Discover Different Wine Varieties
Wine is often simplified into four categories: red, white, rosé, and sparkling. However, grapes are only made from two types of grapes, red and white. Depending on the amount of contact with grape skins, wine can take on different forms, but it is the type of grape used that determines the type of wine that is created. There are more than 10,000 different varieties of grape grown across the world, each of which create different wine varieties. Many of these wines fall into similar categories, with some more common and more popular, and others niche and rare.
We’ll be exploring some of the most popular types of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wine varieties, to help you broaden your understanding.
Overview Of Wine Varieties
Red Wines
- Cabernet Sauvignon - Grown in almost every major wine producing country, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes emerged relatively recently, the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Often described as a big wine with high tannins and acidity, it pairs well with grilled meats, hearty stews, and aged cheeses.
- Pinot Noir - Typically associated with France’s Burgundy region, in addition to the varietal wine, Pinot noir is also used to make other red wines, champagne, and sparkling white wines. As a result of the thin skins and low levels of phenolic compounds, they tend to produce lightly coloured, medium-bodied and low-tannin wines.
- Merlot - A medium-bodied red wine, Merlot is used for the varietal wine and also as a blending grape in other varieties. The second most popular variety of wine after Cabernet Sauvignon, it accounts for almost 6% of all wine grapes grown worldwide.
- Shiraz - One of the major varieties of wine grown in Australia, Shiraz is a full-bodied red wine. Depending on where it is grown, the climate can influence the flavour profile of the wine, with more moderate climates producing medium bodied wines, and hot climates such as that of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions producing consistent full-bodied wines with softer tannins.
White Wines
- Chardonnay - Originating in Burgundy, Chardonnay is a versatile white wine that is used in both new and old world wines. Featuring a light to medium body with noticeable acidity, it is used to create the varietal wine, and it is also vinified to make Chablis and in making Champagne.
- Sauvignon Blanc - A crisp and refreshing white wine, it is cultivated across the world, and used both in varietal and blended wines. Depending on where it is grown, flavour can vary significantly from noticeable acidity and green flavours in cooler climates to tropical fruit notes in warmer climates.
- Riesling - A versatile grape that can produce both sweet, dry and sparkling white wines, the notes can vary significantly depending on where it’s grown, but it is commonly grown in Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia. Its high acidity and fruity notes give it high potential for ageing.
Rosé Wines
- White Zinfandel - an off-dry and sweet wine made from Zinfandel grapes, the rosé variant is a relatively new variant that was created by chance 50 years ago after a mishap during the fermentation process of creating a red wine Zinfandel.
- Provence rosé - a dry and light-bodied wine, it is one of the most popular varieties of rosé. Grown in Provence in the south of France, it features a wide ranging bouquet, including floral, mineral, and fruity notes.
Sparkling Wines
- Champagne - the most well known and highly regarded sparkling wine, Champagne is produced in the Champagne region of France. Highly protected under rules of appellation, there is a strict process for its production, from where the grapes are sourced to how they are pressed. Pinot noir and Chardonnay are two of the most commonly used varieties to make Champagne.
- Prosecco - an Italian sparkling wine named after the village of Prosecco, it is typically made from the Glera grape in a sparkling or semi-sparkling style. It is considered a lighter and more bubbly alternative to Champagne.
We will continue to add different wine varieties to this overview to help educate your journey in wine, along with more in-depth profiles of each variety. If you have any questions about the wines we have mentioned or specific varieties we have in stock, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Why More Than Wine?
More Than Wine is an Australian wine retailer that offers wine enthusiasts a curated selection of exceptional Australian wines from award-winning renowned wineries to local wineries across Australia. We’re changing the way you buy wine, whether you’re buying a bottle or a crate at a time, or if you want a regular shipment of bottles to discover.
