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.
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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