Some wines mentioned might be wines that I import and the opinions expressed will be my own. However, I challenge you to seek out interesting wines from the wine regions and grapes mentioned and to form your own opinions. Learn, experience, taste, and travel and you too will be rewarded as I have been. At a charity wine tasting this spring, I poured a selection of eclectic wines and one Cabernet Sauvignon. I have no doubt that Americans have a strong varietal orientation when selecting and buying wines.
Varietal wines are in the realm of todays' wine experience.
Great numbers of New World wines are varietally labeled, with other countries not far behind. While our parents grew up on Gallo Hearty Burgundy or Mogen David, the current generation started early on with Cabernet, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and other California varietally labeled wines now found in almost every wine country of the world. The names are easy to remember and to order unlike many European wines. No doubt, you already know my answer. When I searched my Wine Notebook for wines which could challenge Cabernet Sauvignon, I ruled out France and those countries traditionally producing serious Cabernet based wines.