Varieties of grapes
128 grape varieties
by Toni Paterson Master of Wine
What style of wine is Chenin Blanc? Does Riesling originate from Germany or France? This page gives a quick summary of 128 grape varieties.
Variety |
Origin |
Comment |
|---|---|---|
Dessert Wine Varieties |
||
| Chanel Paradisa |
Chile |
Research by Richard Smart has revealed that this variety arrived in Australia from the Pacific Island Futuna. It is grown in tiny quantities and is used to produce sweet wines. |
Germany |
Traditionally used in the great sweet wines of Germany and Alsace. Also widely planted in Austria and Australia. |
|
| France (Bordeaux) |
A significant component of the great sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. |
|
| France (Bordeaux) |
A significant component of the great sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. |
|
| Muscadelle |
France (Bordeaux) |
A minor component of the great sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. |
| Gewürztraminer |
France (Alsace) |
A spicy, aromatic variety. Late harvest examples include Vendange Tardive from Alsace. |
| Furmint |
Hungary (Tokaj-Hegyalja)/Austria |
A primary variety of the noble sweet wine Tokaji. |
| Hárslevelü |
Hungary (Tokaj-Hegyalja) |
A secondary variety of the noble sweet wine Tokaji. |
| Chenin Blanc |
France (Loire Valley) |
A classic French variety. The basis of some of the world’s greatest and long-living sweet wines. |
| Muscat Blanc À Petits Grains |
Greece |
The finest variant of Muscat, famously used in the great Rhone Valley sweet wine Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. |
| Muscat of Alexandria |
Egypt |
Widely grown. The variety of Muscat de Rivesaltes, a sweet wine of Rousillon. |
| Italy |
A primary component of Italy’s famous sweet wine Recioto. |
|
| Muscat Ottonel |
France (Loire) |
Commonly used in the aromatic Muscat wines of Alsace and Austria. Famously used in the botrytised wine of Neusiedlersee. |
Fortified Wine Varieties
|
||
| Port Varieties |
||
| Touriga National |
Portugal |
The most important variety in high quality Port. |
| Touriga Francesa |
Portugal |
An important variety for red Port. |
| Roriz |
Spain |
Used in the production of red Port. |
| Tinta Barocca |
Portugal |
Used in the production of red Port. |
| Tinta Cão |
Portugal |
A high quality variety used in the production of Port. |
| Bastardo |
Portugal |
An inferior Port variety. Small amounts are grown in a range of wine growing countries including Australia. |
| Sousão |
Portugal |
A less known and used red Port variety. |
| Tinta Amarela |
Portugal |
A less known and used red Port variety. |
| Other Fortified Varieties |
||
| Palomino |
Spain (Andalucia) |
The predominant variety used to make Sherry and Sherry styles. |
| Pedro Ximénes |
Spain |
Renowned for the production of rich, raison-like fortified wine. |
| Doradillo |
Spain |
Predominantly grown in Australia for use in basic fortified wines. |
| Muscat of Alexandria |
Egypt |
Renowned for the rich fortified wines of Spain known as Moscatel. Also used under the synonym of Muscat Gordo Blanco to make inexpensive sweet sherry styles in Australia. |
| Brown Muscat |
Greece |
A dark skinned form of Muscat Blanc À Petits Grains used to make the rich liqueur muscats of Australia. |
| Spain |
Traditionally used for fortified wine production in Australia. |
|
| Muscat Ottonel |
See sweet wine section. |
|
| Sercial |
Portugal |
Used to make light, dry styles of Madeira. |
| Portugal |
Used to make nutty, medium dry styles of Madeira. |
|
| Bual |
Portugal |
Used to make rich, raison-like styles of Madeira |
| Malvasia |
Greece |
Used to make the highly sweet Madeira style known as Malmsey. |
| Topaque (Tokay) |
France (Bordeaux) |
Topaque is Australian for Tokay which is a synonym of Muscadelle, used to make the great Liqueur Topaque (Tokay) wines of Australia. |
Sparkling Wine Varieties
|
||
| France |
A principal component of Champagne and many new world sparkling wines. |
|
| France (Burgundy) |
A principal component of Champagne and many new world sparkling wines. |
|
| Pinot Meunier |
France |
An important component of Champagne. |
| Chenin Blanc |
France (Loire) |
Used in Loire Valley sparkling wines: Saumur Mousseux and Crémant de Loire |
| Macabeo |
Middle East |
A component of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava. |
| Xarello |
Spain (Catalonia) |
A component of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava. |
| Parellada |
Spain (Catalonia) |
A component of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava. |
| Ondenc |
France |
Historically used in sparkling wines at Great Western in Australia. |
| Muscat Blanc À Petits Grains |
Greece |
Used to make the perfumed Italian sparkling wines known as Asti. |
| Mauzac |
France |
A principal component of Blanquette de Limoux, a sparkling wine of South West France. |
| Germany |
A principal component of the German sparkling wine Sekt. |
|
| Italy (Veneto) |
Used to make Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine. |
|
Red Table Wine Varieties |
||
| Aglianico |
Italy |
A high acid, dark skinned variety with significant plantings in Southern Italy. Limited plantings exist in Australia and California. |
Aleatico |
Italy |
A very rare, fragrant, dark skinned variety. |
| Alicante Bouschet |
France |
A red fleshed, red skinned variety. |
| Alvarelhão |
Portugal |
Widely planted throughout Portugal. |
| Italy |
Produces light, fresh fruity wines with prominent acidity. |
|
Blaufränkisch |
Unknown |
Planted in Southern Germany and Austria. Produces medium-bodied red wine. |
| Cabernet Franc |
France (Bordeaux) |
A component of Bordeaux blends and Loire Valley reds. It has leafy red-berry characters. |
| France (Bordeaux) |
A principal component of Bordeaux reds. Grown world wide to produce well structured, full bodied red wines. |
|
| Carignan |
Spain (Aragon) |
An inferior red grape variety. |
| Carmenère |
France |
Although a traditional Bordeaux variety, Carmenère has risen to prominence and acclaim in Chile |
| Chambourcin |
France |
A hybrid variety grown successfully by Cassegrain in NSW, Australia |
Cienna |
Australia |
A new variety developed by the CSIRO through the crossing of Sumoll and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has intense berry flavours. |
| Cinsault |
France |
A prolific variety of Southern France. |
| Concord |
America |
The most important variety grown outside California in the US, belonging to the American vine species Vitis labrusca. |
| Italy |
The predominant variety of the Valpolicella region of Italy |
|
| Italy |
Produces soft and fruity wines. |
|
| Durif |
France |
A French variety which is a crossing of Shiraz and the rare variety Peloursin. Successfully grown in Australia, as well as North and South America. |
| Flora |
California |
A hybrid of Gewürztraminer and Semillon. |
| Gamay |
France |
Used in the production of Beaujolais |
| Graciano |
Spain |
A rich, perfumed grape with deep colour. |
| Spain |
Widely grown producing a range of styles from light rose to full bodied reds. |
|
| Lagrein |
Italy |
A soft medium-bodied red from Northern Italy. It is a vigorous variety with only a handful of producers in Australia |
Lambrusco |
Italy |
Used to produce a fruity, effervescent Italian wine. |
| Malbec |
France |
A successful varietal in Argentina. Also used in Bordeaux blends. |
Malian |
Australia |
A unique Cabernet variety with bronze/pink grapes that originated in the vineyards of Cleggert Wines in Langhorne Creek, Australia. |
| France (Bordeaux) |
Produces wines of great softness and richness. Varietal wines are made worldwide. A key component in Bordeaux. |
|
| Mondeuse |
Italy |
Powerfully flavoured, deeply coloured variety. |
| Montepulciano |
Italy |
A deeply coloured red grape widely planted throughout Italy. |
| Mourvèdre |
Spain |
Widely planted. |
| Italy (Piedmont) |
A powerful Italian black grape variety |
|
Petit Syrah |
Various |
An ambiguous term for a number of grape varieties. In Australia, it is the more elegant term for Durif. |
| France (Bordeaux) |
A minor component in Bordeaux blends. |
|
| Pinotage |
South Africa |
A hybrid variety widely grown in South Africa. |
| France (Burgundy) |
A light skinned, aromatic variety, most famous as the variety of red Burgundy. Successfully grown throughout the new world. |
|
| Italy |
Used in the production of Valpolicella |
|
| Ruby Cabernet |
America (California) |
A hybrid variety: a Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon cross. |
| Rubired |
America (California) |
A hybrid variety, commonly used in blends due to its deep colour. |
| Sangiovese |
Italy (Tuscany) |
Widely planted throughout Italy. It is the principal variety used in Chianti |
| Saperavi |
Southern Russia |
A cool climate variety grown on two vineyards in North East Victoria. |
Shalistan |
Australia |
A unique ‘white cabernet’ variety that originated in the vineyards of Cleggett Wines in Langhorne Creek. |
| France (Rhone) |
A powerful and flavoursome variety, highly renowned in the Rhone, as well as Australia. |
|
| Tarrango |
Australia |
A hybrid variety: a Touriga and Sultana cross. |
| Tannat |
Spain |
A dark skinned, astringent variety. |
| Tempranillo |
Spain |
An important component of Rioja |
| Terret Noir |
France |
Grown in Southern France |
Teroldego |
Italy |
A northern Italian variety with intense and expressive berry flavours. |
| Touriga National |
Portugal |
Gaining prominence in the Dao region of Portugal for the production of good quality dry red wine. |
| Trollinger |
Germany |
Widely planted in Württemberg, Germany. Produces light-bodied, fresh, fruity red wines which are often sweet. |
Tyrian |
Australia |
A new variety developed by the CSIRO through the crossing of Sumoll and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a deep colour and intense berry/spice characters. |
| Italy |
Substantial plantings in both California as well as Italy, where it is known as Primitivo. It produces full-bodied and richly flavoured wines. |
|
White Varieties |
||
| Alvarinho |
Portugal |
Widely grown in Northern Portugal and Spain. Also known as Albarino. |
Italy |
A fresh, lightly scented variety grown in Piedmont. Small plantings can also be found in Australia and California. Pear flavours are often seen. |
|
| France |
\Widely grown throughout the world. Prized for its generous flavours and weighty mid palate. |
|
| Chasselas |
Unknown |
Widely planted around the world. Good quality wines produced in Switzerland. |
| Chenin Blanc |
France (Loire) |
Widely planted throughout the world, including the Loire Valley and South Africa. |
| Clairette |
France |
An old fashioned variety grown throughout France |
| Colombard |
France |
Widely grown in California and Australia. |
| Crouchen |
France |
A neutral variety |
| Doradillo |
Spain |
A neutral variety grown in Australia |
| Frontignac |
Greece |
The Australian synonym for Muscat Blanc À Petits Grains. Produces highly fragrant, delicate white wines. |
| Furmint |
Hungary (Tokaj-Hegyalja)/Austria |
Planted throughout Hungary, Austria and Slovenia |
| Garganega |
Italy |
Widely planted throughout Italy. The principal grape used in the production of Soave. |
| Gewürtztraminer |
France (Alsace) |
Produces highly fragrant and spicy wines. |
| Hárslevelü |
Hungary (Tokaj-Hegyalja) |
Planted throughout Hungary |
| Grüner Veltliner |
Unknown |
The most commonly planted variety in Austria |
| Kerner |
Unknown |
A Trollinger x Riesling cross. Produces delicately perfumed, leafy wines that are similar in style to Riesling. Substantial plantings in Germany. |
| Macabeo |
Middle East |
Planted throughout Spain and France |
| Marsanne |
France (Rhone) |
Most popular in the Rhone Valley in France. Also grown in California and Australia. |
| Mauzac |
France |
An important grape variety in South West France. |
| Melon |
France (Burgundy) |
Renowned for the production of Muscadet. |
| Müller-Thurgau |
Germany |
A mediocre German hybrid |
| Muscadelle |
France (Bordeaux) |
An aromatic variety. |
| Muscat Blanc À Petits Grains |
The commonly used synonym in Australia for white wines in Frontignac. |
|
| Muscat of Alexandria |
Egypt |
An inferior variety of Muscat |
Negroamaro |
Greece |
A fragrant dark skinned variety. Significant plantings are found in Southern Italy. |
| Orange Muscat |
Syria |
Small amounts planted in California and Australia. |
| Petit Manseng |
France (Pyrennes) |
Thick skinned variety producing a semi-sweet wine. |
| Picolit |
Italy (Friuli region) |
Used to make sweet white wine. |
| Pinot Blanc |
France (Burgundy) |
Widely planted throughout Alsace |
| France |
A delicately perfumed variety. Widely planted. |
|
| Germany |
A noble white variety producing some of the world’s greatest wines. |
|
| Rousanne |
France (Rhone Valley) |
Widely grown throughout the Rhone Valley, France. |
| France (Bordeaux) |
A highly aromatic variety |
|
| France (Bordeaux) |
Widely grown throughout Bordeaux and Australia |
|
| Siegerrebe |
Germany |
A Madeleine-Angevine/ Gewürtztraminer cross. Widely grown in Germany. |
| Sultana |
Eastern Mediterranean |
A neutral variety |
| Sylvaner |
Austria |
A neutral variety |
| Taminga |
Australia |
A neutral variety |
| Trebbiano |
Italy |
A neutral variety |
| Tocai Friulano |
Unknown |
Widely planted in the Friuli region of Italy |
| Portugal |
Produces a full flavoured, spicy wine |
|
| Verdicchio |
Italy |
A classic Italian white grape variety |
Unknown |
A faintly aromatic white grown in significant quantities in both Italy and France. Scattered vineyards can be found in Australia and California. |
|
| Villard Blanc |
France |
A French hybrid. It is part of the Seyve Villard |
| France (Rhone Valley) |
A full flavoured, aromatic white grape variety |
|
| Welschriesling |
Unknown |
Widely planted in Austria. |
© Toni Paterson 2008
