Over a thousand grapes, six that matter
There are well over a thousand grape varieties used to make wine. The good news: six of them turn up on almost every wine list, and they line up neatly from light to bold. Learn these six and most bottles start to make sense.
The three whites
| Grape | Style | Famous home |
|---|---|---|
| Riesling | Aromatic, often floral or citrusy, from bone dry to sweet | Germany (Mosel), Alsace |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Zesty, crisp, grassy or green-fruity | The Loire (Sancerre), New Zealand (Marlborough) |
| Chardonnay | Rounder and fuller; buttery and toasty when oaked | Burgundy (including Chablis) |
Riesling sits at the lightest end, Chardonnay at the fullest. An oaked Chardonnay can feel almost as weighty as a light red.
The three reds
| Grape | Style | Famous home |
|---|---|---|
| Pinot Noir | Pale, silky, red-fruited, light | Burgundy |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Firm, structured, blackcurrant, grippy tannin | Bordeaux, Napa Valley |
| Syrah (Shiraz) | Bold, dark-fruited, often peppery | Barossa (as Shiraz), the northern Rhône |
Pinot Noir is the lightest red of the six. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are both bold; many charts put a ripe Australian Shiraz at the very top.
These positions are a rule of thumb, not a law. Where and how a wine is made moves it up or down the scale, but as a starting point it works remarkably well.
Why lists name places instead of grapes
On many wine lists, especially for European wines, you'll see the place rather than the grape. French, Italian and Spanish wines are traditionally named after where they come from, and the rules of each place decide which grapes are allowed. Knowing a few famous homes unlocks a lot:
- Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc.
- Chablis is Chardonnay.
- Bordeaux reds are mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
- Burgundy makes both colours: white Burgundy is Chardonnay, and red Burgundy is Pinot Noir. A nice one to share at dinner.
Putting it to work
Steak night, your friend wants a big, firm red, and the list only shows places. Red Burgundy is lovely, but it's Pinot Noir and sits at the light end. Sancerre is a zesty white. The Bordeaux is the one: mostly Cabernet and Merlot, firm, structured and made for steak.
Questions people ask
What grape is red Burgundy?
Pinot Noir. White Burgundy, including Chablis, is Chardonnay. Burgundy is one of the few famous regions where you need to know the colour to know the grape.
What grape is Sancerre?
Sauvignon Blanc, for the white Sancerre most people mean. (Red and rosé Sancerre exist too, and those are made from Pinot Noir.)
Is Shiraz the same as Syrah?
Yes, it's the same grape. "Shiraz" is the name used in Australia and some other New World countries, usually for a riper, bolder style; "Syrah" is used in France and much of the world.
