Whether you are a newbie or a veteran wine drinker, Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits in the Cayman Islands has provided information and recommendations for the most popular types of red and white wines.
Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits is well-known in the Caribbean for our great prices and vast selection of popular international name brand and hard-to-find wines, beers and spirits.
We have convenient Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits stores in George Town, Seven Mile Beach, West Bay, Savannah, East End, and Frank Sound to serve you, but you can also order online and have your purchases delivered anywhere on Grand Cayman for free!
Most Popular Red Wine Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon
This may be the most famous variety of red wine grape on the planet! Cabernet grapes have spread around the globe from their origin in Bordeaux (France) and are now significant grapes in the Napa Valley (California), Coonawarra (Australia), and Maipo Valley (Chile) wine regions.
Usually classified as a dry wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied, high in alcohol, and bursting with flavors, including coffee, toffee, and chocolate. We recommend the Vina Maipo Cabernet from the Maipo Valley. It pairs well with steak, beef stroganoff, short ribs, and roasted potatoes.
Merlot
Some consider Merlot to be the Chardonnay of red wines. It is the second most popular type of red wine behind Cabernet Sauvignon. A dry, full-bodied wine with flavors of watermelon, strawberry, cherry and plum, it also features soft notes of vanilla, mocha, and cloves.
Merlot grapes are plentiful in France, Italy, Switzerland, California and Washington. We recommend the gold-medal-winning 2015 Ferrari-Carano Merlot from Sonoma County, California, It pairs well with chicken, fish, and lightly-spiced red meats.
Most Popular White Wine Varieties
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world’s most famous white wine grape. It is one of the most widely planted and is beloved by people all over the world. Some of the best chardonnays come from France and California, but there are also fine examples from Italy, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Because they are casked in oak barrels, chardonnays can be very complex. They often have distinctive buttery aromas, hints of vanilla, and notes of spices like cinnamon and clove. We recommend the Ca’ del Bosco Chardonnay from Lombardy, Italy. It pairs well with mild cheeses, seafood, chicken, pork and fruity desserts.
Sauvignon Blanc
Depending on its ripeness, this grape delivers interesting flavors. It is now successfully grown in wine regions all over the world, including California, Chile, South Africa, northern Italy and Australia, and has become the signature white wine of New Zealand, where it features intense green citrus and berry fruit flavors.
Sauvignon Blanc is typically crisp with a citrusy zing. We recommend the Vie di Romans Piere Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It pairs well with fish, shellfish, chicken, pork, sushi, salads, and pasta dishes with creamy sauces.
Where can you learn more about wine in the Cayman Islands? Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits, of course! We have the largest selection on Grand Cayman and will deliver it to you for FREE.
