Key Wine Grape Varieties
Find out more about the key grape varieties used to make fine wine around the world. In each grape guide, we have suggested a few wines that we think you should try if you’re exploring different varieties.
White Varieties
Chardonnay
South African wines have become some of the world’s best valued fine wines and of the highest quality.
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Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc originates from the Loire Valley. Extremely versatile, it produces dry, medium-dry, sweet and even sparkling wines.
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Riesling
Wine lovers are devoted to this noble grape, which is considered by many to be one of the world’s greatest white varieties.
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Sauvignon Blanc
An early-ripening variety that thrives in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and the Cape, where it is often blended with Sémillon.
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Sémillon
The dominant variety in Sauternes’ sweet wines but it’s commonly used in many wine regions as a blending component.
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Pinot Gris/Grigio
Pinot Gris, or Grigio in Italy, is a white grape with greyish pink skin and is thought to be a mutant clone of Pinot Noir.
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Viognier
A classical Rhône Valley variety, Viognier produces full-bodied, golden whites that tend to be aromatic and textured.
Read moreRed Varieties
Cabernet Franc
A classical Rhône Valley variety, Viognier produces full-bodied, golden whites that tend to be aromatic and textured.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
A natural crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, it originated in Bordeaux and is known as the ‘King of Grapes’.
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Cinsault
Cinsaut is a workhorse grape and thrives in hot, dry climates. It has been dubbed the 'Pinot Noir of the Swartland'.
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Grenache
Grenache is a versatile grape variety and is widely planted in the Rhône Valley, Spain, Australia and the US.
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Merlot
Merlot is one of the most widely planted red varieties in the world and is an important component of classic Bordeaux blends.
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Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre is a thick-skinned variety that prefers very warm climates and produces powerful, earthy and savoury reds.
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Pinot Noir
Growing this fickle, low-cropping variety is extremely challenging but, made well, it produces captivating, complex wines.
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Sangiovese
Sangiovese is the principal black grape of Tuscany. Top-end Sangiovese wines are some of the world’s most sought-after reds.
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Shiraz/Syrah
A titan of the Northern Rhône, world-class Syrah is also produced in New World regions, including South Africa and Australia.
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Tempranillo
Tempranillo is Spain's noble grape. Outside Spain, the variety is grown in Argentina, Australia, Turkey and South Africa.
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Pinot Noir
Growing this fickle, low-cropping variety is extremely challenging but, made well, it produces captivating, complex wines.
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Sangiovese
Sangiovese is the principal black grape of Tuscany. Top-end Sangiovese wines are some of the world’s most sought-after reds.
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