VARIETAL (GRAPE)
Aligoté: Grape used in Burgundy to make White wines, and Sparkling wines, also planted in much of Eastern Europe..- Altesse: Grown mainly in the Savoie region of France, This grape is used in white wines, often giving them a bright citrus aroma
- Aramon: Also known as Ugni Noir, This red grape was once grown extensively in the Languedoc region of France.
- Arrufiac: Fairly obscure grape variety found in the Gascony region of France, used in the blend for Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh.
- Auxerrois: Another name for Malbec in Cahors, France
- Baroque: Exclusive to the French region of Tursan, this white grape produces wines which are rich and full bodied.
- Bourboulenc: White grape, generally used as a blending grape in small amounts in the Rhone and Languedoc
Cabernet Franc: Grown in many areas of the world, this grape has gained notoriety from Bordeaux, Particularly in Cheval Blanc. When picked early, this grape can have very stemmy and green tannin.- Cabernet Sauvignon: One of the primary grapes of Bordeaux and California, This grape produces rich red wines, often with notes of leather from Napa Valley. This grape is a cross between Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc, and depending on where it is grown can express itself in many different ways.
- Carignan: Originally from Spain, this grape is now used most often as a blending grape in the Languedoc region of France.
- Chardonnay: Known best as the White grape in Burgundy, Chardonnay is grown all over the world and made in many different styles. Oaked or Unoaked, Heavy Malo, Light Malo, Toasted oak, Neutral Oak. This grape is easily manipulated and changed depending on what the winemaker wants the end result to be.
- Chasselas: Grown mainly in France, Germany and Switzerland, where it produces white wines of dry, fruit forward qualities. Used in the Loire valley as a blending grape with Sauvignon Blanc.
- Chenin Blanc: Also known as Steen in South Africa, this grape is grown primarily in France (Vouvray) and South Africa. Generally this white grape produces light fruity wines with some sweetness.
- Cinsaut: Red grape grown primarily in the Languedoc Roussillon in the south of France, where it is usually blended into wines of Grenache and Syrah
- Clairette: Known mostly for its use in a demi-sec sparkling wine in Clairette de Die in France, it’s also used as a blending grape in Chateauneuf du Pape.
- Colombard: One of the lesser known grapes allowed in White Bordeaux, Colombard is also being grown extensively in South Africa and California where it’s known as French Colombard
- Cot: See Malbec
- Courbu: VERY obscure grape used in the white wines Madiran AOC in France.
Duras: Traditional French red wine grape, found only in the area of the Tarn River near Toulouse- Durif: Known in this country as Petit Sirah, Durif produces wines with high tannin and peppery taste.
- Folle Blanche: Also known as Gros Plante, this grape is produced in the Loire Valley to make crisp, tart white wines, often paired with oysters and shrimp.
- Gamay Noir: The primary grape of Beaujolais, this grape produces light fruit forward reds with high acidity.
- Gewürztraminer: Grown in many areas around the world including France, Germany, New York, Washington, and California. Generally made in a sweeter style this white wine is easily recognized by its floral nose with hints of Lechee nuts.
- Grenache: One of the most widely planted grapes in the world, this red grape is used in blends and single varietal wines through spain, France, Italy and Australia. It’s also made into rose wines in the south of France where it has a beautiful nose of fresh picked strawberries. It is also one of the Primary grapes in Chateauneuf du Pape.
- Grolleau: Red grape, mainly used in Rose wines in the Loire Valley, primary grape in Rose D’Anjou.
Jacquere: Another white grape primarily made into fairly plain white wines in the region of Savoie- Macabeu: Known in Spain as Viura and Macabeo, it is primarily recognized as one of the blending grapes in Spain’s sparkling wine Cava. Also grown in the Languedoc Rousillon.
- Malbec: Red grape, long known as a blending grape in Bordeaux wines, now a major player in Argentina. The wines produced are deep inky red, rich in tannin and stewed fruit. Some Argentine Malbecs have a smoked meat nose.
- Manseng: White grape originally from northern Spain, now used in and around Gascony France in some wines.
- Marsanne: One of the Major white grapes of the Southern Rhone. Used in Chateauneuf du Pape, as well as Cotes du Rhone Blanc.
- Mauzac: Grown mostly in the Limoux region of France, it is the Primary grape in Blanquet de Limoux, a well known Sparkling wine from this region.
- Merlot: This counterpart grape to Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux has seen a rise and fall in popularity in the US. It’s medium tannin and fruit forward nature makes it a perfect grape to blend with Cabernet. By itself it can nearly be indestinguishable from cabernet in a blind tasting environment.
- Mondeuse: Red blending grape from Savoie, Newer plantings in the new world such as California, and Argentina. There is very little of this grape remaining planted anywhere in the world.
- Mourvedre: Known by many names around the world, Motaro in Australia, Monastrell in Spain, this Rhone Varietal has found new life in Spain in many inexpensive and quality wines.
- Muscadelle: Unrelated to Muscat, This white grape is allowed in White bordeaux blends, and Sauterns. However, it’s only allowed in very small quantities.
- Melon de Bourgogne: Primary grape in Muscadet wine from the Loire Valley, Light, fruity with great acidity, this wine is a must serve with certain appetizers.
Petit Verdot: Another blending grape allowed in Bordeaux blends. This high tannin deep colored wine is used to add depth and structure in blends. By itself this wine can be often VERY tannic and nearly impossible to consume young.- Pinot Gris: From it’s home in Alsace France, this grape has been planted all over the world. A clone of pinot Gris in italy called Pinot Grigio has become one of the most popular whites in the world. It is also being grown very successfully in Oregon.
- Pinot Noir: The red grape from Burgundy. Some of the most expensive wines in the world are made from this grape. Delicate and light skinned this grape is extremely difficult to cultivate and can try the patience of even the best winemaker. It is also grown in Germany, California, Oregon, Loire Valley, Washington State, and New York.
- Pinot Meunier: The least known of the Champagne grapes, the other 2 being Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- Riesling: Grown all over the world, this grape can be one of the more versatile grapes. Made in Dry, Semi-Dry, Late Harvest, and Ice Wine, I’ve even had a Riesling Lager. Perhaps the most renowned rieslings come from Germany, Austria, Alsace in France, Claire Valley of Australia, New York’s Finger Lakes, and Washington State.
- Rolle: White grape grown mainly in Provence and Northern Italy. Outstanding acidity and richness.
- Romorantin: A Sister of Chardonnay, this white grape is found only in the Loire Valley, where it makes amazing whites that rival Chablis.
- Roussanne: The counterpart to Marssane in the southern Rhone. White grape generally blended into Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc: The « Mother » of Cabernet Sauvignon, This grape is grown all over the world, vinified in many different styles, to make dry whites, in the case of Sancerre, or Puilly Fume. To Dessert wines in Sauterns. Sometimes oaked, sometimes not, this grape can have its flavors changed dramatically through Canopy Management.- Sémillon: Sometimes made in a dry style such as the wines from Australia, this white grape is a blending grape in White Bordeaux wines, as well as Sauterns.
- Syrah: The king of the Northern Rhone, this wine is made into the prestigous wines of Cote Rotie, as well as Hermitage. It is also a primary grape in Cotes du Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape, as well as many smaller regions in the southern Rhone. It is also grown all over the world and known by different names such as Sirah in California, and Shiraz in Australia.
- Tannat: The primary red grape in Madiran AOC. Rich and earthy this wine can sometimes have a musky nose.
- Tokay: Several meanings to this word, The Grape Tokay is another name for Furmint in Hungary, used to make the sweet dessert wine Tokaij Aszu. Also another name for Pinot Gris in Alcase. Also a name for a wine made in the northern Italian region of Fruili.
- Ugni Blanc: The Primary grape of Cognac and Armagnac, this grape also known as Trebbiano, is grown over many regions of Southern France and Northern Italy.
- Vermentino: Perhaps being most famous for being made into the most beautiful white wines in Sardinia, this crisp acidic white is a great summertime wine with lots of acid and beautiful minerality.
- Viognier: The queen of the Northern Rhone, this wine is responsible for the amazing whites from Condrieu and Château Grilet. It’s also blended into syrah in Cote Rotie, and in some Australian Shiraz.
