Get to know the grapes
Compare colour, acidity, tannin and texture before hunting for a particular aroma. The same grape changes with climate, ripeness, blending and ageing. Each profile gives a simple tasting exercise and regions to explore.
| Grape varieties | Signature | Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Cabernet Sauvignon ↗ | Structure, blackcurrant and ageing potential. | Bordeaux ↗ · Napa Valley ↗ · Stellenbosch ↗ · Maipo Valley ↗ · Salta ↗ |
| Merlot ↗ | Plum, softness and roundness. | Bordeaux ↗ · Maipo Valley ↗ |
| Pinot Noir ↗ | Finesse, red fruit and a clear sense of place. | Burgundy ↗ · Champagne ↗ · Marlborough ↗ · Alsace ↗ · Willamette Valley ↗ · Central Otago ↗ · Jura ↗ · Savoie ↗ |
| Chardonnay ↗ | From crisp and mineral to broad and buttery. | Burgundy ↗ · Champagne ↗ · Casablanca Valley ↗ · Willamette Valley ↗ · Jura ↗ |
| Riesling ↗ | Citrus, precision and vivid acidity. | Mosel ↗ · Alsace ↗ · Wachau ↗ · Kamptal ↗ |
| Sangiovese ↗ | Cherry, herbs and Tuscan energy. | Tuscany ↗ |
| Tempranillo ↗ | Red fruit, spice and an affinity for maturation. | Rioja ↗ · Ribera del Duero ↗ · Alentejo ↗ |
| Nebbiolo ↗ | Rose, cherry, tannin and the reward of patience. | Piedmont ↗ |
| Syrah / Shiraz ↗ | Dark fruit, pepper and generous expression. | Barossa Valley ↗ · Stellenbosch ↗ · Provence ↗ · Rhône Valley ↗ · Alentejo ↗ · Languedoc ↗ · Roussillon ↗ |
| Malbec ↗ | Deep colour, plum and a plush texture. | Mendoza ↗ · Salta ↗ · Southwest France ↗ |
| Touriga Nacional ↗ | Violet, dark fruit and Portuguese character. | Douro ↗ · Dão ↗ |
| Meunier ↗ | Supple fruit and roundness in Champagne blends. | Champagne ↗ |
| Sauvignon Blanc ↗ | A crisp white with citrus and herbal notes. | Bordeaux ↗ · Casablanca Valley ↗ · Marlborough ↗ · Loire Valley ↗ · Constantia ↗ |
| Chenin Blanc ↗ | Lively acidity in dry, sweet and sparkling wines. | Loire Valley ↗ |
| Grenache ↗ | Red fruit and roundness in many blends. | Provence ↗ · Rhône Valley ↗ · Languedoc ↗ · Roussillon ↗ |
| Gamay ↗ | A fruity red, often light and enjoyable with a slight chill. | Beaujolais ↗ |
| Cabernet Franc ↗ | An important red grape in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. | Bordeaux ↗ · Loire Valley ↗ · Southwest France ↗ |
| Melon Blanc ↗ | The grape associated with Muscadet around Nantes. | Loire Valley ↗ |
| Gewurztraminer ↗ | A white grape with an intense aromatic expression in Alsace. | Alsace ↗ |
| Pinot Gris ↗ | In Alsace, full and structured white wines. | Alsace ↗ |
| Assyrtiko ↗ | A Greek white grape associated with Santorini. | Santorini ↗ |
| Xinomavro ↗ | A Greek red with lively acidity and firm tannins. | Naoussa ↗ |
| Agiorgitiko ↗ | The red grape of the Nemea appellation. | Nemea ↗ |
| Grüner Veltliner ↗ | An important white grape in Austrian vineyards. | Wachau ↗ · Kamptal ↗ |
| Alvarinho ↗ | A Portuguese white to explore in Vinho Verde. | Vinho Verde ↗ |
| Encruzado ↗ | A signature white grape of the Dão. | Dão ↗ |
| Torrontés Riojano ↗ | An Argentine white grape grown in Salta province. | Salta ↗ |
| Sémillon ↗ | Sauvignon’s partner in dry and sweet Bordeaux whites. | Bordeaux ↗ · Southwest France ↗ |
| Viognier ↗ | An expressive, often floral and full white, emblematic of Condrieu. | Rhône Valley ↗ · Languedoc ↗ |
| Mourvèdre ↗ | A warm-climate grape bringing structure and dark fruit to blends. | Provence ↗ · Rhône Valley ↗ · Languedoc ↗ · Roussillon ↗ |
| Carignan ↗ | A Mediterranean grape found in Languedoc and Roussillon reds. | Languedoc ↗ · Roussillon ↗ |
| Savagnin ↗ | The Jura white grape, made topped-up or aged under a yeast veil. | Jura ↗ |
| Jacquère ↗ | A reference for fresh, delicate Savoie whites. | Savoie ↗ |
| Altesse ↗ | The white grape of Roussette de Savoie. | Savoie ↗ |
| Mondeuse noire ↗ | A Savoie red grape to discover around Arbin. | Savoie ↗ |
| Tannat ↗ | A structured grape associated with Madiran and Saint-Mont reds. | Southwest France ↗ |
| Petit Manseng ↗ | A Pyrenean grape important in sweet Jurançon whites. | Southwest France ↗ |
| Aligoté ↗ | Another key Burgundy white grape alongside Chardonnay. | Burgundy ↗ |
| Poulsard ↗ | A Jura red grape whose pale colour does not sum up its character. | Jura ↗ |
| Trousseau ↗ | A Jura red grape to compare with Poulsard and Pinot Noir. | Jura ↗ |
| Roussanne ↗ | A Rhône white grape also known as Bergeron in Savoie. | Rhône Valley ↗ · Savoie ↗ |
Illustrative images are AI-generated for FRANCE VINS. Landscapes evoke wine regions; grape images illustrate grapes without identifying a variety.
