Winery Finder

These websites provide a great resource for learning about grape varietals.

1. Vines.org Grape Information

The Vines.org database has extensive information on grape characteristics. The database contains the following information: Grape color, tannin level, acidity, alcohol, body, aroma, major growing regions, and top wines made from each varietal. You can search by grape color, name, country of origin, or by grape flavor relationship.

2. The Super Gigantic Y2k Wine Grape Glossary

Anthony Hawkins’ “Gigantic Wine Grape Glossary” is a massive (660 kbs) glossary of wine grapes. There is information about European and American grape varieties. He also provides links to more thorough, academic resources.

3. European Vitis Database

The European Vitis Database provides technical information about grape vine genetics.

4. Unusual Wine Labels

Peter F May’s website is a fantastic resource for more obscure wines. His website is dedicated to wines produced in obscure places in the world, places where you would normally not expect wine to come from (Muslim countries, Asia, etc…).

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Before you spend a great deal of money on a bottle of wine you should check the vintage of the wine.
Here are some websites with vintage information.

1. Decanter.com’s Vintage Guide

Vintage records start in different years for different regions. 1960 onwards: Médoc and Graves, Red Burgundy, Red Rhône, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, Sauternes and Barsac, Vintage Port, White Burgundy. 1970 onwards: Germany, Italy Piedmont, Italy Tuscany, Spain Rioja, Vintage Champagne. 1971 onwards: Red Australia. 1976 onwards: California Cabernet Sauvignon, California Merlot. 1985 onwards: Oregon Pinot Noir, Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State Merlot. 1990 onwards: Red South Africa.

2. eRobertparker.com Vintage Search

3. Berry Bros. and Rudd

4. Wineloverspage World Wine Vintage tables

On their website they note:

The following tables cater to the reader interested in “drinking” wines, not investment-grade “fine wines”. For the benefit of the latter group I have included links to specialist wine purveyers or information sites at the bottom of the relevant table. In the final analysis it is up to the individual to make his or her own choice depending on personal perceptions. Vintages ranked as average (or below) indicate that the consumer should be “trying before buying” not least because the ranking can still encompass excellent individual wines benefiting from special climatic or winemaking circumstances.

So make your own judgments in assessing the vintage quality.

5. Strats Place – Wine Vintage Tables

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There are numerous sweet wines that are significantly better than white zinfandel. Here are a few wines to consider before you reach for that bottle (or box) of white zin.

Riesling

There are two complementary types of Riesling that would be a good substitute for White Zin: Californian and German Riesling.

1. Californian Riesling

Most Californian Riesling will be a good substitute for White Zinfandel. It may lack the complexity of German Riesling but provides a decent alternative to white zin.

2. German Riesling

You want a wine with either Spatlese or Auslese on the label. German wine comes in 6 different levels of sweetness: Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese.

Also look for wines from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

**Caution: If you like sweet wines stay away from German Riesling with the word “Trocken” on the bottle, or Riesling from the Alsace region of France. Be careful buying Australian Riesling as well.

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