019 Flambeaux Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 2015 Chenoweth Green Valley of the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and 2019 Highway 12 Cabernet Franc Reserve, put one grape into the spotlight and let it shine.

There are other fun ways to make wine; however, the 2021 Eric Kent Rosé displays the lighter elements of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Grenache, and the 2020 DRNK Orange Wine of ‘Pinot Gris’ is the result of Pinot Gris left to lie on its skins for a little bit.

All seven Sampl.01 wines, and their grapes, have a story to share with you, but until it arrives on your doorstep, here are the short stories of each grape.

Chardonnay

• The most planted white wine variety in California.
• Made in many styles, from unoaked and light, oaked and full-bodied, and even sparkling Blanc de Blancs.
• Showcases a variety of aromas and flavors but will display stonefruit, citrus, and apple notes, with others like brioche and vanilla if the wine has been aged in oak barrels.

Orange Wine of Pinot Gris

• Orange wine is the product of white grapes left on their skins for enough time for tannins and color to be extracted from their skins.
• Pinot Gris is traditionally a light, acidic white wine with strong peach and citrus notes.
• DRNK’s Pinot Gris ‘Orange Wine’ exhibits orange peel and caramel characteristics due to contact with the grape skins.

Rosé

• Rosé wines encompass a large umbrella of different varieties and styles.
• Generally made by leaving red grapes on their skins for less time and seeing less oak aging - many are fermented in stainless steel instead.
• In lighter rosés like Eric Kent’s 2021 Rosé, the wine can be very aromatic, bursting with juicy red fruit notes like strawberry and red cherry.

The 2021 Eric Kent Rosé is a blend of 88% Pinot Noir, 7% Syrah, and 5% Grenache

Pinot Noir

• Pinot Noir is popular light to medium-bodied red wine known for its nuanced aromas and flavors.
• Climate and soil play an essential role in the final product when producing Pinot Noir, which makes distinct notes of Pinot Noir indicative of its growing region.
• Pinot Noirs from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley are known for their notes of rhubarb and cranberry, along with bright, mouth-watering acidity.

Grenache

• Known for its intense fruit flavors and moderate acidity, Grenache is a medium-bodied grape that lends well to Rhône style red blends.  
• Grenache also goes by the name ‘Garnacha’ in Spain, where it originates.
• Due to a lack of tannins, Grenache is typically blended with other grapes (typically Mourvèdre and Syrah in the Rhône Valley), contributing its firm red fruit and spice influence.

Syrah

• Syrah, or ‘Shiraz’ in Australia, is a full-bodied red wine with an enormous range of flavors and aromas depending on where it’s grown.
• Syrah grown in a warmer climate will display high notes of dark fruit like blueberries and plums, while cooler climates can bring out flavors of black pepper and smoked meat.
• In blends, Syrah provides its bold flavors, alcohol, and tannin structure to the final wine.

Zinfandel

• Made popular by California winemakers and growers, Zinfandel is a medium to full-bodied red wine known for its jammy, rich fruit on the palate.
• Also known as Primativo in Italy, it wasn’t until 2002 that researchers confirmed genetically identical grapes to Zinfandel outside the United States.
• Zinfandel adds its unique jamminess and body to the final product in blends like Scherrer’s Huntsman red blend.

The 2016 Scherrer Huntsman Red Wine consists of 56% Grenache, 37% Syrah, and 7% Zinfandel

Mourvèdre

• Traditionally found in red blends from France’s Rhône Valley and grown in Spain by the name Monastrell.
• Mourvèdre is a full-bodied red wine with dark fruit notes of blackberry, gamey meat aromas, and spicier notes of black pepper and tobacco.
• In red blends, Mourvèdre provides a tannin structure and a boost in alcohol, leading to a velvet mouthfeel and its characteristic flavors.

The 2019 Front Porch Farm Red Blend is made up of 55% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, and 18% Grenache

Cabernet Franc

• A parent grape, along with Sauvignon Blanc, to the infamous Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied red wine known for its subtle floral aromas, dried fruit notes, and pairing versatility due to its higher acidity.
• Similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc can exhibit “green” flavors like bell peppers due to chemical compounds called pyrazines.