Background Grape berry ripening is influenced by climate, the main component of the “terroir” of a place. Light and temperature are major factors in the vineyard that affect berry development and fruit metabolite composition.Results To better understand the effect of “place” on transcript abundance during the late stages of berry ripening, Cabernet Sauvignon berries grown in Bordeaux and Reno were compared at similar sugar levels (19 to 26 °Brix (total soluble solids)). Day temperatures were warmer and night temperatures were cooler in Reno. °Brix was lower in Bordeaux berries compared to Reno at maturity levels considered optimum for harvest. RNA-Seq analysis identified 5528 differentially expressed genes between Bordeaux and Reno grape skins at 22°Brix. Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis for all expressed transcripts for all four °Brix levels measured indicated that the majority (75%) of transcript expression differed significantly between the two locations. Top gene ontology categories for the common transcript sets were translation, photosynthesis, DNA metabolism and catabolism. Top gene ontology categories for the differentially expressed genes at 22°Brix involved response to stimulus, biosynthesis and response to stress. Some differentially expressed genes encoded terpene synthases, cell wall enzymes, kinases, transporters, transcription factors and photoreceptors. Most circadian clock genes had higher transcript abundance in Bordeaux. Bordeaux berries had higher transcript abundance with differentially expressed genes associated with seed dormancy, light, auxin, ethylene signaling, powdery mildew infection, phenylpropanoid, carotenoid and terpenoid metabolism, whereas Reno berries were enriched with differentially expressed genes involved in water deprivation, cold response, ABA signaling and iron homeostasis.Conclusions Transcript abundance profiles in the berry skins at maturity were highly dynamic. RNA-Seq analysis identified a smaller (25% of total) common core set of ripening genes that appear not to depend on rootstock, vineyard management, plant age, soil and climatic conditions. Much of the gene expression differed between the two locations and could be associated with multiple differences in environmental conditions that may have affected the berries in the two locations; some of these genes may be potentially controlled in different ways by the vinegrower to adjust final berry composition and reach a desired result.* ABA : ABscisic Acid ABCG : Adenosine triphosphate Binding Casette G ABF : Abscisic acid responsive elements Binding Factor ABS : Abnormal Shoot ACO1 : ACc Oxidase 1 ACOL : ACc Oxidase-Like APG9 : AutoPhaGy 9 ARAC1 : Arabidopsis RAC-like 1 ARF : Auxin Response Factor ATG : AuTophaGy ATH : Arabidopsis Thaliana abc2 Homolog BAM : Barley Any Meristem BCAT : Branched-Chain-amino-acid AminoTransferase BOD : BOrDeaux bp: base pair BSMT1 : Benzoate/Salicylate MethylTransferase 1 CBF1 : C-repeat/DRE Binding Factor 1 CCA1 : Circadian Clock Associated 1 CLE : CLavata3/Esr-related COP1 : COnstitutive Photomorphogenic 1 CML : CalModulin-Like CRY3 : CRYptochrome 3 cv : cultivar CYSB : cystatin B DEG(s) : Differentially Expressed Gene(s) DHS : 3-deoxy-D-arabino-Heptulosonate 7-phosphate Synthase DMAPP : DiMethylAllyl diPhosPhate DUF642 : Domain of Unknown Function 642 DXR : 1-deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-phosphate Reductoisomerase EC : Evening Complex EE : Evening Element EIN : Ethylene INsensitive ELF : EarLy Flowering ERF : Ethylene Response Factor EXL2 : EXordium Like 2 FAR1 : Far-Red impaired Response 1 FDR : False Discovery Rate FER : FERrittin FOP1 : FOlded Petal 1 FRS : FAR1-Related Sequence GH3 : GH3 family protein GIDB1 : Gibberellic acid Insensitive Dwarf1B GO : Gene Ontology HAD : HaloAcid Dehalogenase-like hydrolase protein HB12 : HomeoBox 12 HDS : 4-Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl Diphosphate Synthase IAA : Indole Acetic Acid IDD14 : InDeterminate-Domain 14 IPP : IsoPentenyl Pyrophosphate IREG : Iron REGulated JAR : JAsmonate Resistant MAT3 : Methionine AdenosylTransferase 3 LHY : Late elongated Hypocotyl MEP : MethylErythritol 4-Phosphate MLA : intracellular MiLdew A NAC073 : NAC domain containing protein 73 NCBI : National Center for Biotechnology Information NCED : Nine-Cis Epoxycarotenoid Dioxygenase NRAMP3 : Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein 3 PAL : PhenylAlanine Lyase PCL1 : PhytoCLock 1 PHY : PHYtochrome PIF : Phytochrome Interacting Factor PR : Pathogenesis Related PRR : Psuedo-Response Regulator PSY : Phytoene SYnthase RNO : ReNO ROS : Reactive Oxygen Species RVE1 : ReVeillE 1 SA : Salicylic Acid SIA : Salt Induced Abc kinase SnRK : SNF1 Related protein Kinase STS : STilbene Synthase SULTR : SULfate TRansporter TAIR : The Arabidopsis Information Resource TAT : TyrosineAmino Transferase TOC : Timing Of Cab expression TPPD : Trehalose Phosphate Phosphatase D TPL : ToPLess TPM : Transcripts Per Million TPS : TerPene Synthase TSS : Total Soluble Solids VIT : Vacuolar Iron Transporter WGCNA : Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis XTH : Xyloglucan endoTransglucosylase/Hydrolase YSL : Yellow Stripe-Like