What is a Grape Variety?
Just like apples can be Golden, Gala or Fuji, vines have different varieties that produce specific grapes such as Syrah, Chardonnay or Zinfandel.
Wines can be made from a single grape variety (called monocépage in French), but can also mix several grape varieties in varying proportions. This is the case for many appellations, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where up to 13 grape varieties can be associated together! In this case, it is called a blend (or assemblage in French).
But wait, there’s more! There is also the possibility of blending several vats of the same grape variety.
Vaucluse.fr-Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyard
New World wines (from United States, Australia, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa) have largely contributed to the trend of single-varietal wines because it simplifies the understanding of wine for consumers, as a grape variety refers to a specific taste.
Exploring grape varieties is endless fun!
Over 200 of them are authorized in France, with almost as many in Italy. It is estimated that there are close to 20,000 different grape varieties, including 6,000 that are suitable for wine production.
You might be thinking that wine is an extremely complex world. It can be… But let us reassure you a little by pointing out that 70% of French and American wines are made with only 10 different varieties.
Which is the most planted grape variety in the world, you ask?
Well… it is Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of Medoc (in the Bordeaux region) and Napa Valley (in California). It is also very common in Chile. Almost 300.000 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon are grown around the world.
Discover Cabernet Sauvignon’s main aromas :
Do you want to learn more about the tastes of the most common grape varieties?
We have your back!
Check out our Grape Varieties Aromas poster !
Santé !