Riesling is a white grape variety that produces white wines of varying sweetness levels. The grape is native to Germany, where it is the most widely planted and revered variety, and where it can produce dry, off dry, medium sweet and lusciously sweet wines. Riesling is a highly aromatic variety with pronounced floral aromas, such as blossom, and a spectrum of fruit aromas that develop depending on the grape’s level of ripeness at harvest time. These fruit aromas can vary from green fruits (apple, pear) and citrus fruits (lemon) when the picked grapes are just ripe, and stone fruit (peach, apricot) and tropical fruit (mango, pineapple) as the grapes
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Syrah is a black grape variety that produces dry red wines. Also known as “Shiraz” in Australia, this variety has small berries with thick skins and can grow successfully in moderate and warm climates. Syrah/ Shiraz typically produces deeply colored wines with flavours of black fruits and signature hints of black pepper. These wines can be fruity and drunk young or complex and oaked with a big ageing potential. The most famous and successful expressions of this grape are the lean and peppery Syrah coming from the Northern Rhône in France and the ripe and powerful Shiraz coming from the Barossa Valley in Australia. The grape is commonly produced
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Furmint is a white grape variety that produces dry, medium and sweet wines. It is most widely planted in Hungary, especially in the region of Tokaj in the north-east, where it produces the iconic and famous botrytised sweet wine Tokaji Aszú. Furmint is usually vinified as a single variety when producing dry or off dry wines. However, it typically leads a blend of local varieties when producing sweet wines affected by ‘noble rot’- botrytis- which is a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grape, under specific conditions. Dry Furmint wines are usually high in acidity and display flavors of green fruits (apple, pear) and citrus fruits (lemon). These wines are often unoaked and best enjoyed young, but there are outstanding examples that are fermented and matured in oak. Those wines are usually more complex and have the ability to age, developing tertiary aromas of nuts and honey. Tokaji Aszú Tokaji Aszú is the premium sweet botrytised wine produced mainly from Furmintand is the most famous representation of this
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Verdejo is a white grape variety that produces an herbaceous white wine that grows almost exclusively in the region of Rueda in Spain. If you’re a fan of crisp, fresh, aromatic, fruity white wines with clean herbaceous notes, you’ll want to reach for a Verdejo. Once an unknown quantity from the valleys of Castilla y León, Verdejo has been put on the international map and been described as Spain’s answer to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The production has steadily increased for years, reflecting the insatiable global demand for saline, crisp and dry whites. As a result, Verdejo has become a symbol of Spain’s ability to produce crisp white wines. Today, Verdejo
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Chardonnay is a white grape variety that typically produces dry white wines. It is a very widespread and well-known grape that can be found in almost all the winemaking regions around the world, thanks to its popularity and its ability to thrive in cool, moderate, and warm climates. This grape is usually called “the winemaker’s grape” because it can produce so many versatile styles using many different winemaking techniques. That is possible because the grape is not very aromatic, having subtle aromas and flavors, so it can be a “white canvas” for the winemaker to craft its style. The wine can range from a crisp lean wine to a
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Pinot Grigio is a white grape variety that produces dry white wines. It is mostly associated with Italy where the best expressions come from the northeast region, especially from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area. It is also known as Pinot Gris in France where its best wines come from Alsace. Generally, Pinot Grigio is not known for its complex style, but for its simplicity, having medium to high acidity, and citrus and green fruit aromas and flavors. This wine is usually widely available in the market as a high-volume inexpensive production of simple and refreshing profile, with a light body, medium acidity, and light pear drop aromas. Richer and more premium
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Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape variety famous for producing dry refreshing wines with bright acidity and distinct aromas. It is native to the Loire Valley in France where it is still grown successfully with its best expressions being produced in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Internationally, Sauvignon Blanc wines coming out of New Zealand- especially in the Marlborough region- are also achieving high reputation and were originally responsible for putting New Zealand on the map as a producer of high-quality wine. This wine is widely popular around the world and is well known for its good quality, as it is rarely produced as a high-volume inexpensive wine. Regions that are
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Malbec is a black grape variety that produces red wines. Although it is grown in several places around the world it’s famously known as the signature grape of Argentina, especially from its spiritual home, the high-altitude region of Mendoza. Malbec is native to South-West France and is especially important in a region called Cahors, east of Bordeaux. Cahors is the only wine producing region outside of Argentina that leads with this grape and champions it. Image caption: Malbec in Argentina (Source: South America Wine Guide) Malbec from Argentina Malbec thrives in moderate and warm climates, and it is in the dry climate of Argentina that it really shines. Malbec wines produced
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