There are more than 3,000 grape varieties in the world that can be used to make wine. But there are only less than 50 grape varieties widely planted in the world. And the following 7 most important grape varieties in the world you should know.
Cabernet Sauvignon
It is a red grape variety that is planted widely in the world. It is crossed between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It has a good disease resistant ability and steady yield. It has high acidity, high tannin, full body, with blackcurrant, blackberry flavors. It can produce the varietal wine or blending well with other grape varieties, such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Most wines are unoaked, fermented and aged in the stainless steel vessel to preserve fresh fruity flavors for easy drinking wines. It can also make the powerful and good aging potential wines with great complexity through oak aging.
It is one of the most important red grape varieties in Bordeaux. Especially on the left bank of Bordeaux, Medoc AOC, Haut Medoc AOC and Graves AOC, it is the predominant red grape variety. It is also widely planted in the whole world. The most famous Cabernet Sauvignon wine regions are Bordeaux, Tuscany in Italy, Ribera del Duero in Spain, Napa Valley in California, Coonawarra and Margaret River in Australia, Maipo Valley in Chile, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand.
A lot of world famous red wines are made from this grape variety or blended as the predominant grape, such as Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Screaming Eagle and Opus One.
Merlot
It is another red grape variety that is always planted together with Cabernet Sauvignon. It has medium acidity and tannin, full body, with black plum and black cherry flavors. It needs less heat to ripen than Cabernet Sauvignon. So it can grow well on the right bank on the cooler clay and limestone soils while Cabernet Sauvignon has to grow on the left bank on the gravel and sand soils which can warm quickly and radiate the heat to the grapes therefore helps the grapes to ripen fully. In Bordeaux, it ripens two weeks earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, and has fuller body, less acidity and tannin. In the blending with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot can provide more body and soften the high tannin of Cabernet Sauvignon.
It is the most planted red grape varieties in Bordeaux, especially on the right bank, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. The most famous Merlot wine regions are Bordeaux, Tuscany in Italy, Napa Valley in California, Margaret River in Australia, Maipo Valley in Chile, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand.
A great many famous red wines are made from this variety or as a blend variety, such as Petrus, Le Pin, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Angelus, Chateau Ausone.
Syrah/Shiraz
It is called Syrah in France and Shiraz in Australia. It is a red grape variety that grows well in warmer climate. It has deep color, medium acidity and tannin, full body, with black berry and black pepper flavors. It needs more heat to ripen than Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Although it prefers the warm conditions, if there are some cooling influences, that can give the wine some freshness and elegance. It can make not only the single varietal wines, but also can blend well with other varieties, sometimes with the small percentage of white varieties, such as in the Côte-Rôtie AOC, up to 20% Viognier is allowed to blend with Syrah.
The best French Syrah are produced in Rhône Valley, especially in the northern part, like Côte-Rôtie AOC, Hermitage AOC, Crozes-Hermitage AOC and Cornas AOC. Syrah also grows well in some new world wine regions, such as Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley in Australia, Paso Robles in California and Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red grape variety, and prefers cooling conditions. It is relatively hard to grow, and needs a lot of care and attention.It has pale color, high acidity, low to medium tannin , medium body, with red cherry, strawberry flavors. It needs to grow in a cool place. ifIf grown in the warm climate, it is more likely to have the overripen jammy flavors and to lose its elegance.
It always produces varietal wines except for sparkling wines, Champagne for example. Most Pinot Noirs are unoaked to preserve the fruity flavors, but high quality wines are oaked and most are aging in the old oak barrels in order to avoid the oak-driven styles.
The best Pinot Noir are produced in Burgundy and Champagne in France, Sonoma and Los Caneros in California, Oregon, Yarra Valley in Australia, Marlborough and Central Otago in New Zealand and Walker Bay in South Africa.
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety. It is widely planted in the world. It has naturally high acidity, medium body. It has floral, citrus, stone fruits and tropical fruits, even dried fruits, and depends on what style of wine are made. Botrytised wine, for example, will have honey and dried apricot flavors. It can generate petrol-like aromas after long time aging. Because of its high acidity, it can make a range style of wines, from dry to sweet. Because the high levels of sweetness needs high acidity to balance. It can also make sparkling wine. It has good resistance to severe winter, so it can be used to make the Eiswein/Icewine.
It is always unoaked or use the very old barrel to ferment, and malolactic fermentation and lees contact are avoided. The aim is to keep its high acidity and fruity flavors.
The best Riesling wine regions are Alsace in France, Mosel, Rheingau and Pfalz in Germany, Eden Valley and Clare Valley in Australia.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white grape variety. It is widely planted in the world. The acidity level depends on the vineyard location. In the cool climate wine region, for example, the wine will have high acidity, with citrus and green fruits flavors. But in the warmer climate wine region, the wine will have relatively lower acidity, with stone fruits and tropical fruits flavors. The vinification techniques also have great influence, such as oak barrel fermenting or aging, malolactic fermentation and lees contact. But anyway, those techniques are optional. It can make not only single varietal wines, but also blend with other grape varieties, such as Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Chardonnay is a common grape variety in sparkling wine production, such as Champagne or Crémant de Bourgogne.
The most famous Chardonnay wine regions are: Bourgogne and Champagne in France, Napa Valley, Sonoma and Santa Barbara County in California, Margaret River and Yarra Valley in Australia and Walker Bay in South Africa.
Sauvignon Blanc
It’s a white grape variety which is planted widely in the world. It has natural high acidity and is aromatic variety. In some wine regions, it can have subtle mineral flavors, such as Pouilly-Fumé. It can make single varietal wines, especially in Loire Valley and new world. Blending with Sémillon is popular in Bordeaux, in which Sémillon can provide body, to make dry white wine and botrytised sweet wines. The Sauvignon Blanc in Loire Valley is always unoaked or very old oak barrel fermentation, providing the wine more fruity flavors. But in Bordeaux, oak aging is relatively a common thing.
The most famous dry white in France are Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Pessac-Léognan and Entre-Deux-Mers, and sweet white are Sauternes and Barsac.
Beside France, this variety is planted widely in new world, such as Malborough in New Zealand, Adelaide Hills in Australia, Napa Valley in California, Casablanca Valley in Chile and Elgin and Constantia in South Africa.