France — Grapes Varieties — Every Glass Matters

Viognier

A wonderful variety that was almost lost to the world….

GrapesCoralie StrongApril 30, 2021Grapes, Mango, Honey, Rhone Valley, Rhone, Southern Rhone, floral, Orange, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Rose, Stone, South Africa, Australia, France, Chateau Grillet, Condrieu, White, White Wine, Chile, USA, California

Macabeo

Also commonly called Viura in Rioja and Macabeu or Maccabéo in France

Macabeo is a white variety popular in Spain. It is most commonly used for producing dry and sparkling wines but can occasionally produce sweet wines.

GrapesCoralie StrongApril 24, 2020emon, Honey, Almonds, Hazelnuts, White Blossom, Macabeu Maccabéo, Macabeo, Viura, Rioja, Cava, France, Spain, Sparkling, Fortified, Sweet, Dry, Resveratrol, Oak, Catalonia, Languedoc, Roussillom, Maury, Banyuls

Mourvèdre

Part of the famous GSM blend, Mourvèdre is used to make highly tannic and full-bodied wines. It needs lots of heat to ripen properly but can make very age-worthy wines.

GrapesCoralie StrongSeptember 18, 2019Australia, South Africa, America, California, Valencia, Jumilla DO, Alicante, Murcia, Spain, GSM, Grenache, Syrah, Shiraz, Languedoc, Phylloxera, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, Rhone Valley, Southern Rhone, Bandol, France, Highly tannic, full-bodied high in alcohol, Alcohol, Plum, Blackcurrant, Blackberries, Rose, Wet Stones, Sun, Heat, Rosé, Red, Oak, Mataró

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape variety that can produce wines at a range of sweetness levels and sparkling wine. Equally, the quality level can also range significantly. There are two key countries for Chenin Blanc, France, specifically the Loire Valley and South Africa.

GrapesCoralie StrongJune 5, 2019Honey, Lemon, Pear, Apple, Apricot, Flint, Chenin Blanc, White Wine, Wine, Grape, Loire Valley, France, South Africa, Sparkling Wine, Vouvray, Acid, Green Apple, Bulk, Premium, High Acid, Noble Rot, Sweet, Dry, Rot, Botrytis cinerea, Quarts de Chaume, Savennières, Dutch East India Company

Grenache

Grenache is an interesting variety. It is full of bright fruit flavours and floral notes. It is grown throughout the world creating a range of styles most commonly red and rosé

Carignan.

A grape by many names…

GrapesCoralie StrongJanuary 29, 2019Carignan, Spain, France, Raspberry, Cinnamon, Liquorice, Cranberry, Israel, Chile, California, USA, Italy, Sardinia, Priorat

Gamay

A great grape with a poor quality reputation. Gamay is hugely underrated in my opinion. Top quality Beaujolais Cru wines cannot only be of outstanding quality but also much more affordable in comparison to other French appellations.

GrapesCoralie StrongJanuary 29, 2019Gamay, France, Beaujolais, Cru, red wine, Red, Plum, Cherry, Strawberry, Carbonic Maceration, Beaujolais Nouveau, Banana, Raspberry, Sweet

Cabernet Sauvignon

The worlds' most famous red wine grape. Descendant of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Planted in warmer regions as tends to ripen later. Powerful aromas of blackcurrant, and if matured in new oak, aromas of cedar and tobacco can be seen. In youth deep purple in colour, ages well. The grapes are small but thick skinned-high ratio of colour matter and tannins to juice.

GrapesCoralie StrongJanuary 24, 2019China, Bordeaux, Red, red fruit, red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, USA, California, Napa Valley, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Cherry, Blackberry, Plum, Oak, Toast, Cedar, Mint, St-Émilion, Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Spain, Italy, Languedoc, France

Aligoté

Lying in the shadow of Chardonnay few people know of Burgundy’s second white grape called Aligoté.

GrapesCoralie StrongAugust 19, 2018Apple, Acid, America, Georgia, Burgundy, France, Chardonnay, Aligote, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria

Gewürztraminer

A highly aromatic grape variety that has the ability to produce outstanding and complex wines. It is deeply coloured, with pink skins making it easy to recognise in the glass. It’s one of the four noble varieties in Alsace and historically has shown great significance.

GrapesCoralie StrongAugust 19, 2018Gewürztraminer, Germany, Alsace, France, Italy, Roter Traminer, Pink Skin, White, Croatia, New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Chile, Rose, Grapefruit, Dry, Sweet

Carménère

A black grape variety best known in Chile. Phylloxera almost wiped it out but luckily plantings remained.

GrapesCoralie StrongApril 29, 2018wine, red wine, Red, Chile, Carmenère, medium-bodied, red fruit, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Cachapoal Valley, Maipo Valley, France, Phylloxera

Sauvignon Blanc

An extremely well known grape making wines all over the world. Depending on the wine making techniques used it can be very varied in style from fresh, crisp and refreshing to an oaked style often referred to as fume Blanc.

GrapesCoralie StrongNovember 18, 2017Sauvignon Blanc, White, wine, New Zealand, South Africa, America, Australia, France, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Aromatic, Passionfruit, Grass, Wild White, Lime, Europe

GRAPES

Check out the 'Grape Guide' to find out key information about each grape or select an article below for more information

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