- Chardonnay
- Medium bodied wine
- Flavours of apple, lemon and pear
- Works very well with oak
- Oaked chardonnay is rich with flavours of stone fruits and a creamy finish
- Burgundy, Chablis, Hunter Valley and Sonoma Coast are its famous growing regions
- White grape used for making Champagne
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Light bodied wine
- An aromatic grape
- Flavours of Gooseberry, lime, passion fruit.
- Loire and Marlborough are its most famous growing regions
- Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris
- Light bodied wine
- A very delicate lean wine
- Flavours of apple and lime
- Italy, Alsace and New Zealand are its famous wine growing regions
- Riesling
- Medium bodied wine
- Fresh and crisp when dry
- Rich and voluptuous when off-dry
- Crisp green apple flavours
- Aromas of petrol in some of the best examples
- Famously grown in Germany, although planted now throughout the world
- Viognier
- Medium bodied wine
- Stone fruit flavours such as peach and apricot
- Aromatic spices to match fruits
- Best known as the grape variety that produces legendary Rhone white Condrieu
- Chenin Blanc
- Medium bodied wine
- Flavours of grape, citrus and stone fruits
- Can produce great quality dry, medium and sweet wines
- Stylistically varied wine, Vouvray, from Loire Valley made from Chenin Blanc, grows well in South Africa too
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- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Full bodied wine
- Complex in style
- Dark fruit flavours mingle with spice, leather and tobacco on the nose and palate
- One of the major constituent grape varieties found in classic Bordeaux, especially from Left Bank
- Grown throughout the world reflecting its stylistic diversity
- Merlot
- Medium bodied wine
- Dark berry fruits
- Often thought of as a juicy, fruity, easy going wine, but can be very complex in best cases
- Another of the major constituent grape varieties in Bordeaux wines, especially from Right Bank
- One of the most widely planted and popular grape varieties throughout the world
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Full bodied wine
- Rich dark berry fruits
- Peppery spice
- Generally known as Shiraz when grown in the New World, but Syrah from the Old
- Pinot Noir
- Light-medium bodied wine
- Lighter red fruits match its lighter colour
- Savoury elements, especially on the nose, can develop
- Thin skins to the grapes meaning it is very vulnerable and therefore highly prized
- Grown in generally cooler areas throughout the world
- Grenache
- Medium bodied wine
- Soft, rich and full red fruit flavours
- Warm spices
- Known as Garnacha in Spain, where it can be used in Rioja blends
- Tempranillo
- Medium bodied
- Soft red fruit flavours
- Traditional grape variety of Rioja
- Occasionally, but rarely, found outside of Spain
- Sangiovese
- Medium bodied
- Spicy red cherry flavours
- Classic Italian grape, found throughout Italy, but revered in Tuscany
- Main element to Chianti
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