{"id":19929,"date":"2021-08-30T16:12:13","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T15:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/how-to-identify-a-wines-grape-variety\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T16:56:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T15:56:51","slug":"how-to-identify-a-wines-grape-variety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/how-to-identify-a-wines-grape-variety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to identify a wine&#8217;s grape variety?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image source=&#8221;featured_image&#8221; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1587119329817{border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;border-round&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; disable_custom_paddings_tablet=&#8221;true&#8221; disable_custom_paddings_mobile=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1587718178266{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Contents<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text]            <div id=\"shortcode_index_title\">\n                <div id=\"shortcode_index_titles\" style=\"display:none\">\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=&#8221;block-text&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing the <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/top-10-des-cepages-a-connaitre\/\">grape variety<\/a> of a wine is no easy task, and requires a great deal of practice! There are hundreds of them used in wine production in France, but only  <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a dozen of them account for 80% of the vineyard area.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, here are a few tips to help you identify the grape variety of the wine you&#8217;re tasting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h2>Wine color and nose<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observing the wine&#8217;s color can help you determine the maceration time of a grape variety and its vintage.  <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color can also help identify a grape variety, but it can be deceptive depending on age and terroir.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, on the nose, we can &#8220;categorize&#8221; the wine into 5 major families:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fresh fruit, flowers, spices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">candied fruit<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">empyreumatic, i.e. woody, toasty<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">musk, animal, undergrowth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defect (corky wine, vinegar smell)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wine&#8217;s color and nose give some indication, and then it&#8217;s the retro-olfaction, which reveals the aromas on the palate and can give details as to a wine&#8217;s grape variety.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h2>What does it taste like in the mouth?<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h3>Red wines<\/h3>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tannins<\/span><\/h5>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing to assess in a red wine is its astringency, the phenomenon that dries out the mouth: the tongue is rough and clings to the palate. When this sensation is strong, the wine is said to be powerful and tannic. If, on the contrary, this sensation is light, the wine is said to be supple and the tannins silky.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Varieties such as <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/cabernet-sauvignon\/\">Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/syrah\/\">Syrah<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/malbec\/\">Malbec<\/a> are particularly tannic. <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/merlot\/\">Merlot<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/cabernet-franc\/\">Cabernet franc<\/a> are less so. The tannins of <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/grenache\/\">Grenache<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/pinot-noir\/\">Pinot Noir<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/gamay\/\">Gamay<\/a> are particularly soft.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing aromas<\/span><\/h5>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">L<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he Grenache is known for its pronounced pepper and licorice fragrance and its strawberry and raspberry aromas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Syrah can be recognized<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aromas of olive, blackcurrant, pepper and violet. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typical Cabernet Sauvignon aromas include blackcurrant, blackberry, green bell pepper and mint. As it ages, it retains a fruity note, but particularly develops aromas of cedar and spices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cabernet franc <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is distinguished by its aromas of raspberry, blackberry, green bell pepper and licorice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinot noir<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  is based on pronounced notes of red fruit, notably cherry. As it evolves, it reveals animal and plant nuances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merlot is characterized by aromas of blackberry, plum, leather and, in some cases, truffle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gamay is recognizable by its aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Over time, it can take on an air of prune and spice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>White wines<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For white wines, the process is the same, except for a few details&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acidity level<\/span><\/h5>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White wine contains very little tannin, since it doesn&#8217;t macerate with the grape skin, which contains most of the tannin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, its acidity can be determined to identify a grape variety.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/riesling\/\">Riesling<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/sauvignon\/\">Sauvignon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/chenin\/\">Chenin<\/a> are wines with exacerbated acidity. <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/chardonnay\/\">Chardonnay<\/a> is less acidic on the palate. <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/viognier\/\">Viognier<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vin-champagne.ouest-france.fr\/gewurztraminer\/\">Gew\u00fcrztraminer<\/a>, on the other hand, are sweet grape varieties with no acidity on the palate.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing aromas<\/span><\/h5>\n<h2 class=\"title-h2\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chardonnay reveals characteristic aromas of green fruit such as apple.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viognier reveals delicate aromas of apricot and white peach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sauvignon relies on blackcurrant<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> blackcurrant and citrus aromas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Riesling can develop notes of apple, flowers, citrus, stone fruit or exotic fruit. Over time, Riesling has become known for its petroleum aromas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Gew\u00fcrztraminer reveals notes of lychee, rose and spices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chenin has notes of apple and apricot.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All these leads are theoretical and can only provide clues as to the grape variety of the wine being tasted. Different terroirs and climates can give different characteristics to the same grape variety. There&#8217;s no secret to becoming unbeatable at blind tasting, it just takes practice and opening lots of bottles!  <\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]<div class=\"round-link-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/sujet\/good-to-know\/\" rel=\"tag\">#Good to know<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/sujet\/tasting\/\" rel=\"tag\">#Tasting<\/a><\/div>[vc_empty_space]Array[vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space]<div class='shortcode-x-offerts'><div class='shortcode-x-offers-block'><strong>10 \u20ac offerts sur votre premi\u00e8re commande !<\/strong><div>Achetez vos vins en vente priv\u00e9e sur Twil. 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