WINE GROWING REGIONS AND THEIR MAJOR VARIETALS

The concept of “Terroir” is a belief that much of wines has been made while grapes were still on their vines. The combinations of soil, air, water, minerals and climate in any particular area are unique only to such area; these combinations are sometime unique to a small village and sometime to only a single vineyard.  Each terroir has different influence on the grape flavors and therefore its wine.  Even the same varietals grown in different areas can be so different from one another; certain varietals thrive and produce world class wines in only some areas.  Here are the world’s major wine regions and their beloved varietals.grapes napa reserva

Color reference: Red/Black Varietals and White Varietals

New World

[ezcol_1half] California

Any top (2 or 3) varietals from major wine regions in the world can be found in California.  California is specially known for international varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

North Coast

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Granache, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and many more…

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Viognier

Central Coast

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Granache.

Chardonnay*, Riesling, Muscat and Viognier

South Coast

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay


Oregon

Pinot, Merlot

Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay


 Washington

Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Riesling, Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier


Virginia

Cabernet Franc*, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Norton and Native American Varietals.

Viognier*, Chardonnay and Riesling


New Zealand

North Island

Pinot, Cab, Merlot and Shiraz

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muller-Thurgau

South Island

Pinot, Syrah

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris


 [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] South Africa

Pinotage, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Shiraz, Grenache, Pinot Noir

Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon


Argentina

Malbec, Bonarda, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah

Torrontes, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay


 Chile

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah

          Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat of Alexandria


Australia

New South Wales

Shiraz

Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling

Victoria     

Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc

Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat

South Australia

Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon

Dry Riesling

Western Australia

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz

Chardonnay, Riesling

Tasmania

Pinot Noir

Chardonay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling


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Old World

[ezcol_1half] Spain

Rioja

Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo (France –Carignan)

Viura, Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca

Ribera del Duero

Tinto Fino, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon

none

Toro & Rueda

Tinta do Toro (Tempranillo)

Verdejo, Sauv Blanc, Viura

Jerez

none

Palomino, Moscatel, Pedro Ximenez

Penedes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena, Garnacha, Merlot, Monastrell, Ull de Llebre (tempranillo)

Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo

Castilla-La Mancha

Cencibel (tempranillo)

Airen

Rias Baixas

none

Albarino, Loureira, Treixadura

Priorat 

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena, Garnacha, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo.

Granacha Blanca, Maccabeo, Parellada, Chenin Blanc and Viognier.


Italy

Piedmont

Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Brachetto

Cortese, Arneis, Chardonnay, Moscato

Lombardy

Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca)

Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero)

Veneto

Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Cab Franc, Merlot

Pinot Grigi, Glera (Prosecco), Trebbiano, Garganega

Tuscany

Sangiovese, Prugnolo Gentile, Brunello, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauv, Merlot, Syrah.

Vernaccia, Trebbiano, Malvasia

Marches

Sangiovese, Montepulciano

Verdicchio, Trebbiano, Malvasia.


Greece

Xynomavro, Agiorgitiko, and international varietals

Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, White muscat, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc


Austria

Zweigelt, Blaufrankish, Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Cabernet Sauvignon

Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay, Muller-Thurgau


Hungary

None

Furmint, Harslevelu, Muscat


 [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end] France

Bordeaux

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdo

Muscabelle, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Ugni Blanc

Champagne       

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier

Chardonnay

Burgundy

Pinot Noir                

Chardonnay, aligote        

Beaujolais

Gamay

Chardonnay, Aligote

Rhone Valley

Syrah, Grenach

Blending: Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Calitor, Carignan, Counoise, Muscardin, Terret Noir ad Vaccarese.

Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne

Blending: Bourdoulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Muscat Blanc, Picardan, Picqoul and Ugni Blanc,

Loire Valley

Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Grolleau;

Blending: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Meunier

Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne;

Blending: Arbois, Chadonnay, Chenin Blanc, Folle de Bourgogne

Alsace

Pinot Noir

Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer

Blending: Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Muscat, Sylvaner

Languedoc-Roussillon

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Syrah

Blending: Cinsaut, Lladoner, Pelut, Picpoul Noir, Terret Noir

Provence            

Mourvedre, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Blending: Braquet, Calitor, Carignan, Cinsaut, fole Noire, Tiboiren, Syrah


Portugal

Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, Aragonez, Baga, Ramisco, Trinacadeira

Vinho Verde: Trajadura, Alvarinho, Loureiro, Gouveio, Encruzado

Port

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Baroca, Mourisco Tinto, Sausao

Arinto, Codega, Malvasia Fino, Malvasia, Corada, Rabigato, Vioshino

 


Germany

Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder), dornfelder, Portugieser

Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Weissburgunder (pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (pinot Gris)


 

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