What is in my bottle of wine? New World wines (USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile) are frequently easier to navigate on the wine list and at retail, as the grape varieties are typically listed prominently on the label. Wines of the Old World (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Croatia) are less obvious unless you are familiar with the region, as most of the wines list the region, not the grape, on the label.
To help you navigate the wine list and the store shelf like a pro, here is a list of the major grape varieties that can be found in the most predominant Old World wine-producing regions.
FRANCE
Bordeaux
(Médoc, Pomerol, St-Émilion, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Entre-Deux-Mers, Sauternes)
Red Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec
White Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Burgundy
(Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Châlonnaise, Mâconnais, Beaujolais)
Red Grapes: Pinot Noir, Gamay
White Grapes: Chardonnay
Loire Valley
(Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Vouvray, Anjou, Muscadet)
Red Grapes: Cabernet Franc
White Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
Champagne
(Valley of the Marne, Moutain of Reims, Côte des Blancs, Côte des Bar)
Red Grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
White Grapes: Chardonnay
Côtes du Rhône
(Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Côte Rotie, St-Joseph, St-Perey, Château-Grillet, Condrieu, Châteauneuf-de-Pape, Gigondas, Lirac, Tavel, Vacqueyras)
Red Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
White Grapes: Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Picpoul
Alsace
Red Grapes: Pinot Noir
White Grapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner
Languedoc-Roussillon
Red Grapes: Carignan, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
White Grapes: Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Provence
Red Grapes: Grenache, Syrah
White Grapes: Rolle (Vermentino), Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano), Bourboulenc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc
SPAIN
Rioja
Red Grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, Maturana Tinta
White Grapes: Viura, Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo
Priorat
Red Grapes: Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Ribera del Duero
Red Grapes: Tempranillo
Penedès (Cava)
White Grapes: Macabeo (Viura), Parellada, Xarel-lo, Malvasia
Red Grapes: Cariñena, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon
Rias Baixas
White Grapes: Albariño
Sherry
White Grapes: Palomino, Pedro Ximénez
ITALY
Tuscany
(Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano)
Red Grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
White Grapes: Vernaccia
Piedmont
(Barolo, Barbaresco)
Red Grapes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
White Wines: Moscato, Cortese, Arneis
Veneto
(Valpolicella, Bardolino, Soave, Prosecco)
Red Grapes: Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella
White Grapes: Garganega, Trebbiano, Glera
GERMANY
Rheinhessen
White Grapes: Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
Red Grapes: Dornfelder, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Kerner
Rheingau
White Grapes: Riesling, Müller-Thurgau
Red Grapes: Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Mosel
White Grapes: Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Elbling
AUSTRIA
White Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
Red Grapes: Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, Pinot Noir
GREECE
White Grapes: Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Roditis (pink grape)
Red Grapes: Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro
A special thank you to John P. Laloganes, Sommelier, Educator and Author of acclaimed books like The Beverage Manager’s Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits and others. Our team is grateful for his mentorship and continued passion for wine education. Cellar Angels customers are more informed wine enthusiasts because of the content on this page, which he generously provided.
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