The grape variety guide

Alicante Bouschet is one of the few grapes whose flesh and juice are red, not just the skin. Created in the 19th century, it brings color and body to blends from southern France. Why is its flesh red? Read more

Long overshadowed by chardonnay, aligoté is Burgundy’s second white grape: crisp, mineral and refreshing, as good as an aperitif as it is in a kir. Is Bourgogne Aligoté dry or sweet? Read more

In Savoie, altesse gives the region’s finest whites, with notes of honey, hazelnut and citrus and a fine aging potential. Is Roussette de Savoie made from altesse? Read more

Artaban is one of the new disease-resistant grapes, able to grow almost without spraying against downy and powdery mildew, while producing supple, fruity reds. Is Artaban wine any good? Read more

You almost never see it on the label, yet bourboulenc hides in the great whites of the South, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to La Clape and Provence. What does it bring to these wines? Read more

Behind the single word “cabernet” hide two red-grape stars of Bordeaux, grown side by side for centuries, as close as they are rivals in the blend. Cabernet franc or cabernet-sauvignon: which is the bolder? Read more

More discreet than its famous offspring cabernet-sauvignon, cabernet franc is split between two very different vineyards, where it gives utterly different wines. Cabernet franc: more Loire or Bordeaux? Read more

It is the most planted red grape on the planet, from the great growths of the Médoc to the vineyards of Napa Valley and Chile. Yet it all began by pure chance, in Bordeaux. Where does cabernet-sauvignon really come from? Read more

Unlike the old varieties inherited from the past, caladoc was born in a French laboratory in the mid-20th century, designed to withstand the heat and drought of the South. From which cross does it come? Read more

In a few plots of the Béarn survives one of the rarest white grapes of France, almost erased from memory and saved by a handful of enthusiasts. What does a camaralet wine taste like? Read more

Carcajolo, Corsica’s rare red? Grown on just a few hectares in the south of the island, this confidential grape gives deep, colored, powerful and generous wines. Read more

Long dismissed as a bulk grape of the Midi, pulled up by the thousands of hectares from the 1980s, carignan is now one of the most sought-after reds of the Languedoc. How did this unloved grape make its comeback? Read more

A star of the Médoc in the 19th century, carménère mysteriously vanished from the vineyards of Bordeaux, before being reborn on the other side of the world, in Chile. How did it disappear from Bordeaux? Read more

From the crispest, most mineral Chablis to the most opulent Meursault, not to mention the bubbles of Champagne, chardonnay is the chameleon of white grapes. What food pairs with a chardonnay? Read more

Chasselas: a table grape or a wine grape? Both: best known as an eating grape, it also makes light, delicate white wines, in Savoie as in Switzerland.

From Vouvray to Savennières, chenin blanc completely changes face with the terroir and the winemaker’s hand, without ever losing its vibrant acidity. Can chenin really make every style of wine? Read more

You will find it in most Provence rosés, yet its name is rarely mentioned: cinsault is the quiet backbone of the rosés of the South, light and fragrant. Why is it so good at rosé? Read more

For centuries, colombard was grown only to be distilled into armagnac and cognac. Today it is one of the zestiest dry whites of South-West France. How did it move from the still to the glass? Read more

Châteauneuf-du-Pape allows thirteen grapes, but the glory almost always goes to grenache alone. The others stay in the shadows. Is counoise a hidden grape of Châteauneuf-du-Pape? Read more

A discreet white of the Béarn and Jurançon, courbu often slips into the aromatic blends of South-West France, always in the shadow of the mansengs and rarely named on its own. How do you recognize courbu? Read more

Developed by French research last century, egiodola remains a rare grape of South-West France, giving gourmand, fruity and deeply colored reds. What does its Basque name actually mean? Read more

A South-West red with firm tannins, it reigns over the hillsides of the Aveyron and Marcillac, where it is called mansois. Do fer servadou wines age well? Read more

Gamaret: a Swiss red grape born in 1970, built for color and structure. Grown mostly across the Swiss border, it stays rare in France. What is the Gamaret grape, exactly?

The star red grape of Beaujolais, gamay gives light, fruity, juicy wines, from Beaujolais nouveau to crus like Morgon and Fleurie. How did it become the king of Beaujolais? Read more

In Alsace, a white grape with pink-tinged skin gives the region’s most perfumed and most recognizable wines, from dry to lusciously sweet. Where does the name gewurztraminer come from? Read more

Less famous than its cousin grenache noir, grenache blanc is one of the pillars of the great whites of the Rhône and Roussillon, where it rules the blends. Does grenache blanc make rich or crisp whites? Read more

A rarer, gray-skinned version of the famous grenache, grenache gris is found mostly in the vineyards of Roussillon, made into both whites and rosés. What makes grenache gris so sought-after? Read more

Jacquère, the great white of Savoie? Yes: fresh, light and mineral, it is the main grape behind the Apremont and Abymes appellations.

An emblematic white of Gaillac, in the Tarn, loin de l’œil (len de l’el) goes into the appellation’s dry and sweet white blends. Where does its curious name come from? Read more

A great classic of the Roussillon vineyards, maccabeu goes into a wide range of wines, from everyday bottles to the region’s most prized cuvées. Does maccabeu make dry whites or sweet wines? Read more

Around the world, malbec first calls to mind the great reds of Mendoza, in Argentina, powerful and sun-drenched. Yet is malbec really a French or an Argentine grape? Read more

Grown for a very long time around the Mediterranean, malvoisie makes delicate white wines, from dry to sweet, found in France too, from Corsica to the Loire. Malvoisie: why does it win over lovers of refined wines? Read more

Long confined to the northern Rhône Valley, marsanne is gaining ground and now makes great whites, from Hermitage to Saint-Joseph. Why does it give such opulent whites? Read more

Discreet but essential, this white grape of the Loire gives the wines of Muscadet, dry and briny, perfect with a seafood platter. What gives Muscadet its freshness? Read more

Supple, round and easy to love, merlot turns up everywhere, from everyday bottles to the greatest growths. Merlot: the soul of the great Bordeaux? Read more

Monarch: a German disease-resistant red grape bred to withstand vine diseases. Deeply colored, fruity, built for low-spray growing. What is a disease-resistant grape like Monarch?

A true sun-worshipper, mourvèdre brings color, tannins and scents of garrigue to the great reds and rosés of the South. Mourvèdre: the king of Bandol? Read more

Often overlooked behind sémillon and sauvignon, muscadelle nonetheless rounds out the great whites of the Bordeaux region and South-West France, adding its floral notes. Muscadelle: the secret of the great sweet wines? Read more

Increasingly planted for cleaner winegrowing, muscaris is a recent white grape that needs very little spraying. Does muscaris really smell of muscat? Read more

From the great sweet muscats of the South to table grapes, the muscat family has grown all around the Mediterranean since antiquity. What do all muscats have in common? Read more

Deep black clusters, a heady muscat perfume and juicy flesh: muscat de Hambourg is enjoyed as a table grape and as a sweet wine alike. Where does this fragrant black grape come from? Read more

Behind the great sweet wines of Beaumes-de-Venise and Rivesaltes, and behind some dry Alsace whites too, you often find the same grape. Is muscat blanc à petits grains the noblest of the muscats? Read more

A mainstay of Corsican reds, nielluccio makes deep, structured wines built to age, from the north to the south of the island. Nielluccio: the great red of Patrimonio? Read more

Ondenc, an old white grape of the Gaillac area? This ancient South-West variety goes into both dry and sweet white wines.

A native Pyrenean grape with tiny berries, petit courbu perfumes the whites of South-West France with notes of honey and lemon. Petit courbu: a rare South-West grape? Read more

A rare, powerful red grape, petit verdot makes up only a small share of the Gironde’s vines. What does petit verdot do in Bordeaux blends? Read more

Picardan, one of the forgotten grapes of Châteauneuf-du-Pape? This rare, ancient southern white is one of the appellation’s thirteen permitted varieties.

An emblematic white of the Languedoc, picpoul reigns around the Étang de Thau and its Picpoul de Pinet appellation, facing the Mediterranean. Picpoul: the perfect partner for oysters? Read more

Pineau d’Aunis, the most peppery grape of the Loire? This old Loire red makes reds and rosés with a uniquely peppery signature.

The third grape of Champagne alongside chardonnay and pinot noir, pinot meunier remains the least known to the public. What part does it play in champagne? Read more

Often eclipsed by riesling and gewurztraminer, pinot blanc is nonetheless one of the most versatile whites of Alsace. What makes pinot blanc so easy to love? Read more

Long known as tokay in Alsace, pinot gris makes powerful whites there, sometimes sweet, with a golden hue. Why is Alsace pinot gris so rich? Read more

A star red grape of the Jura, poulsard makes wines so pale they could almost be taken for rosés. Where does the pale color of poulsard wines come from? Read more

A great white grape of Alsace, riesling is prized for its purity, minerality and ability to age for decades. Does riesling really smell of petrol? Read more

Rolle or vermentino, are they the same grape? Yes: across the South of France, from Provence to the Languedoc, vermentino takes the name rolle and makes fresh, fragrant, saline whites. Read more

A rare, refined Loire white, romorantin grows on only a tiny patch of land. Why does romorantin grow nowhere but Cour-Cheverny? Read more

A star of the Rhône’s great whites, roussanne charms with its silky texture and aromas of honey and white flowers. Where does the name roussanne come from? Read more

Sauvignac: a disease-resistant white grape bred in Switzerland by Valentin Blattner, with a Sauvignon-like profile of citrus and exotic fruit. Does Sauvignac taste like Sauvignon Blanc?

Which white wine shines with goat cheese? Often a sauvignon: this dry, zesty, aromatic white is the classic partner for Loire goat cheeses. Read more

From the Loire Valley to New Zealand, sauvignon blanc changes character with the climate. Sauvignon blanc: crisp and grassy, or ripe and tropical? Read more

From the hillsides of the Jura, savagnin makes dry, golden-hued whites that are taut and remarkably rich. Savagnin: the grape behind the famous vin jaune? Read more

All finesse and spice, sciaccarellu is one of the great reds of Corsica, especially around Ajaccio. What does the name sciaccarellu mean? Read more

A recent, disease-resistant white grape, solaris thrives in the most northerly vineyards, from Germany to Scandinavia. How does it ripen where sunshine is scarce? Read more

A disease-resistant grape born from a modern cross, souvignier gris has a gray-pink skin that opens up many options in the cellar. Souvignier gris: from white to orange wine? Read more

Discreet and thirst-quenching, sylvaner makes dry, light whites in Alsace, perfect with seafood. Sylvaner: the too-often-overlooked white of Alsace? Read more

A star of the reds of the northern Rhône Valley, from Hermitage to Côte-Rôtie, syrah makes dark, intense and deep wines. Does syrah really taste of pepper? Read more

A white grape of Bordeaux and South-West France, sémillon stands out for its waxy texture and its ability to age. Sémillon: the great grape of Sauternes? Read more

With its large clusters and light, fresh, delicately fruity wines, terret blanc has long been grown in the Languedoc. Terret blanc: a forgotten Languedoc grape? Read more

Few people have heard of it, yet no white grape is more widely planted in France than ugni blanc. How do you explain such success? Read more

Discreet but refined, trousseau makes colored, spicy, well-structured reds in the Jura. Trousseau: the most powerful of the Jura reds? Read more

Verdesse, a rare white grape of the Alps? Grown in the Isère, this confidential variety makes aromatic, wonderfully original whites.

From the Corsican coast to the shores of Provence, vermentino makes fresh, fragrant whites with a saline touch. Vermentino: the great white of the Mediterranean? Read more

What is so special about old carignan vines? Often several decades old, they give concentrated, deep and characterful reds that have become the pride of the Languedoc revival. Read more

A northern-Rhône white, viognier enchants with its scents of flowers and stone fruit. Viognier: the star grape of Condrieu? Read more

Voltis, a grape for spray-free vineyards? Recently authorized, this disease-resistant white was bred to resist disease and greatly reduce vineyard treatments.