Browsing Posts in Wine Grape Varieties


Pinot Noir is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine due to its fussiness about where it is grown

Pinot Noir is a black grape variety. Its skin is thin, therefore, Pinot Noir based wines are usually light in color and low to medium levels of tannins, and do not need time in bottle to develop other flavours. They can be served at any stages of their life with great pleasure.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Tannins
Cool Vegetal High Low
Moderate Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry Medium/high Low/Medium
Hot Not grown in hot regions since it loses its delicate flavors and the wines become excessively jammy
Other Common Flavors Vegetal, Animal


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Chile Casablanca Central Valley
France Beaune, Burgundy,
Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard
New Zealand Central Otago
Marlborough
Martinboroug
South Africa Coastal
Romania No specific Regions
United States Carneros
Coastal Region
Sononma

Grenache is also known as Garnacha in Spain

Grenache is also known as Garnacha in Spain

Grenche is a black grape variety and is one of the mostly planted grapes in the world. It only grows in hot regions with dry conditions as it ripens late.

Grenache based wines are normally light in color and usually very full bodied. It is also widely used for Rose Wines becuase of its thin skin which does not give a lot of color.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Tannins
Cool Grows only in hot climates with dry conditions
Moderate Grows only in hot climates with dry conditions
Hot Strawberry, Raspberry, White Pepper, Liquorice, Cloves Low Low
Other Common Flavors
Spice, Toffee


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Australia South Eastern Australia
France Southern Rhone-blended wines (Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Chateauneuf-du-Pape) Cotes du Rhone-blended wines, Southern France-blended wines(Fitou, Corbieres, Cotes du Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois)
Spain No specific Regions

Syrah is also known as Shiraz, particularly in Australia

Syrah is also known as Shiraz in Australia

Syrah is a black grape variety and is used to make powerful red wines which are usually full-body and deeply colored with medium to high levels of tannins and acidity.

Syrah plantings are increasing in countries around the world, including Argentina, Chile, South Africa and United States. However, Syrah is not grown in cool regions as it does not ripen in cool climates.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Tannins
Cool Not grown in cool regions since it cannot ripen
Moderate Blackberry, Black Pepper, Mint, Eucalyptus, Smoked Meat High High
Hot Blackberry, Cloves, Liquorice Medium High
Other Common Flavors
Animal, Chocolate, Oak, Vegetal


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Australia Moderate Climate (Western Australia, Western and Central Victoria)

Hot Climate (Hunter Valley, Barossa, McLaren Vale)

South Eastern Australia
France Northern Rhone(Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cote-Rotie)Southern Rhone-blended wines(Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Chateauneuf-du-Pape) Cotes du Rhone-blended winesSouthern France-blended wines(Fitou, Corbieres, Cotes du Roussillon, Coteaux du Languedoc, Minervois)
Merlot is often grown and blended with Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot is often grown and blended with Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot is a black grape variety. Compared with Cabernet Sauvignon, it is less aromatic, less intense flavours, lighter tanins and lighter acidity. Howerver, Merlot based wines are gernerally more body and hihger alcohol than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Merlot is one of the primary grapes in Bordeaux wine and is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in markets. Because of Merlot’s flexibility, it is one of the mostly planted grape varieties in the world.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Tannins
Cool Not grown in cool regions since it cannot ripen
Moderate Strawberry, Red Berry, Plum Medium Light/Medium
Hot Blackberry, Black Plum,
Black Cherry
Low Medium
Other Common Flavors
Oak, Friutcake, Chocolate


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Argentina Mendoza Mendoza
Australia Marget River South Eastern Australia
Chile Central Valley Central Valley
France Bordeaux, Saint-Emillion, Pomerol Vin De Pays d’Oc
Italy Northern Italy
New Zealand Hawkes Bay
South Africa Stellenbosch Western Cape
United States Californina(Napa Valley,Sononma) California(Central Valley)
Cabernet Sauvignon is often grown and blended with Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon a black grape variety and is one of the world’s most widely accepted red wine grape varieties. It became internationally recognized through its prominent success in Bordeaux wines.

Despite of its prominence in the industry, the grape is a relatively new variety. Cabernet Sauvignon is the product of a chance crossing between Cabernet franc and Sauvignon blanc during the 17th century in southwestern France.

The varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wine gives deeply colored wines that has lots of tannin and acid, and strong aroma. It is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Tannin
Cool Not grown in cool regions since it cannot ripen
Moderate Black Currant, Black Cherry, Vegetal notes High High
Hot More Black Cherry, Less Herbaceous Medium High
Other Common Flavors
Oak, Bell Pepper, Cedar

Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Argentina Mendoza, Cafayate Mendoza
Australia Coonawarra, Margaret River South Eastern Australia
Bulgaria No specific Regions
Chile Central Valley Central Valley
France Bordeaux, Graves(Pessac-Leognan), Haut-Medoc(Pauillac, Margaux), Medoc Vin De Pays d’Oc
New Zealand Hawkes Bay
South Africa Stellenbosch Western Cape
United States Californina(Napa Valley,Sononma) California(Central Valley)

Riesling originates in the Rhine region of Germany. It displays flowery aroma.

Riesling is a white grape variety that has a pronounced fruity character. Planted in different soil types and harvested with different ripeness will make the resulting wines with different aspects of its basic varietal character.

Riesling is very prone to noble rot, which concentrates sugars and acidity and makes this grape popular and ideal for lusciously sweet wines.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Sweetness
Cool Green Apple, Grape, Floral Notes, Hint of Lemon & Lime High Dry, Medium, Sweet
Moderate Citrus & Stone Fruit Notes, Some With Strongly Fresh Lime or White Peach Notes High Dry
Hot Not grown in hot regions
Other Common Flavors Smoke, Honey, Tropical Fruit, Mineral, Botryis

Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Australia Clare Valley, Eden Valley
Austria No specific Regions
France Alsace
Germany Mosel, Pfalz, Rheingau Often blended with other varieties
New Zealand South Island

Sauvignon Blanc based wines are usually clean, crisp, refreshing and unoaked

Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape variety and is widely cultivated in the world. Sauvignon Blanc wines are very aromatic and usually more enjoyable when they are young. Although they may last but they lose their attractive freshness and rapidly become stale.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Sweetness
Cool Green Fruit,
Pungent Vegetal Notes(gooseberry, elderflower, green bell pepper, asparagus)
High Dry
Moderate Stone Fruit,
not as pungent as in cool climate
Medium/high Dry
Hot Not grown in hot regions
Other Common Flavors Green Fruit, Elderflower, Mineral


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Chile Casablanca Central Valley
France Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, Bordeaux Blanc Vin de Pays du Val de Loire, Vin de Pays d’Oc
New Zealand Marlborough
South Africa Coastal Region
United States California(Napa Fume Blanc) Central Valley
Chardonnay is not an aromatic grape variety

Chardonnay is not an aromatic grape variety


Chardonnay is a white grape variety and is believed to have originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand.

The Chardonnay grape itself is very neutral. The delicacy of its fruit makes it suitable for expressing flavours being derived from such influences as terror and oak.

Climates/Typicity Aroma Acidity Sweetness
Cool Apple,
Pear,
Citrus
High Dry
Moderate Citrus Notes, Hints of Melon, Peach Medium/high Dry
Hot Banana, Peach
Pineapple, Mango, Fig
Medium Dry
Other Common Flavors Oak, Butter, Hazelnut, Mineral


Wine Regions Classic Premium Bulk/Inexpensive
Argentina Mendoza No Specific Regions
Australia Adelaide Hills, Hunter Valley, Limestone Coast, Margaret River, Pathway, Victoria South Eastern Australia
Chile Casablanca Central Valley
France Burgundy, Chablis, Macon, Meursault, Pouilly-Fuisse, Puligny-Montrachet Vin de Pays d’Oc,
Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
New Zealand Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough
United States Carneros, Coastal Region, Sonoma California
South Africa Western Cape
Others Hungary,
Southern Italy