French Wine Varieties

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

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc is a widely cultivated white grape variety known for producing crisp, aromatic, and refreshing wines. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Sauvignon Blanc is now grown in many wine regions worldwide, including New Zealan... 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 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

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, is a white wine grape variety that is believed to be a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape. It is known for producing wines that can vary widely in style depending on the region and winemaking techniqu... 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

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

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

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

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

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

Riesling is an aromatic white grape native to Germany. It is a terroir-driven wine known for its versatile character and intense aroma, usually reminiscent of citrus, petroleum, and white flowers. In Alsace, Riesling is one of the main va... READ MORE

Tannat is a French red-skinned grape primarily associated with south-western France and the Madiran appellation, though it is suggested that it could have Basque origin. This grape typically produces big, bold, and richly-colored tannic r... READ MORE

Cinsault, also known as Cinsaut, is a red wine grape variety primarily grown in the southern regions of France, particularly in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence areas. It is also widely cultivated in other wine regions around the world, inclu... READ MORE

Monastrell, also known as Mourvèdre, is a red wine grape variety widely grown in several wine regions, particularly in Spain and France. Believed to have originated in Spain, it is most commonly known as Monastrell there, while in France it... READ MORE

Petit Verdot is a red wine grape variety known for its deep color, robust tannins, and rich flavors. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Petit Verdot is traditionally used as a blending grape in Bordeaux wines, particularly in the M&ea... READ MORE

Gamay is a red wine grape variety best known for producing Beaujolais, a light-bodied red wine from the Beaujolais region in France. It is renowned for its bright fruit flavors, low tannins, and high acidity, making it a refreshing and approachabl... READ MORE

Roussanne is a white wine grape variety originating from the Rhône Valley in France. It is known for producing aromatic and complex wines with good aging potential. Roussanne is often blended with other Rhône white grape varieties, par... READ MORE

Clairette is a white grape variety that is primarily grown in the southern Rhône Valley and Provence regions of France. It is known for producing fresh, aromatic wines with a high level of acidity and moderate alcohol content. Clairette is o... 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

Colombard is a white grape variety that is primarily grown in France but is also cultivated in other wine regions around the world, including California and South Africa. Known for its high acidity and fresh, fruity flavors, Colombard is often use... READ MORE

Marsanne is a white wine grape variety originating from the Northern Rhône region of France. It is known for producing rich, full-bodied wines with a distinctive flavor profile. Marsanne is often blended with Roussanne, another Rhône v... READ MORE

Fer, also known as Fer Servadou, Pinenc, Mansois or Braucol, is a red wine grape variety primarily grown in the southwestern regions of France, particularly in the appellations of Marcillac, Gaillac, and Madiran. This grape is known for producing ... READ MORE

Sémillon is a dry white wine made from Sémillon grapes. Although native to Bordeaux, the grapes are widely grown in Australia in the Hunter Valley, and to a lesser extent in South Africa, Chile, California, Canada, and New Z... READ MORE

Aligoté is a white grape variety primarily grown in the Burgundy region of France. It is known for producing light, crisp, and acidic wines that are often enjoyed for their refreshing qualities. Aligoté is less well-known than Burgun... READ MORE

Garnatxa Blanca or Grenache Blanc is a white wine grape variety that is a mutation of the red Garnacha grape. It is predominantly grown in Spain and France, but it is also found in other wine regions around the world. Garnatxa Blanca is known for ... READ MORE

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is one of the oldest and most esteemed varieties of the Muscat grape family. Known for its small berries and tight clusters, this variety is highly prized for its aromatic qualities and versatility in winemaking... READ MORE

Petit Manseng is a white grape variety originating from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southwestern France. It is renowned for its ability to produce high-quality wines, particularly sweet and late-harvest wines, though it is... READ MORE

Duras is a red wine grape variety native to the Tarn Valley in the southwest of France, particularly associated with the Gaillac wine region. It is known for producing robust and spicy wines with good structure and aging potential. Duras is one of... READ MORE

Auxerrois is a white grape variety primarily grown in France, particularly in the Alsace region, and in Luxembourg and Germany. This grape is known for producing wines that are aromatic and well-balanced, often compared to Pinot Blanc, with which ... READ MORE

Grolleau is a red wine grape variety primarily grown in the Loire Valley of France. It is known for producing light-bodied red wines and rosés with a fresh, fruity character. The grape's name, Grolleau, is derived from the French word "grol... READ MORE

Savagnin is a white grape variety primarily grown in the Jura wine region of France. It is known for producing distinctive and aromatic wines, including the famous Vin Jaune (yellow wine) of the Jura. The grape is characterized by its high acidity... READ MORE

Gros Manseng is a white grape variety primarily grown in the southwest of France, particularly in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. This grape is known for producing both dry and sweet wines, each with distinct and appealing chara... READ MORE

Mauzac is a white wine grape variety primarily grown in the southwestern regions of France, particularly in the Gaillac and Limoux appellations. This grape is known for its versatility and is used to produce a range of wine styles, including spark... READ MORE

Marselan is a relatively recent red wine grape variety that is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. It was created in 1961 by French viticulturist Paul Truel near the town of Marseillan in southern France, from which it derives its nam... READ MORE

Arbane is a rare and ancient white grape variety native to the Aube region of France. It is one of the lesser-known grape varieties allowed in the production of Champagne, although it is not widely planted today. Historically, Arbane was more comm... READ MORE

Melon de Bourgogne is a white grape variety most famously associated with the Muscadet wines of the Loire Valley in France. Despite its name, which suggests origins in Burgundy, Melon de Bourgogne is primarily cultivated in the Pays Nantais region... READ MORE

Bourboulenc is a white grape variety that is primarily grown in the southern regions of France, particularly in the Rhône Valley and Languedoc. It is known for producing fresh, aromatic wines with good acidity, which makes it an important co... READ MORE

Poulsard, also known as Ploussard, is a red wine grape variety primarily grown in the Jura region of eastern France. It is one of the signature grapes of the Jura, known for producing light-bodied, pale red wines that are highly aromatic and disti... READ MORE

Mondeuse Noire is a red wine grape variety native to the Savoie region in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France. It is known for producing distinctive, characterful wines that are deeply colored and have a complex flavor profile. Mondeuse Noire... READ MORE