Port - Image by Frank Smith
A guide to the important wine grape varietals. Which are the important wine grapes and were are the most important varietals produced?
There are nine classic wine grape varietals, these grapes do not however, include or cover all of the great and important wine grapes grown. Many of the worlds greatest wines, such as Rioja and Port are all made from non-classic wine grapes such as the varietals listed below:
Types of Wine Grape – Important White Wine Varietals
- Gewurztraminer – Badly made Gewurztraminer is truly an awful experience, unfortunately many Gewurztraminers are positively average. At its best a good Gewurztraminer from Germany or Alsace is a truly eye opening experience. The best bottles are packed with lychees, spice and fruit cocktail flavours.
- Viognier – An old French white wine varietal, Viognier is best known in the Rhone valley and becoming an increasingly important grape in California. Viognier is characterised by honeysuckle and exotic fruit flavours.
- Pinot Blanc – A relation to the classic grape variety, Pinot Noir. Pinot Gris is often used as part of a blend in both New and Old World wine production. A small number of producers in both Italy and Alsace make a specialty wine of the grape variety. In Italy Pinot Blanc is referred to as Pinot Bianco.
- Pinot Gris – Similar to Pinot Blanc, the grape is lesser known than varieties such as Chardonnay or Riesling. However, there are isolated pockets of quality production, again in Alsace and the Tri-Venezie area of Italy.
Types of Wine Grape – Important Red Wine Varietals
- Barbera – An Italian classic associated with the deep berry flavours of blackberry, black cherry and plum. This wine grape is most closely associated with the famous Italian wine Barolo. The wine grape is also planted with considerable success to a lesser degree in California.
- Tempranillo – Whilst not a classic red wine grape variety, Tempranillo is Spain’s classic grape. Tempranillo is the foundations of great Spanish wines, such as the long aged bottles of Rioja. Tempranillo is capable of producing complex flavours such as tobacco, shoe leather and vanilla, all associated with oak aging.
- Sangiovese – One of Italy’s most famous wine grapes. Sangiovese is the lynch pin of Chianti and often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon as part of the blends in the “Super-Tuscans”. Sangiovese is probably closest to Pinot Noir of the classic wine grapes, Sangiovese can often be thin and highly acidic.
- Zinfandel – Synonymous with New World wine production, most notably that of California. Zinfandel is used to produce everything from bottles of cheap plonk to some very fine examples. A good Zinfandel produces a rich jammy wine, full of deep berry flavours. Zinfandel is also commonly used to produce a rose wine and sold as “White Zinfandel”.
Read More on Food and Wine:
Sources:
Larousse. 1994. Encyclopedia of Wine. Hamlyn.
MacNeil, K. 2001. The Wine Bible. World Publishing.
Copyright Frank Smith. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Frank Smith - Frank Smith currently works as an full time industry analyst for a well known construction company in Lincolnshire. In his spare time, ...
