Origin
The Rhône Valley, France. Also good examples found in the South of France, California, Argentina, and Australia.

Wines
Famous for producing the fine white wines of Condrieu, especially Château-Grillet in the northern Rhône. Interestingly this variety may sometimes be used in red wine production.  The addition of Viognier helps to soften the full-bodied robust Syrah grape especially in those wines produced in Cote Rotie. This practice is increasingly being used in the new world.

Viognier grapes are deep yellow producing wine with rich colour, high alcohol and a perfume reminiscent of peaches, apricots and acacia. Sometimes lacking in acidity, Viognier always delivers an invigorating spiciness. The wines that are at their best drunk in youth so as to capture that heady blossom.

Origin
Albarino is the Spanish name for this grape variety found in Galicia in Northern Spain. In Portugal it is known as Alvarinho.

Wines
Famous for producing single varietal wines in the Spanish region of Rias Baixas; and in Portugal it produces some of the finest Vinho Verdes wines often blended with Loureiro and Treixadura.

Aromatic and peachy, with aromas of rich lemon curd. Its thick skins allows the grape to withstand the heavy rains found in these regions, and can result in wines that have high alcohol, high acidity and packed with flavour.

Origin
This hitherto little known grape variety is the most planted variety in Austria. Best examples may be found in the Wachau region.

Wines                                                                                                                       A hardy, productive vine that ripens late; producing wines that shout spiciness, pepper, grapefruit and (can be) very high in alcohol. At its best ‘Gru Vee’ (as the Americans refer to it) can produce wines for longevity that become more opulent in bottle.

Origin
Originating in Galicia in northern Spain, although, today it is probably best known for producing the aromatic whites of Argentina. Torrontés Riojano is the most planted strain in Argentina, in Chile it is known as Moscatel de Austria.

Wines
Torrontes is another aromatic variety producing wines with fresh, crisp acidity and a floral aroma not dissimilar to Muscat or Gewurztraminer. It tends to make the ‘everyday’ drinking wines rather than ‘fine’ wines, and is meant to be drunk young, a great aperitif wine.

Origin
This is a French hybrid, meaning that its existence came about a result of a crossing grape varieties from two different species of vine. The fact that Seyval Blanc is a hybrid prevents it from receiving a ‘quality wine’ status under European legislation and may only be used in the production of table wine. This is a shame since it is becoming an increasingly successful variety here in the UK where it is used to produce some excellent still and sparkling wines.

Wines
It produces high acid, light, fruity dry or medium dry white wines, and the hardiness of the vine means that it is able to withstand the low temperatures often found in the UK. 

Origin
Gewürztraminer originated from northern Italy in the Tyrol where it was known simply as Traminer. When it was planted in Alsace it took on a spicy character and became known as Gewurztraminer, ‘gewűrz’ meaning spice in German. The best examples come from the Alsace region of France, although there are some interesting and fabulous examples to be found in New Zealand and Chile.

Wines
Probably the hardest grape variety of all to spell but one of the easiest to recognize on the vine by its distinctive colour which is almost pink when ripened. Gewűrztraminer is one of the four ‘quality’ grapes grown in Alsace that can produce Grand Cru (top quality), Vendange Tardive (late harvest)and Selection des Grains Noble (noble rot affected) wines. This variety has a distinctive and pungent bouquet of perfume and tropical fruits. Often associated with lychees, rose petals, or Turkish Delight, Gewürztraminer produces dry, medium and fully sweet wines, and like most aromatic wines is rarely oak aged.

Origin
This bizarrely named variety is found in southwest France in the district of the Tarn; Len de L’Ehl is the Gaillac for ‘far from sight’.

Wines
Famous for producing Gaillac Blanc and Gaillac Doux alongside the Mauzac grape, Len de L’Ehl typically constitutes 15% of a blend.  It produces both still and sparkling wines that may be dry or sweet and can have great character, high alcohol and plenty of fresh natural acidity.

Origin
The ‘King of grapes’ as it is known, finds its home in Germany where it is grown in every wine region, but specifically famed in the Rheingau and Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. Riesling is also found in the French region of Alsace, Austria and more recently in Australia and New Zealand.

Wines
So many people wrongly associate Riesling with the ubiquitous Liebfraumilch. This once popular German quaffing wine is produced from the higher yielding poorer quality Muller-Thurgau and not from Riesling.  

This highly under-rated variety produces both still and sparkling wines ranging from dry to sweet. It is responsible for the delicate, aromatic Kabinett wines as well as the intensely, luscious, sweet and opulent Trockenbeerenauslese dessert wines found in Germany. In Alsace, Riesling produces a drier racier style of wine and in the New World it produces wine with intense lime and tropical fruit characteristics. With its high levels of acidity and residual sugar content, Riesling can age for decades and as it matures it takes on a complex petrol and kerosene character which epitomises this variety.

Riesling wines make the perfect match for food. Try a medium-dry Mosel Kabinett with roast goose and apple sauce or a dry Clare Valley Riesling with a summer salad with smoked mackerel.

Origin
An ancient variety found in the southern Italian region of Campania. It is planted alongside the better known Grecco di Tufa and Fiano di Avellino, also bought to Italy by the Greeks. Known and loved by the Romans as Falernina, its Latin name stemming from ‘phalange’ meaning tied to the pole, presumably a reference to the vine training used.

Wines
Falanghina produces both quality DOC wines in Campania, such as Campi Felegrei Falanghina and Santa ‘Agata dei Goti Falanghina, and the more basic wines of Capri, such as Costa d’Amalfi and Falerno del Massico. It is an aromatic dry white wine with a delicate nose, fresh acidiy and lively citric fruit flavours. It has a slightly bitter aftertaste which is reminiscent of pomegranate. There is a regional fair held in September in the municipality of Santa’Agata dei Goti to celebrate this lesser known variety and the wines it produces.

Origin
Mouvedre originated in Southern France but is also found in Southern Spain where it is known locally as Monastrell.  In the New World its home can be found in the hotter regions of California and Australia, where it is known as Mataro.

Wines
The best wines produced are the Provençal Bandol wines, where it constitutes a minimum of 50% of the blend. Deep colour, high tannin and a rich blackberry aroma and flavour are the hallmarks of this distinctive black grape. Fussy as to where it is grown, Mourvédre is said to be like a Parisian on holiday – it likes it feet in the sand and its head in the sun!

Origin
An ancient variety originating in Rioja but sadly greatly declined although recent years have seen a renewed interest in plantings. There are small plantings in the south of France where it is known as Morrastel.

Wines
Graciano may be found in the Grand Reserva Riojas and Navarra wines, however, its small yields tend to make it a relatively unpopular grape elsewhere. The wines have a strong aroma, are fairly tannic and deeply coloured. When drunk young they tend to be rather tart and rough, however have ability to age and develop superbly in both cask and bottle.

Origin
This big burly grape of southwest France, is a highly individual grape that is rarely seen out of its homestead. Interestingly the only other country that has had any real success with this grape is Uruguay, where they have more Tannat planted than in its home region of Madiran. Locally it is known as Harriague after Pascal Harriague who introduced the variety (and the production of quality wines) in the late 19th century.

Wines
Tannat by name and tannic by nature!  This thick-skinned variety produces deeply coloured wines for keeping and in fact Tannat wines can be austere and harsh in their youth. They have a raspberry perfume and when aged can take on aromas of coffee, spices, cocoa and vanilla. At best these powerful wines can rival the famous Grand Cru’s of Bordeaux.

Origin
The Italians like to keep their best to themselves and that is certainly the case for Nebbiolo, the great Piedmontese grape. The name is thought to originate from the Italian word for fog ‘nebbia’ due to the prominent ‘bloom’ which give them a ‘foggy’ look when ripened.  Rarely do we see this classy variety planted outside its northwestern Italian homeland. However, now that the New World has discovered its attraction, it is increasingly being seen in Australia, California, South Africa, South America and even New Zealand.

Wines
Famous for producing the wines of Barolo and Barberesco, the former being renowned for its intensity and masculinity and the latter a gentler and more feminine style.  Nebbiolo wines are complex, tannic with high acidity and have an ability to age for decades in bottle having already spent many years in cask. They confusingly lose their colour at a deceptively early age and the best examples have aromas of wild strawberries, cherries, violets, tar, dark chocolate, coffee, game, mushrooms, cedar and cigar box.

Origin
The other great grape of the northwestern region of Piedmont in Italy and often overlooked by Nebbiolo lovers. Barbera is also found in Slovenia, Australia and the Americas, particularly in Argentina and California.

Wines
Famous for producing the wines of Barbera D’Asti, Barbera D’Alba and Barbera di Monferato.  Barbera is known for its high acidity and deep colour but unusually low tannins. It produces wines that are medium bodied and packed with ripe cherry and red fruit flavours. Oak ageing lends it aromas of vanilla, spice and toast with an ability to age.

Origin
This grape variety has caused so much confusion in Chile. Its home is Bordeaux where it makes up one of the six varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere) used to produce claret. However, its recent notoriety stems from confusion surrounding the misnaming of Chilean Merlot.  In 1994 Professor Jean-Michel Boursiquit from Montpellier confirmed that many of the wines labelled Merlot were in fact not Merlot but Carmenere!

Wines
Carmenere is rarely seen in its home region today but the best examples are may be found in Chile usually as part of the blend alongside Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are soft and mellow and have the Merlot plummy character with a distinctive herbaceous character.

Origin
Pronounced ‘ah-yohr-YEE-tee-koh’, otherwise known as St George! This Greek grape variety finds its home in the Peloponnesian region of Nemea, the altitude at which it is grown determines the style and quality of the grape.

Wines
Below 300 metres the grapes mature quickly and the acids plummet, so at this level Agiorgitiko is best suited to producing sweet dessert wines. Between 300 and 600 metres the grapes are at their most prolific and the wines produced are soft, fruity, dry reds. Above 650 metres the grapes are grown to produce more serious full bodied wines designed to be laid down.  Since the tannins can often be harsh, they may be softened through the process of carbonic maceration (whole berry fermentation). The best examples take on nuances of red and black currants and exotic spices. Agiorgitiko also makes fabulous ripe and full coloured rosé wines.