Our Wineguide

Grape varieties: the first step in learning more about wine

Red grapes:

Cabernet Franc:

Cabernet Sauvignon’s cousin.
Lighter in colour and tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, it is often blended. Light or medium bodied, it can age successfully.
■ Bordeaux

Cabernet Sauvignon:

The world renowned grape variety. A trophy winner!
Dominated by blackcurrant and spicy aromas, its real glory is in its ability to age and develop complex flavours.
■ Bordeaux

Gamay:

The grape responsible for Beaujolais.
It produces wines high in acidity, light in colour, with aromas of red fruit and cherries.
■ Beaujolais

Grenache:

The world’s second most widely planted grape variety!
Often light in colour, the wine produced is quite spicy and somewhat sweet.
■ Rhône

Merlot:

One of the most fashionable varietals. The red answer to Chardonnay.
Softer in style than Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is characteristically fruity (redcurrants) and flavourful and has soft round tannins.
■ Bordeaux

Pinot Noir:

The most “sexy” grape variety in the world!
The colour is generally light and it offers a host of flavours (red fruit).
■ Burgundy ■ Corsica

Syrah/ Shiraz:

A muscular but handsome brute!
This grape “A la mode” produces deeply coloured spicy wines with dense flavours (blackberry, black pepper, plum).
■ Rhône ■ Provence

White grapes:

Chardonnay:

The most popular white wine grape variety in the world!
It makes easy-drinking wines that are creamy on the palate, mixing flavours of white fruit and butter with nutty and spicy notes.
■ Burgundy

Chenin Blanc:

The grape that produces great Vouvray wines!
It produces wine with a wonderful acidity and distinctive flavours of white fruit (pear) combined with honey and mineral notes.
■ Loire

Sauvignon Blanc:

A fashionable, fragrant “super-grape”, that loves oysters and goat’s cheese!
Its flavour and style is the essence of freshness. The fruit is pure (grapefruit, lime, pineapple) and it doesn’t need ageing.
■ Loire ■ Bordeaux ■ Gascogne

Sémillon:

Primarily responsible for the great sweet wines!
Blended with Sauvignon Blanc, its best partner, it will give lots of complexity in the flavours and a good ageing potential.
■ Bordeaux