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
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 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
Old World
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 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)
