Wine grapes & pronunciation

Knowing how to pronounce a wine or specific grape is very important.  If you are in a restaurant you do not want to show yourself up.  Listed below are the main grape varietals and their (English) pronunciation.

Grape - BARBAROSSA
Pronounced - Bar-bar-Roh-sa
Italian grape varietal

Grape - BARBERA
Pronounced - Bar-Bear-ah
Italian grape varietal

Grape - CABERNET FRANC
Pronounced - Cah-burr-nay-Frank
Great French grape

Grape - CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Pronounced - Cah-burr-Nay-Sow-vee-nyon
One of the world's greatest and famous in Bordeaux region of France

Grape - CHARDONNAY
Pronounced - Shar-dun-nay
Classic white wine used in Burgundy region of France

Grape - CHENIN BLANC
Pronounced - Shen-ihn-blonk
White grape used extensively in South Africa

Grape - GAMAY
Pronounced - Gah-may
Nice light red grape from Loire

Grape - GARNACHA
Pronounced - Gar-nah-char
Used extensively in Spain

Grape - GEWÜRZTRAMINER
Pronounced - geh-verts-tram-in-er
Under-rated varietal used in Alsace wines and extensively in Austria

Grape - GRENACHE
Pronounced - Greh-nash
Good red for blending

Grape - MALBEC
Pronounced - Mal-Bec
French red grape

Grape - MERLOT
Pronounced - Mer-low
Used extensively in Bordeaux

Grape - MUSCAT
Pronounced - Mus-CAT
Can produce range of wines from dry to sweet

Grape - NEBBIOLO
Pronounced - Nehb-bee-Oh-low
Great Italian red grape

Grape - PINOT NOIR
Pronounced - pee-noh-nwar
The classic Burgundian red grape

Grape - PINOT GRIGIO
Pronounced - pee-noh-gree-zjoh
Popular Italian white grape

Grape - RIESLING
Pronounced - Rees-ling
The great German white - capable of long ageing

Grape - SANGIOVESE
Pronounced - San-jo-vay-zi
Italian red grape

Grape - SAUVIGNON BLANC
Pronounced - Soh-veen-yon-blonk
Versatile white grape

Grape - SÉMILLON
Pronounced - Say-mee-yon
Popular white especially in blending and New World

Grape - SHIRAZ
Pronounced - Sheer-az
Spicy red varietal

Grape - SYRAH
Pronounced - See-Rah
Same as Shiraz