Grape varieties

Grape	Climate	Acidity	Tannins	Sweetness	Body	Flavour	Oak	Aging	Additional characteristics
Pinot Noir	CoolModerate	High	LowMedium			Red fruit: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry	Careful use of oak	Mushroom, Forest floor	Thin skin; Typically single varietal; Used to make sparkling wines
Zinfandel / Primitivo	Warm	MediumHigh	MediumHigh			Red fruits (strawberries, raspberries) Black fruits (plums, black cherries)	Red wines often oaked	Earth, Meat	High sugar levels; Ripens unevenly; Rose and red wines
Riesling	CoolModerate	High		DryOff-dryMediumSweet	LightMediumFull	Just ripe: green fruit (apple, pear), citrus (lemon lime) and floral (blossom) Extra ripe: stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (mango, pineapple) and dried fruit (apricot)	Unoaked	Honey, Petrol	Susceptible to botrytus/noble rot; Aromatic variety; Many harvest options
Chenin blanc	CoolModerateWarm	High		DryOff-dryMediumSweet		Just ripe: green fruit (apple) and citrus (lemon) Extra ripe: stone fruit (peach) and tropical fruit (pineapple, mango)	Oaked or unoaked	Dried fruit, Honey, Nuts	Versatile: climates; Susceptible to botrytis/noble rot; Many harvest options
Sémillon / semillon	ModerateWarm	MediumHigh		DryOff-dryMediumSweet	LightMediumFull	Young: apple, lemon, grass Developed: honey, nuts, raisins	Oaked or unoaked	Can age	Susceptible to botrytis/noble rot; Many harvest options; Sometimes blended (sauvignon blanc)
Furmint	Moderate	High		DryOff-dryMediumSweet			Oaked or unoaked	Dried fruit, Caramel, Nuts	Susceptible to botrytis/noble rot
Chardonnay	CoolModerateWarm	MediumHigh			LightMediumFull	Cool: green fruit (apple, pear), citrus (lemon, lime) and wet stones Moderate: lemon, stone fruits (peach) and sometimes tropical fruit (melon) Warm: stone fruit (peach), tropical fruit (pineapple, banana)	Oaked or unoaked	Hazelnut, Mushroom	Versatile: range of climats; Range of winemaking techniques; Used to make sparkling wines
Sauvignon blanc	CoolModerate	High		Dry	LightMedium	Herbaceous, floral (grass, green bell pepper, asparagus) Just ripe: green fruits (apple, gooseberry), wet stones Ripe: tropical fruit (passion fruit)	Typically unoaked	For early drinking	Aromatic variety; Typically single varietal; Sometimes blended with sémillon/semillon
Pinot grigio	Cool	High		Dry	Light	Green apple Lemon	Typically unoaked	For early drinking	Simple
Pinot gris	Moderate	Medium		DryOff-dryMedium	Full	Lemon Stone fruit (peach) Tropical fruit (mango, banana)	Typically unoaked	Honey, Ginger	Complex
Gewurztraminer	CoolModerate	LowMedium		DryOff-dryMediumSweet	Full	Floral (rose) Stone fruit (peach, apricot) Tropical fruit (lychee)	Typically unoaked	Honey, Dried fruit	Aromatic variety
Viognier	Moderate	LowMedium		Dry	MediumFull	Floral (blossom) Stone fruit (peach, apricot)	Oaked or unoaked		Single varietal or blended
Albariño	Moderate	High		Dry	Medium	Citrus (lemon, grapefruit) Stone fruit (peach, apricot)	Oaked or unoaked	For early drinking
Cabernet sauvignon	ModerateWarm	High	High		MediumFull	Herbaceous (green ball pepper), mint Black fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry)	Oak maturation is common	Dried fruit, Earth, Forest floor	Single varietal or blended; Simple or complex
Merlot	ModerateWarm	Medium	Medium		LightMediumFull	Just ripe: herbaceous (green ball pepper), red fruit (strawberry, red plum) Ripe: black fruit (cooked blackberry, black plum)	Oaked or unoaked	Dried fruit, Tobacco	Single varietal or blended; Simple or complex
Syrah / Shiraz	ModerateWarm	MediumHigh	MediumHigh		MediumFull	Black fruit (black cherry, blackberry) Herbal Black pepper	Oak maturation is common	Dried fruit, Leather, Meat, Earth	Single varietal or blended
Gamay	Moderate	High	LowMedium		Light	Red fruit: raspberry, red cherry, red plum	Typically unoaked	For early drinking	Carbonic maceration give aromas and flavours of banana and candy
Grenache / Garnacha	Warm	Low	LowMedium			Red fruit: strawberry, red plum, red cherry Spice: white pepper, liquorice	Oaked or unoaked	Earth, Meat, Dried fruit, Caramel	Thin skin; High sugar levels; Often blended; Red or rosé wine
Tempranillo	ModerateWarm	Medium	Medium		LightMediumFull	Red fruit: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry Black fruit: blackberry, black plum	Oaked or unoaked	Dried fruit, Leather, Mushroom	Simple or complex; Blended or single varietal
Carmenère	Warm	MediumHigh	High		Full	Herbaceous: green ball pepper Herbal: eucalyptus Black fruit: blackberry	Often oaked	Leather, Earth	Blended or single varietal
Malbec	Warm		High		Full	Black fruit: blackberry, black plum	Often oaked	Dried fruit, Meat	Blended or single varietal
Pinotage	Warm	High	Medium		MediumFull	Red fruit: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry	Often oaked	Can age	Blended or single varietal; Takes on strong flavours from oak: coffee, chocolate, smoke
Cortese		High		Dry	Light	Floral: blossom Green fruit: apple, pear Citrus fruit: lemon	Unoaked	For early drinking
Garganega		High		DrySweet	Medium	Green fruit: apple, pear Citrus fruit: lemon Stone fruit: peach	Unoaked	Honey, Almond
Verdicchio		High		Dry	Medium	Green fruit: apple, pear Citrus fruit: lemon Herbal: fennel	Unoaked	Honey, Nuts
Fiano		Medium		Dry	MediumFull	Stone fruit: peach Tropical fruit: melon, mango	Oaked or unoaked	Honey, Nuts	Can be aged on lees
Nebbiolo		High	High		Full	Red fruit: red cherry, red plum Floral: rose, violet Herbal: dried herbs	Oak maturation is common	Mushroom, Tobacco, Leather	Typically single varietal
Barbera		High	LowMedium			Red fruit: red cherry, red plum Spice: black pepper	Oaked or unoaked	Can be for early drinking, Can age	Typically single varietal; Simple or complex
Corvina		High	LowMedium		LightMediumFull	Red fruit: red cherry, red plum	Basic: usually unoaked	Can be for early drinking, Can age	Often blended (local varieties); Appassimento method sometimes used
Sangiovese		High	High		MediumFull	Red fruit: red cherry, red plum Herbal: dried herbs	Often oaked	Can be for early drinking, Can age	Often blended (local and international varieties)
Montepulciano		Medium	High			Black fruit: black plum, black cherry	Oaked or unoaked	For early drinking

Grape varieties

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