Wine grape varieties

28 grape varieties covering the world's most editorially significant wine grapes. From the Bordeaux family (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) and Burgundy's Pinot Noir + Chardonnay to Italian Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, the Rhône triad, Iberian Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional, and New World signature varieties.

Varieties

28

Red

20

White

8

Families

7

Family tree

50 grape varieties

Red

26 varieties

The premium red varieties — Bordeaux's five (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec), Burgundy's Pinot Noir, Italian Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, the Rhône's Syrah-Grenache-Mourvèdre triad, Iberia's Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional, plus New World signature grapes.

Sour cherry, plum, dried herbs; very high acid, low tannin, medium body

Raspberry, violet, graphite, herbal/vegetal pyrazine notes (bell pepper in cool conditions); medium tannin, high acid

Cabernet Sauvignon

Blackcurrant (cassis), black cherry, graphite, cedar, tobacco; high tannin, high acid, full body

Carignane (Carignan)

Tart red and black fruit, herbal/garrigue notes, high acid; medium-to-high tannin, medium body when from old vines

Carmenet/Bordeaux family red

Ripe blackberry and plum, red bell pepper and green peppercorn pyrazines, cocoa, tobacco and soy; smooth, supple tannins

Light red cherry and strawberry, floral rose and dried herbs, soft spice; low tannin, gentle acidity

Pinot family red

Bright red fruit (cranberry, raspberry, cherry), violet and banana esters from carbonic ferments, light pepper; low tan…

Grenache (Garnacha)

Strawberry, raspberry, white pepper, garrigue; medium tannin, medium acid, high alcohol

Dark plum, blackberry, violet, mocha, leather (with age); medium-to-high tannin, balanced acid, full body

Deep-coloured blackberry, black cherry and cassis with plum, herbs and gentle spice; supple, fine-grained tannins

Plum, black cherry, chocolate, herbal notes (in cooler climates); soft tannin, medium-to-full body

Mourvèdre (Monastrell)

Blackberry, gamey/meaty notes, leather, black pepper, dried herbs (garrigue); very high tannin, medium-to-high acid

Tar, roses, dried cherry, leather, truffle (with age); very high tannin, very high acid, light-to-medium body

Violet, lilac, blackberry, strong floral lift; very high tannin and color; intense even at small percentages in a blend

Black fruit (blackberry, plum), black pepper, dark chocolate, dense tannin; very high tannin, deep color, full body

Red fruit, brioche, biscuit (after lees aging); medium acid, light body, early-developing aromatics

Red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, rose petal, forest floor (with age); light-to-medium body, medium acid, low-to-mediu…

Pinot family red

Dark plum, blackberry and bramble, smoke, dried banana and hoisin; earthy with occasional rooibos and coffee notes in m…

Sour cherry, tobacco, dried herbs, leather, balsamic; medium-to-high acid, high tannin, medium body

Blackberry, black pepper, smoked meat, violet (in N. Rhône); plum jam, chocolate, cedar (in warm-climate Shiraz express…

Cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, dill (from American oak), spice; medium tannin, medium-to-high acid, full body

Cherry, plum, leather, tobacco; similar profile to Tempranillo but expressed through Portuguese terroir + winemaking tr…

Dark fruit (blackberry, plum), floral aromatics, herbal hints; medium-to-high tannin, balanced acid, medium-to-full body

Touriga Nacional

Violet, dark fruit (blackberry, blueberry), bergamot, mint; very high tannin, very high acid, full body

Traminer family red

Red cherry, cranberry, wild strawberry, orange peel and earthy spice; light-to-medium body, firm acidity, gentle grippy…

Black raspberry, blackberry jam, black pepper, smoky-spicy notes; medium-to-low tannin, balanced acid, high alcohol

White

24 varieties

The premium white varieties — Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as the global anchors, Riesling as the world's greatest white grape for serious wine drinkers, Rhône whites (Viognier, Roussanne), and the singular sherry grapes (Palomino, Pedro Ximénez).

Pinot family white

Crisp green apple, lemon, white flowers and a chalky, saline minerality; light-bodied, high acid and refreshing, gainin…

Apple, lemon, pear, hazelnut, butter (with oak/malolactic); ranges from steely-mineral (Chablis) to opulent-buttery (wa…

Traminer family white

Quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile and honey, wet-wool and lanolin note; often waxy with pronounced acidity, taking…

Gouais family white

Fresh lemon, green apple, grapefruit and delicate white flowers; light-bodied, low in alcohol and very high in acid

Gouais family white

Green apple, pear, quince and lime with smoky, waxy and honeyed notes; searing acidity and pronounced minerality, takin…

Traminer family white

Gewürztraminer

Explosive aromatics of lychee, rose petal, Turkish delight, ginger and baking spice; oily, full-bodied and low in acid,…

Gouais family white

Neutral to sharp; high acidity, high yield, little aromatic distinction — historically dismissed as coarse and mediocre

Manseng family white

Grapefruit, passion fruit, quince and white peach with a smoky, floral edge; crisp, high-acid and often lightly phenolic

Traminer family white

Grüner Veltliner

Green apple, white pepper, lentil and fresh herbs, citrus and a signature 'Pfefferl' spicy peppery lift; crisp, dry and…

Riesling crossing white

Riesling-like green apple, pear and citrus with a light muscat-floral lift; crisp, fresh acidity

Pinot family white

Melon de Bourgogne

Green apple, citrus, pear and saline sea-spray; neutral and delicate with brisk, mineral acidity

Muscat family white

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Intense grapey Muscat aroma with orange blossom, rose, honey, peach and musk; overtly floral and sweet-scented even whe…

Riesling crossing white

Müller-Thurgau

Soft and floral with peach, apple, pear and a light muscat-like grapiness; gentle, mild acidity and low structure

Palomino (Palomino Fino)

Light apple, almond, dried herbs as base wine; transformed dramatically by solera aging and flor (for Fino/Manzanilla)…

Pedro Ximénez (PX)

Raisin, fig, date, treacle, espresso, dark chocolate (in PX dessert wines); intense sweetness with surprising acid bala…

Manseng family white

Ripe pineapple, apricot, candied citrus, honey and exotic spice; piercing acidity that balances high sugar

Lime, green apple, white peach, petrol/diesel (with age), slate minerality; very high acid, light-to-medium body

Herbal tea, honeysuckle, pear, beeswax, herbal/floral aromatics; medium-to-full body, moderate acid

Sauvignon Blanc

Grapefruit, gooseberry, grass, white pepper, passion fruit (NZ style); very high acid, light-to-medium body

Traminer family white

Green apple, quince, walnut, dried nuts and curry-like spice under flor; bracing acidity, saline and often oxidative

Riesling crossing white

Pronounced blackcurrant and pink grapefruit, cassis leaf, peach and floral notes; racy Riesling-like acidity

Honey, beeswax, lemon, lanolin (with age); medium body, moderate acid; develops dramatically with bottle aging

As Madeira: dried apricot, orange peel, smoke and honeyed nuts with cutting acidity; as Australian dry white: fresh lim…

Apricot, peach, honeysuckle, floral aromatics; full body, low-to-medium acid

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