{"id":45776,"date":"2024-09-23T18:26:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T01:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/?p=45776"},"modified":"2024-11-13T12:26:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T20:26:22","slug":"napa-valley-red-wines-besides-cabernet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/blog\/napa-valley-red-wines-besides-cabernet\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Cabernet Sauvignon: The Other Napa Valley Red Wines"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When we think of Napa Valley<\/a> wine, the first grape, without fail, that comes to mind is\u2026 you guessed it: Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley has indeed earned a reputation for producing some of the world\u2019s finest Cabernet Sauvignon. However, the region is home to a whole world of other wine grapes that make equally interesting and delicious red wines, on their own or in a blend.<\/p>\r\n

We\u2019ve compiled a list of some great Napa Valley wines that aren\u2019t Cabernet Sauvignon to consider, but don\u2019t feel limited by the selections here. There are plenty of other non-Cabernet reds worth exploring, so get sipping.<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Cabernet Franc<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a> wouldn\u2019t even exist without one half of its parentage\u2014Cabernet Franc, who canoodled with Sauvignon Blanc to produce the king of Napa grapes. Much like the parent of a famous child actor, Cabernet Franc is deserving of recognition in its own right. Cabernet Franc is most associated with adding structure and aroma to Bordeaux, and producing light-bodied, \u201ccrushable\u201d red wines from France\u2019s Loire Valley. However, in Napa Valley, its wines can be as robust and heady as its offspring, so be sure to give it a second look as an often more reasonably priced alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try<\/h3>\r\n

Silverado Vineyards<\/a>, Mt. George Cabernet Franc, Coombsville $70<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62037″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.silveradovineyards.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Peju Winery<\/a> Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, $80<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62025″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.peju.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Merlot<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Being in the Sideways \u201cI am NOT drinking any [expletive] Merlot!\u201d crowd is so 2004. It\u2019s time to give this grape another serious look because it\u2019s capable of producing some of the most lush, softly textured red wines out there. If you tend to shy away from the grippy tannins of a Cabernet Sauvignon, you will delight in the velvety palate of a beautiful Merlot, which provides a superb backdrop for a wide range of dishes, from rich winter stews, to burgers and veggies on the grill on a hot summer afternoon.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Markham<\/a>, District Series Merlot, Oakville, $57<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62045″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/markhamvineyards.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Charles Krug Winery<\/a>, Napa Valley Merlot, Napa Valley, $30<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62033″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.charleskrug.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Zinfandel<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Zinfandel made a name for itself in the early 1970s during a stuck fermentation at Sutter Home Winery, resulting in the sweet style we all know as \u201cWhite Zinfandel.\u201d However, the grape actually has a long history. Known as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Heritage Grape,\u201d with a genetic link to Croatia\u2019s Tribidrag and Italy\u2019s Primitivo, it is capable of producing a range of wines from pink and sweet, to rich and jammy, to earthy and structured, and everything in between. According to UC Davis<\/a>, while Cabernet Sauvignon has claimed its synonymity with Napa Valley winemaking, Zinfandel is in fact the only important vitis vinifera<\/em> grape variety identified closely with the state of California.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Canard<\/a> Estate Zinfandel, Calistoga, $50<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62027″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.canardvineyard.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Brown Estate<\/a> Rosemary\u2019s Block Zinfandel, $60<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62026″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.brownestate.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

The Petits<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

These grapes may have the French word for \u201csmall\u201d in their names, but they are by no means diminutive in flavor or body. Petit Verdot has long played a supporting role in traditional Bordeaux bottlings, contributing color, spice, and tannin to the blend. However, California winemakers are realizing that it is capable of producing brooding, inky red wines with notes of plum, black fruits, violet, and spice all on its own. Ditto for the small, thick-skinned Petite Sirah\u2014 not to be confused with Syrah; it\u2019s actually a totally different variety also known as durif\u2014that yields richly flavored, chocolatey red wines with high acid and high tannin.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Priest Ranch<\/a> Petit Verdot, Napa Valley, $75<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62034″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.priestranchwines.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Sterling Vineyards<\/a> Petite Sirah, Calistoga, $50<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62038″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.sterlingvineyards.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Pinot Noir<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Ah, the fickle, fussy, frustrating Pinot Noir grape most famous for being the wine grape, along with Chardonnay<\/a>, of France\u2019s celebrated region of Burgundy\u2026 and for its starring role as the anti-merlot wine in the movie Sideways<\/em>. Being a thin-skinned, early-ripening grape, Pinot Noir tends to thrive in cooler climates, which makes it ideal for the coastal AVA of Carneros (a region that, like Burgundy, is also known for Chardonnay), which spans both Sonoma and Napa counties. These wines are elegant and intoxicatingly perfumed, making them wonderfully food-friendly or captivating enough to sip on their own.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Cuvaison<\/a> Pinot Noir, Carneros, $35<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62030″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.cuvaison.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Etude<\/a> Heirloom Pinot Noir, Carneros, $95<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62031″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.etudewines.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Syrah<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Like many of the grapes listed here, Syrah is widely associated with another French wine region\u2014France\u2019s Northern Rh\u00f4ne Valley, where it is characterized by its signature peppery note. However, Syrah (or Shiraz as it’s known in Australia, where it is also famous), is a remarkably diverse variety that, like most grapes, takes on distinct characteristics depending on where it\u2019s grown and how it\u2019s produced. Napa Valley Syrah can range from earthy and peppery, like its French counterpart, or more fruit-forward, with notes of blackberry, black licorice, and anise, like an Aussie Shiraz.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Crosby Roamann<\/a> Syrah, Petaluma Gap, $46<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62029″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.crosbyroamann.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Sequoia Grove<\/a> Syrah, Napa Valley, $60<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62036″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/sequoiagrove.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Malbec<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

Another component in the classic Bordeaux blend, as well as Argentina\u2019s hallmark grape variety, Malbec has seen a steady increase in plantings in California over the past few years, and many California winemakers use it to make their Meritage (a wine blend made up of Bordeaux\u2019s \u201cnoble\u201d varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). Malbec is a sun-loving grape, so California is the perfect home for it. In Napa, it produces intensely hued, full-bodied wines with moderate acidity and tannins, and lots of plum, blackberry and spice.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Hess Persson<\/a> Malbec, Mt. Veeder, $70<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62032″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.hessperssonestates.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Mt. Brave<\/a> Malbec, Napa Valley, $95<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62046″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.mtbravewines.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_separator border_width=”2″ el_class=”text-width”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

The Underdogs<\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

\r\nFeeling adventurous? There are dozens of different grape varieties that thrive in Napa Valley, so don\u2019t be afraid to explore the ones you don\u2019t see very often, or can\u2019t easily pronounce. Some of our favorites include Italian superstars like Sangiovese, Barbera, and Nebbiolo, as well as other Spanish and Rh\u00f4ne varieties like Tempranillo, Grenache, and Carignan. There\u2019s also an entire world of offbeat and traditional red blends out there\u2014some featuring a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, if you need a little bit of familiarity with your obscure varieties. There are endless permutations and combinations of different ways grapes can work together to create exciting and unique wines, so don\u2019t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone to experience the creativity of Napa\u2019s most talented mad scientist winemakers.<\/p>\r\n

Wines to try\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

\r\nRound Pond<\/a> Super Tuscan, Rutherford, $98<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62035″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.roundpond.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Long Meadow Ranch<\/a> Sangiovese, Napa Valley, $135<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”62047″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” el_class=”text-width” link=”https:\/\/www.longmeadowranch.com\/?utm_source=wcm&utm_medium=napavalley.com&utm_campaign=content”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”conclusion”]\r\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\r\n

While Cabernet Sauvignon might get all the clout, you can see that there are plenty of other Napa reds worthy of your praise\u2014and sips. Whether you\u2019re curious about trying something unique, like Petit Verdot, or want to stick to what you know with, such as Pinot Noir, you truly can\u2019t go wrong with alternative red wines in Napa Valley.
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Cabernet may be king in Napa, but don\u2019t stop there. Here are our top picks for exciting Napa Valley red wines worth discovering that aren\u2019t Cabernet Sauvignon. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":254,"featured_media":45802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/blog-v2.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[135,146,88],"class_list":["post-45776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wine","tag-napa-valley","tag-wine","tag-wine-education"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45776"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/254"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45776"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63798,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45776\/revisions\/63798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napavalley.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}