Grape Varieties and the shame of Chablis

Of the five major factors affecting the different aromas and tastes in wine (variety, vineyard, vintage, vineyard practice and wine making), the variety of the grape is generally the strongest influence on the overall flavour and the best place to start exploring.

There are hundreds of varieties of grape from which we can make wine, including really interesting ones from places in Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece that you’ll rarely see in supermarkets and the big chains.  The seven premium varieties that are the best way to start your exploration are:

Winemakers can also blend different grape varieties to create more interesting wines.  Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot can result in a more complex wine as the aromas of blackcurrants mix with plums and chocolate, plus the smooth, juicy taste of the Merlot balances the dry, earthy character of the Cabernet.

Annoyingly for consumers, many delicious European wines don’t display the variety on their labels, preferring to display only the wine’s geographical source, instead of both pieces of information.  This combination of tradition, bureaucracy and sheer arrogance leaves the consumer in the dark.

How is one meant to know that a red Côte de Nuits is always a Pinot Noir, but that a red Côte-Rotie is in fact a Syrah?  Sadly it leads to the common trap of people declaring, “I don’t like Chardonnay, but I love Chablis.”  The wine that comes from Chablis is in fact made from the Chardonnay grape.

At Summertown Wine Café we have 12 different varieties or blends of varieties open for tasting at all times.  So if you want to fast-track your appreciation of wine and discover some truly delicious wines, drop in anytime.

Rob Malcolm