Different types of wine grapes, and their regions

wine is made from grapes, there are more than a thousand variety grapes and not all of them are used in the production of wine.

The colour, flavour, and aroma of the wine are largely influenced by the types of grapes used in the production. There are five main types of wine in which grapes are used.

In this guide, we have listed the most popular types of grapes used in the production of wine.

Different types of white grapes list used in wine

1. Chardonnay

tyeps of grape

Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety, which is basically used in the production of white wine. This grape was first produced in Burgundy’s eastern wine region of France.

Chardonnay wine tends to be a medium to light body with noticeable acidity and flavours of green plum, apple, and pear. Its flavours become more citrus, peach, and melon, in warm locations.

Chardonnay grape is also used in the production of popular sparkling wine such as champagne, and  Franciacorta in Italy.
 

Regions: Champagne in the northeast of France, Burgundy, eastern region of France.

 
 

2. Sauvignon blanc

types of grape

Sauvignon blanc is also a green-skinned grape variety, that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. it is a refreshing dry wine that has a great minerality, aromas and tastes of herbs and grasses and a nice crisp.

Some most famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac are made from Sauvignon blanc. The flavour can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical.

Region: France, New Zealand, California, Chile, Italy, South Africa, Bordeaux, Loire Valley

3. Riesling

Types of grape

Riesling is a white grape variety, that originated from the Rhine region. It is high acidity and is used to make dry, medium, and white sparkling wine.

Riesling is fruit-driven aromatic white that comes in variable sweetness. some produce choose not to ferment all the sugar in grapes, therefore, making the wine in an off-dry style.

Regions: Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, France, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Canada

Also Read: What is a fortified wine, type, service

4. Chenin Blanc

Types of grape
Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety from the Loire Valley of France. Because of  its high acidity, it can be used to make varieties from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines,

 

Regions: Loire valley, France

5. Pinot Gris

Types of grape

Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio are a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera.  It is mostly famous for its refreshing citrus flavour and zesty acidity.

Pinot Gris has basically fruit flavours like lime, lemon, pear, white nectarine and apple. Depending on where the grapes are grown,

Regions: Alsace in France, northern Italy, Baden in Germany.

6. Trebbiano

Trebbiano

Trebbiano is an Italian white grape variety, it is mostly used in brandy and balsamic vinegar production. Its high acidity makes it important in Cognac and Armagnac productions.

Regions: Italy

Also Read: Service of wine step-by-step, red, white and champagne

7. Muscat

Types of grape

Muscat is a white grape that offers over 200 varieties ranging in colour from white to yellow. Variations of the Muscat family includes variations in style, from dry white wines to fortified examples, sparkling Muscats and sweet wines.

Regions: Alsace, southern Rhone, and Midi In France, southern Portugal, most of Italy, Greece Crete

8. Müller-Thurgau

Types of grape

Muller-Thurgau is a white wine grape variety, It was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882 at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in Germany.

Regions: Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute, Germany

Read some more white grapes below

9. Trentino

Region:  Alto Adige in Italy, Austria

10. Aligote

Regions: Burgundy

11. Bual

Regions: Madeira

12. Colombard

Regions: France, especially in cognac, California

13. Folle Blanche

Regions: France especially cognac, Armagnac, Loire, and California

14. Johannesburg Riesling

Regions: Germany-mainly Rhine and Mosel, France-in-Alsace the Jura; central Europe.

15. Malvasia

Regions: California, Mediterranean; known as Malmsey in Madeira

16. Muscadelle

Regions: Mainly in Australia, South Africa, and some in France

17. Muscadet

Regions: France, is also known as melon de Bourgogne

18. Palomino

Regions: Spain for sherry, also known as Listan Palomino

19. Pedro Ximenes

Regions: Australia, Calfornia, South Africa, Spain for sherry

20. Pinot Blanc

Regions: Burgundy, Alsace Germany

21. Pinot Gris

Regions: France-mainly Alsace, Germany, Switzerland, northern Italy

22. Sylvaner

Regions: Central Europe- mainly Germany; France

23. Ugni Blanc,

Regions: France, mainly cognac and Armagnac, where it is known as saint Emilion

26. Verdelho

Regions: Madeira

Read Also: What is a fortified wine, type, service

Different types of red grapes list used in wine

1. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a black grape of remarkable quality. It is considered to be the best in the world and is used in the production of the most prestigious chateaux wines of Medoc of the Bordeaux region of France. The colour of the skin is blue-black and is coated with dusty bloom.

The flavour resembles black currant, blackberry, and hints of resins, spices, mint. this type of grape produces wine with high tannin content which needs slow ageing in the oak cask.

Regions: Australia. The United States, Chile, and Argentina

2. Pinot noir

Pinot noir

It is a classic grape variety of Burgundy and champagne. It produces all the great red wines of Burgundy. It is one of the three permitted varieties of grapes used in champagne making to give structure to the wine.

Pinot noir grape produces light coloured, light tannin, and delicately flavoured wine with floral, herbal, strawberry, raspberry, cherry brandy aromas

Regions: United stare, New Zealand, and Italy used this variety.

3. Merlot

Merlot

It is an early ripening red variety from the Pomerol district of Bordeaux. Merlot is sensitive to frost and fungi and is frequently blended with cabernet sauvignon to produce excellent wines, especially in Pomerol and St. Emilion.

Merlot grape has low tannin and acid levels and produces softer, smoother, and fruitier wines with cherry plum, red currant flavours

Regions: The United state cultivates this variety.

4. Syrah (Shiraz)

Syrah

It is the main grape of northern Cotes du Rhone, producing Cote Rotie, Hermitage, St. Joseph, and Coronas. Syrah produces deep-coloured, astringent red wine aromas of violet, pepper, blackberry, and blueberry. This type of grape has a powerful tannin which allows the wine to mature gracefully

Regions: Italy, Australia, and the United States.

Read Also: Dom Perignon vintage champagne wine

5. Barbera

Barbera

Barbera is an Italian red grape variety, it is known for its deep colour, full-body, low tannins and high levels of acidity.

Barbera has fruit flavours such as dark cherry, dried strawberry, Plum, Blackberry, vanilla, nutmeg, and anise. 

Regions: Italy in piedmont, South America, California

6. Brunello

types of grape

Brunello is a red wine grape variety that produced some of the best, high-quality wines that have become symbols of Italian oenology. It is grown in the Montalcino area and derives its name from the brown colour the local variant possesses.

Regions: Italy in Tuscany

7. Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide, parent grape of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, aromas of raspberry, bramble, and bell pepper

Regions: France in Loire and Bordeaux, Italy, California

8. Gamay

types of grape

Gamay is a purple-coloured grape variety, grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Gamay-based wines are typically light-bodied and fruity, similar in taste to Pinot Noir.

Regions: France in Beaujolais and Loire, Switzerland, California

9. Grenache

Regions: France mainly south and southern Rhone, California, Spain

10. Lambrusco

Regions: Itlay in Emillia, Romagna

11. Malbec

Regions: France, Argentina, California

12. Meunier

Regions: France in champagne. It is also called Pinot Meunier

13. Nebbiolo

Regions: Italy in piedmont and Lombardy, California

14. Sangiovese

Regions: Itlay in Tuscany and Emilia, Romagna

15. Tempranillo

Regions: Spain in Rioja, Argentina

16. Zinfandel

Regions: California

Recommended reading: What are the different types of wine?

Types of wine grapes, and their regions PDF download

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Saswata Banerjee

Welcome to "Food and Beverage Knowledge," where I, Saswata Banerjee, share my passion and expertise in the world of hospitality. As a professional hotelier with years of experience in the industry, I have a deep understanding of food and beverage service, and I'm excited to bring that knowledge to you.