Like most living things, vines come in many varieties. Each vine variety produces different grapes with its own characteristics, whether in terms of aroma or production method. A rough distinction is made between two types of grape variety: black grape varieties, which make red wine, and white grape varieties, which make white wine.

There are over 200 legally recognized grape varieties in France. However, 9 grape varieties account for more than 65% of the area under vine.

The five most widespread grape varieties in France are thus Merlot with 14% of French vineyards, Ugni blanc with 82,200 hectares, Grenache noir with 81,100 hectares, Syrah with 64,000 hectares and Chardonnay with 50,600 hectares (OIV data from March 2018).

Merlot is the main grape variety used to make red wine, and by far the most widespread in France. Very present in the Bordeaux vineyards, this variety accounts for two-thirds of the area planted (particularly in Pomerol and Fronsac). Characterized by medium-sized bunches and blue-black grapes, it gives rise to structured wines that sometimes develop into exceptional ageing wines (Haut-Brion is 48% Merlot).

Grenache noir is a grape variety originally from Spain, but mainly found in the Languedoc region of France. Also found in the Rhône Valley, it produces fairly full-bodied, well-structured wines with lots of substance. When used to perfection, Grenache noir can produce great wines, such as the main grape variety of Châteauneuf du Pape.

Ugni Blanc, a large, small-fruited variety from Italy, is the main grape variety used in France to produce white wine. Very present in the Bordeaux vineyards, it is only rarely found in the Rhône Valley. Although its yield is very high, at late maturity it needs to be blended with other grape varieties to bring freshness. It produces fairly acidic, “nervous” wines and is used to make Cognac and Armagnac.

Syrah is a grape variety with mystical origins, and its name evokes many different origins. It is said to have been brought back from Syracuse by the Romans, or to have come from Syria (vitis syriaca vine) according to Pliny the Elder, or even to have originated in the Iranian city of Shiraz, from where it was brought back in the 11th or 12th century by the Crusaders. Today, Syrah is a widespread wine in the Rhone valley. Preferring warm, temperate climates, Syrah produces colorful wines with aromas of black fruits, spices and dark chocolate. It is used to produce great wines such as Côte Rôtie, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage.

Chardonnay is probably the best-known white grape variety in France. It can evolve in all climates, which gives it the opportunity to be planted all over the world, and is notably found in white Burgundy. The terroirs it grows in and the winemaking techniques it undergoes mean that the styles it adopts once bottled vary greatly (it is the grape variety of wines such as Chablis, Côte d’Or, Mâcon and Pouilly-Fuissé).

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