06 May All About Wine Grape Varieties
Wine is a beverage that has been around since the Neolithic era and grape vine cultivation has been taking place in various regions throughout the world since that time. Today, the world has more than 10,000 different wine grape varieties. Of these, only some are popular and globally acclaimed. Certain grapes such as Syrah/Shiraz and Primitivo/Zinfandel will have different names depending on the regions they are grown in.
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are some of the most popular grapes that grow without too much trouble in various climates. They are used to make different types of wines to cater to a variety of consumer preferences. Here is some information about wine grape varieties.
Red Wine Grapes Varieties
Some popular red wine grapes are:
Cabernet Sauvignon
France’s Bordeaux wines are primarily made using Cabernet Sauvignon where it’s often used with a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. California’s Napa Valley wines also prominently use this grape varietal. In both these regions, the bold tannins present in this grape are aged in new oak barrels to soften them. Cabernet Sauvignon wines have distinctive flavours of bell pepper, mint, black currant and are full-bodied and heady with flavours like baking spice and cocoa that comes from oak aging.
Pinot Noir
This grape variety is used only in Burgundy, France’s premium wines. The vine is not easy to grow and it has delicate, cedar, pomegranate and red cherry flavours that wine aficionados relish and are willing to pay higher prices for. This grape varietal is also grown in New Zealand, Germany, Oregon’s Willamette Valley and pinot noir grapes are used to make Blanc De Noirs Champagne.
Cabernet Franc
Finger Lakes in New York, Bordeaux and Loire Valley in France are known for their Cabernet Franc vines. These are medium bodied wines with moderately high levels of tannin and tannins. They are far less likely to be aged in new oak. These wines have distinct flavours of bell pepper, graphite and red cherry.
Some other popular red wine grape varieties include:
- Carménère
- Merlot
- Malbec
- Petit Verdot
- Grenache
- Tempranillo
- Primitivo
- Sangiovese
- Syrah/Shiraz
- Zinfandel
White Wine Grapes Varieties
Some popular white wine grapes are:
Chardonnay
This variety of white wine grape is grown all over the world from Champagne and Burgundy in France to South Africa, California and Australia. It has floral and citrusy flavours. However, since it is not a significantly aromatic variety, it tends to reflect winemaking techniques and terroir much better than many other wine grape varieties. Chardonnays can be acidic to lush, to steely, spicy and buttery, depending on vinification and climate.
Pinot Grigio
This variety is grown in northern Italy in the Veneto region. Here, it is used to make dry, citrusy and crisp white wines that offer good value. In places like Alsace, France and some others where the wine is made in French style, it is known as Pinot Gris and has a touch of sweetness, higher alcohol content and riper fruit.
Riesling
This grape is native to Germany, and is used in making some of the most age-worthy wines in the world. Its higher acidity levels make it suitable for making wines in a wide range of styles including sweet and dry to sparkling wines. The tasting notes of this wine often include slate, honeysuckle, petrol and lime, slate. Very distinctive, lime scented zipper versions of this wine are produced in the Clare and Eden Valleys in Australia.
Sauvignon Blanc
This is a superb white wine grape that is used to produce crisply acidic, powerfully aromatic varietal wines in Loire Valley, France and in New Zealand. It has an abundance of gooseberry, grapefruit and grass aromas. Most of these wines retain their freshness when aged in stainless steel. However, California’s Fumé Blanc is an exception as it is aged in oak.
Regardless of the wines you prefer, it’s best to have a climate-controlled, vibration-free, well-insulated space to store them. We offer customised wine cellar design and installation solutions.
To find out how Signature Cellars can help you design and build a wine storage solution that can help protect your investment and add value to your home, call us on 1300 570 636, or email info@signaturecellars.com.au, and we will respond shortly.
Thanks for reading,
Neil Smallman
Signature Cellars
1300 570 636
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