Grapes

Primitivo is an Italian grape variety with quite interesting origins. Research conducted in 1994 proved that the grape is identical to Californian Zinfandel, while it was later discovered that both grapes originated from an old and obscur... READ MORE

Saperavi is a resilient red Georgian grape that originated in the eastern region of Kakheti, and though it is still predominant in Georgia, small amounts are also grown in other Eastern European regions, Australia, and the United States. ... READ MORE

Malagousia is an ancient, white-skinned Greek grape that was saved from extinction by Vangelis Gerovassiliou, who brought it back from obscurity in the 1970s. The grape produces aromatic dry wines, which are usually of excellent quality. ... READ MORE

Moschofilero is a Greek grape that hails from Peloponnese. It is an aromatic and late-ripening variety that delivers high yields, but it is sometimes sensitive and finicky to grow. Despite its common presence, Moschofilero was only popula... READ MORE

Gewurztraminer is a pink-skinned grape that produces some of the most aromatic and complex white wines in the world. The exact origin of Gewurztraminer is hard to trace, but the grape is related to Traminer family that is cultivated acros... READ MORE

Malbec originally comes from southwest France, but recently it has become one of the most important grape varieties in Argentina, where it developed an entirely different flavor profile. Due to the unique geographic and climatic features,... READ MORE

Barbera is the most common grape in Piedmont and the third most-planted grape in the country. It is used in varietals and blends. Nowadays, it is considered to have great potential to produce excellent quality wines, although it was once ... READ MORE

Nero d’Avola is an indigenous Sicilian red grape, whose name, meaning the black of Avola, refers to its distinctive dark color. For most of the 20th century, Nero d'Avola was used as a blending grape, but in the 1990s winem... READ MORE

Roditis is a pink-skinned variety from Greece that is cultivated throughout the mainland. It is the second most planted grape in Greece, used both in varietals and blends. The grape was mostly used for bland, inexpensive bulk wines, but t... READ MORE

Riesling most likely hails from the Rhine region of Germany, but it has shown great success in other European wine regions, primary Austria and Alsace, as well as the United States and Australia. However, the best expressions of the grape... READ MORE

Sangiovese is a red grape variety indigenous to Italy that is predominantly grown in Tuscany, but also in other central and southern regions, from Romagna down to Lazio, Campania, and Sicily. It is best known as the main grape used in Chi... READ MORE

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio and Grauburgunder, is a white grape variety whose origins are believed to be in Burgundy, but the grape has shown amazing potential in Alsace—the region with which it is mostly associated nowad... READ MORE

Viognier is a grape variety with unclear origins that found its home in the northern Rhône, where it has been cultivated for centuries. It is best known as the single varietal used in the Condrieu appellation, though it is also used... READ MORE

Agiorgitiko is the most widely planted red grape variety in Greece. It is cultivated in several wine regions, but Nemea, where the grape originated, is its most important region. Agiorgitiko is a versatile grape that can be vinified into ... READ MORE

Fetească Regală is a native Romanian white grape variety that first appeared in the 1920s in Transylvania. For a long time, it was believed that Regală was a hybrid between Koverszolo (Grasa de Cotnari) and Fetească Alba, but recent findi... READ MORE

Irsai Olivér is a Hungarian white grape created in 1930 by Pál Kocsis as a cross between Pozsonyi and Pearl of Csaba. The grape is used in varietals and blends and is cultivated in several Hungarian wine regions. It is best ... READ MORE

Often dubbed as a true Mediterranean grape, this red-skinned variety from Greece typically produces aromatic wines that are high in alcohol but usually lack acidity and color. This is why Kostifali is mainly used in blends—most comm... READ MORE

Vilana is a white grape variety native to Crete that produces fresh and light white wines. It is a very productive and resistant grape that was mainly used as a workhorse variety that often created unimpressive bland wines. However, it wa... READ MORE

Although Syrah is an internationally known grape that is planted worldwide, it attains distinctive character in northern Rhône—which is often dubbed as Mecca for Syrah. There are several theories about the origin of the grape,... READ MORE

Garnacha, also known as Grenache in France, is a widely cultivated red wine grape variety known for producing wines with rich, fruity flavors and high alcohol content. It is one of the most versatile and widely p... READ MORE

Nebbiolo is the highly-praised Italian grape that is mostly cultivated and gives the best results in its native Piedmont. Wines made with this red-skinned grape tend to be powerful, age-worthy, and high in tannins as well as acidity. Dist... READ MORE

This Greek white grape variety is indigenous to the island of Santorini, but it can also be found on other Aegean island such as Paros. The soil of the island, which is rich in volcanic ash, seems to enable the grapes to retain their acidity regar... READ MORE

Mavrotragano is an old Greek variety that is currently experiencing a revival. The grape originates from Santorini, and it was mostly used in bland dessert wines and blends. It was nearly extinct until the winemakers Haridimos Hatzidakis ... READ MORE

Kisi is a native Georgian variety that is mainly associated with Kakheti. Like many Georgian grapes, this white variety is also used for classic dry styles and traditional Georgian amber wines made in large clay vessels (qvevri).... READ MORE

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized and celebrated red wine grape varieties. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, it has spread to virtually every major wine-producing country, becoming a key component of man... READ MORE

Pinot Noir is a highly esteemed red wine grape variety known for producing some of the world's finest and most elegant wines. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Pinot Noir is revered for its complex flavors, silky texture, and ability... READ MORE

Although Sauvignon Blanc is a native French grape—best known for its expressions in Sauternes, Loire Valley, and Bordeaux—it also found its home in New Zealand, where it became the most prominent and the most distinctive varie... READ MORE

Falanghina is an old Italian white grape variety that is mostly associated and cultivated in Campania. For a very long time, it was not known that the name was used for two distinct sub-varieties: Falanghina Beneventana and the b... READ MORE

Aglianico is a native Italian grape variety. Although it is grown outside Italy, Aglianico thrives in southern Italian regions, predominantly on the volcanic soils of Campania and Basilicata. Aglianico-based wines may have slightly differ... READ MORE

Fetească Alba (White Maiden) is a Romanian white grape variety that is closely related to Fetească Regală variety and the red-skinned Fetească Neagră. It is cultivated in various Romanian regions as well as Moldova and H... READ MORE

Mtsvane Kakhuri, or simply Mtsvane, is an aromatic white grape native to Georgia. The grape produces alcoholic and tannic white wines. It is mainly found in Kakheti, where it is used in varietals and blends and several regional appellatio... READ MORE

Chenin Blanc is a grape variety grown in the Loire valley of France, from where it spread to South Africa and became popular as Steen. Due to its versatility, it comes in a few varieties, such as bubbly, dry, or sweet. The dry version of ... READ MORE

Dolcetto is a red grape that is mostly cultivated in Piedmont. Although its name translates to a sweet little one, the variety is used for the production of dry, medium-bodied red wines. Dolcetto based wines are usually deep ruby... READ MORE

Corvina is an Italian red grape variety that is mostly planted in Veneto. This thick-skinned red grape is best known as the backbone of many blends such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. Dried Corvina grapes are used for th... READ MORE

Malbec is a red wine grape variety that is most famously associated with Argentina, although it originally hails from the Bordeaux region of France. It is known for producing deeply colored, full-bodied red wines with strong fruit flavors and smoo... READ MORE

Friulano is an Italian name for Sauvignonasse variety that originated in southwest France, where it was never widely cultivated. The grape is rarely seen outside Italy and is considered as one of the signature grapes in Friuli-Venezia Gi... READ MORE

Robola is a white-skinned Greek grape that is grown in central Greece and the Ionian islands, but it is mainly associated with Cephalonia (Kefalonia), which is the home of the only Robola appellation. In the past, Robola was often mistake... READ MORE

Vlaams-Brabantse Tafeldruif refers to the table grape traditionally cultivated and grown in small quantities on small farms. The grapes are of traditional grape varieties, such as Royal Ribier, Leopold III, Colman, and Muscat. The grapes are large... READ MORE

Merlot is one of the most widely planted and popular red wine grape varieties in the world. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Merlot is known for producing soft, elegant, and fruit-forward wines. It is often used both as a single var... READ MORE

Chardonnay is a popular and widely cultivated white grape variety that is used to produce white wine. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Chardonnay is now grown in wine regions around the world, including the United States, Australia,... READ MORE

Cabernet Franc is a black grape variety that is one of the major red grape varieties worldwide. It is often overshadowed by its more famous offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon, but it has its own distinct characteristics and merits. Cabernet Franc is kn... READ MORE

Negroamaro is a red grape variety mostly found throughout Apulia, particularly in Salento, Lecce, Tarento, Brindisi, and Foggia. It is often used together with other regional grapes such as Malvasia Nera, Susumaniello, and Primitivo, alth... READ MORE