With more than 1000 (yes!)wine grapes, it’s normal to get confused and overwhelmed.
But it’s time to start ordering something different than Chardonnay and Merlot.
The more you taste, the more you’ll explore the different, unique, the one that comes closer to your taste.
Cause, you will shape your own unique taste!
What is my favourite from this large choice? It depends where I am in the world, what time of the day it is, what I’m eating and with whom I’m sharing this moment. Enjoy!
The 6 varieties you need to know. No excuse!
Sauvignon Blanc
A typical aromatic grape variety that thrives in cool climates, maintaining its natural high acidity.
Typical aromas include: grass, hay, grapefruit, green pepper, elderflower (cool climate)
Asparagus, melon (moderate climate)
Flint (Loire Valley)
Gooseberry, cat urine (New Zealand )
Sauvignon Blanc can be found in blends with Semillon for dry wine (Bordeaux, Australia).
This blend is also popular in the sweet wines made in certain areas in Bordeaux (Sauternes, Barsac)
Body: Light to medium
Acidity: Medium+ to high
Famous regions:
France: Loire Valley (Sancerre, Puilly-Fume)
New Zealand
For inexpensive options:
USA: California (Fume Blanc)
France: Bordeaux AC, Pay D’Oc IGP
Loire Valley IGP
The naturally high in acidity Sauvignon Blanc wines can always make it a safe choice for food pairing.
Riesling
A very aromatic grape that does best in cold climates, retaining the acidity levels very high.
Typical aromas are: green apple, grape, lemon, lime (cool climate)
Citrus and stone fruit become more obvious in moderate climate.
Riesling can vary from very dry to lusciously sweet. Depending on the region that it’s coming from, the label will indicate the level of sweetness. Oak ageing is not a practise that is followed with this variety, however due to the high levels of acidity and the sugary fruit intensity, these wines can age very well in the bottle, giving a typical petrol/kerosene aroma.
Terms to look for in German riesling: Qualitatswein (light body and dry), Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese (determine the level of sweetness, low to high accordingly)
Body: light (usually dry), full (sweet)
Acidity: Very high
Alcohol: can start from 7% up to 13,5%
Famous regions:
Germany (dry to sweet): Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz
France: Alsace (dry)
Australia: Clare and Eden Valleys
Austria
Riesling is very rarely made in bulk. If that happens, it is usually blended with other varieties.
Chardonnay
One of the most popular grape varieties. It can grow almost under any climatic condition, giving more distinctive characteristics of the climate rather than the fruit itself. This less aromatic grape is the perfect canvas for applying different winemaking techniques that give unique flavours to it.
This means that for Chardonnay that climate and winemaking techniques play an important role.
Typical primary aromas: Green apple, pear, citrus, vegetal (cucumber), mineral hints (cool climate)
Melon, peach, citrus (moderate climate)
Peach, melon, banana, pineapple (hot climate)
Aromas from winemaking (secondary): Butter, brioche, cream
Ageing (oak): vanilla, toast, coconut
Body: Full
Acidity: Low to medium+
Famous regions:
Cool climate: France: Chablis, Champagne
Moderate climate: France: Burgundy, Australia: Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, New Zealand: Marlborough
Warm climate: USA: Los Carneros, Sonoma, Chile: Casablanca Valley, South Africa: Walker Bay
Chardonnay gives premium wines that can totally change your perception of wine and white wine in specific, and it does come with the price as well. If you’re looking to experience something unique, go to areas such as Burgundy —Cote d’Or — Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet
Inexpensive, bulk production Chardonnay can be under the labels Pay d’Oc IGP, California Chardonnay, Western Cape, South Eastern Australia, Central Valley (Chile)
Pinot Noir
A grape that best thrives in moderate to cool (well cooler) climates, giving elegant, light in body, light in colour wines. Frequently, aged in older oak barrels, as the stronger flavours of new oak can overtake the delicate fruit of Pinot Noir.
Typical aromas: strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, gamey, smoke, leather, barnyard.
Acidity: High
Tannins: Low to medium
Alcohol: medium
Famous regions:
France: Burgundy, Champagne, New Zealand: Central Otago, USA: Oregon, Los Carneros
Other regions:
Australia: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, USA: Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Chile: Casablanca Valley, South Africa: Walker Bay
Note that Pinot Noir is a delicate grape and tricky to grow, therefore, the wines that it makes are in the higher price range.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The king of black grapes, as it’s usually called, can be found both in varietal wines as well as in very successful blends. It requires moderate or hot climate in order to ripen fully.
Typical aromas: blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper, mint. Oak is very common to be used as it softens the quite high and astringent tannins, giving smoke, vanilla, cedar aromas. It can age for many years in the bottle.
Acidity: medium to high
Tannins: high
Alcohol: high
Famous regions:
France: Bordeaux – Left Bank: Medoc, Haut Medoc, Graves
USA: Napa Valley, Oakville, Rutherford, Australia: Coonawarra, Chile: Maine valley, Colchagua, Cachapoal, Argentina: Mendoza, Italy: Tuscany (Super-Tuscan)
In the same context as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon is making great blends adding complexity, colour and tannins; it is therefore very common to found it in all the above regions as a blend with other local or international varieties.
Merlot
Probably the most popular grape worldwide, Merlot needs a moderate to warm climate in order to ripen fully and successfully.
It gives aromas of blackberry, black plum, black cherry and when very ripe these develop into fruitcake, chocolate. In cooler climates hints of strawberry and mint can arise. New oak is a very good friend of Merlot giving vanilla, coffee and spice flavours.
Acidity: low
Tannins: Medium to high
Alcohol: medium to high
Famous regions:
Usually blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or other varieties
France: Bordeaux – Right Bank: St Emilion, Pomerol
Australia: Margaret River, New Zealand: Hawke’s Bay, Chile: Maipo Valley, Colchagua, Argentina: Mendoza, South Africa: Stellenbosch
3 more kinds to make it to the 9 Classic grape varieties
Syrah/Shiraz
Known as Syrah in France and as Shiraz in Australia and other New World regions, it’s a grape that needs warm to hot climate for a successful ripening.
Typical aromas: blackberry, leather, black pepper, meaty, (liquorice, in hot regions).
Acidity: low to medium
Tannins: high
Alcohol: high
Famous regions:
France: Northern Rhone (Cote Rotie, Hermitage)
Australia: Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley
South Africa
New Zealand: Hawke’s Bay
Chile: San Antonio
Inexpensive Syrah is usually under the Cote du Rhone AC, Pay d’Oc IGP, Languedoc AC, South Eastern Australia. Blends are very common with Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier.
Chenin Blanc
A quite versatile grape variety that can show interesting wines in all climatic conditions and all styles; Dry and crisp or with a bit of residual sugar to balance the high acidity, botrytised sweet wines, or sparkling.
Typical aromas: green apple, yellow pear, almond, green leaf, pineapple, guava, melon; honey, quince when aged.
Acidity: medium+ to high
Alcohol: medium to high
Famous region:
France: Loire Valley (Vouvray, Savennieres, Saumur)
South Africa (closer to the tropical fruit spectrum)
Chenin Blanc seems that has found a loving home in the New World and known as Steen in South Africa, it can produce both bulk, inexpensive dry-off-dry wines and premium, often oaky dry wines.
Semillon
Semillon is a great blend partner especially for Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux, producing both dry white wines and botrytised sweet wines. Oily and round as it is, it can balance and soften the blend.
Typical aromas: lemon, grapefruit, honeysuckle, blossom, green apple, pear.
Acidity: high
Alcohol: low
Famous regions:
France: Bordeaux (Sauternes, Barsac)
Australia: Hunter Valley, Riverina
USA: Alexander Valley
Semillon varietal wines can show herbal and mineral notes, rather than being neutral on the palate. However, when bottle-aged, it can develop more complex toast, nut, honey flavours and that could be the distinctive style of Semillon Hunter Valley, Australia.
Knowledge is power!
Now, stop looking at me like this, and keep reading!
Let's make it Locally international, and you're ready. Promise!
Grenache
Grenache in France and the rest of the world, Garnacha in Spain, a very important grape when it comes to blending. It adds body, colour and alcohol.
Typical aromas: strawberry, raspberry, white pepper, toffee and leather (when aged).
Many rosé wines are made from Grenache in Southern France and in Spain, light bodied, medium sweetness and fruity.
Acidity: low to medium
Tannins: low to medium
Alcohol: high
Famous regions:
France: South Rhône (Chateauneuf-du-Pape), Minervois
Spain: Priorat (Blend with Carignan), Rioja (Blend with Tempranillo)
Australia: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale
A very popular blend is the G-M-S (Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah), especially in Australia.
Sangiovese
Probably the most widely planted variety in Italy, responsible for the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and of course Chianti.
Typical aromas: red cherry, earth, plum, tomato leaf.
Acidity: high
Tannins: high
Alcohol: medium to high
Due to all these characteristics, Tuscan wines are long lived and can age beautifully.
Sangiovese is the only grape permitted to be used in the production of the above wines. However, under the Toscana IGP, Sangiovese can be in blends with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah producing the new “Super Tuscan”.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is the grape variety responsible for the highly esteemed Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG wines. Elegant, bold, full bodied, almost always extendedly aged in oak.
Typical aromas: red fruits, violet, tobacco, tar, mushroom
Acidity: high
Tannins: high
Alcohol: high
Nebbiolo actually means “little fog” describing the thick fog over the vineyards in the Piedmont region, Italy. This grape could not grow successfully in any other wine region of the world.
Malbec
Originally from France, though it seems Argentina brings out the best of this variety. Inky colour, full body, bold red wines.
Typical aromas: plum, blackberry, cloves, pepper.
Tannins: high (smoothed by the use of new oak)
Alcohol: high
In France, Malbec is used in small portions usually in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot.
Tempranillo
It is the principal red grape variety of Spain. Grown throughout the country, the hot temperatures moderated by sea breezes help the grape give its best expressions in full bodied, bold wines.
Typical aromas: cherry, leather, earth, strawberry; meat, mushroom (when aged extensively)
Acidity: medium
Tannins: medium
Alcohol: medium to medium+
Famous regions:
Spain: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Penedès (Catalunya)
Portugal: Douro
Argentina
USA: California
Tempranillo has the ability to age well. In Spain, where it’s found in its typical form, these wines can have characteristic coconut aroma due to the extensive use of American oak.
Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
One grape variety with a double identity. Pinot Grigio refers to the Italian version of dry, crisp, un-oaked style, with Typical aromas of: green apple, citrus, mineral, in a light body.
Acidity: High
Alcohol: medium
Pinot Gris is the French style, usually oak-fermented, fuller body and typical aromas of: spicy tropical fruit like ginger, banana, melon. This style can range in sweetness as well.
Acidity: Medium
Alcohol: low to medium
Famous regions for Pinot Grigio style
Italy: Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige
USA
Australia
Famous regions for Pinot Gris style:
France: Alsace
Germany: Baden, Pfalz
USA
New Zealand
Pinot Grigio is considered the most popular white wine in the USA.
Gewurztraminer
One of the most aromatic grape varieties and increasingly popular. It can be made into dry, off-dry to sweet table wine with a full body.
Typical aromas: lychee, peach, grape, floral, spicy ginger
Acidity: low
Alcohol: high
Famous regions:
France: Alsace
Germany
New Zealand
USA: Oregon
Although most probably Gewürztraminer originated in Northern Italy, in the Alto Adige region, it’s not cultivated there anymore.
Viognier
Known for its oily texture and the full bodied wines that can produce, Viognier is a well appreciated variety.
Typical aromas: peach, tangerine, apricot, honeysuckle
Acidity: low
Alcohol: high
Famous regions:
France: Northern Rhone Valley (Condieu, Chateaux Grillet)
Australia
USA: California
Viognier is a white grape variety that can be typically added in Côte-Rôtie Syrah red wines, adding texture and body. Up to 20% is the permitted amount for these elegant wines.
Muscat
An ancient grape variety that has been growing in the majority of the wine regions of the world. Known under different names and the same varietal family, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is considered of higher quality. Muscat of Alexandria, Moscato, Muscat Ottonel are also very popular. It can produce dry to luscious sweet white wines.
Typical aromas: musk, honey, orange blossom, table grapes
Acidity: low to medium
Alcohol: medium to high.
Famous regions:
France: Rhone Valley (Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, fortified sweet white wine)
Australia: Rutherglen (Fortified)
Italy: Piedmont (Moscato d’Asti)
Muscat is probably the only grape variety that produces wines that actually smell of grape!