Sauvignon Blanc

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The ever popular Sauvignon Blanc grape gets it name from the French word sauvage (meaning wild) and blanc ('white') It's original home is in the Loire around Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé but it is widely planted in Bordeaux and the New World, notably Marlborough in New Zealand and increasingly from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. Refreshing to drink it is very aromatic with classic green flavours of gooseberries, grass and elderflower and is best consumed whilst still young and fruity.

Oak can sometimes be used to give the wines more body, particulary in the USA where it is often called Fumé Blanc.

Chardonnay

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The world's best known white wine grape. Originally it comes from Burgundy, taking its name from the village in the Maconnais but now it is planted around the world. Its style varies considerably according to the climate it is grown in. In cool climates, such as Champagne and Chablis it gives very steely wines with high acidity and apple flavours but in hotter regions it gives full-bodied high alcohol wines with more exotic fruit flavours such as melon, peach, banana and mango.

It is one of the most versatile grape varieties, generally because it does not have a particulary strong flavour of its own, and can be influenced accordingly by different wine-making techniques such as barrel fermentation and oak ageing. It is also an important constituent of Champagne and other sparkling wines.

Viognier

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An increasingly fashionable grape which offers a full-bodied texture with fruit flavours of peaches, pears and apricot. This highly aromatic and fruity nature of the grape allows Viognier to pair well with spicy foods and Chinese/Thai cuisine. It is now found around the world although still at it's best in the Northern Rhône and needs to be drunk young to keep its fruity character.

Other single varietal white

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Our other white grape varieties include Riesling, a grape best known for ripening late making it ideal for late-harvest and dessert wines. Its qualities vary with its location but it generally has a very powerful aroma of minerals, flowers, lime and honey and so does not need oak-ageing or added flavours. Its high acidity is often balanced with sugar creating wines of varying sweetness. Try our Verus Slovenian Riesling for an excellent example of a modern Riesling which is far removed from the sticky, sugary German wine it was once famous for.

Chenin Blanc, widely planted in the Loire, South Africa and California it is extremely versatile. High in acidity with vegetal and citrus aromas which allows it to age well developing later flavours of honey and toast.

Pinot Gris, one of the most popular white wines in the UK today, especially among the ladies! Light with crisp acidity and lots of character it is at it's best in the Alsace and north-east Italy where it is known as Pinot Grigio. In other regions it can develop much more rich exotic fruit flavours much as melon, banana and mango.

Muscat, represented differently around the world it is often sparkling or fortified. All muscats have an intense grapey flavour with peach, rose and citrus aromas but oak-aged muscats are much darker in colour with more raisin, toffee and coffee flavours.

Other white varieties include Pinot Blanc, Marsanne, Semillon and Gewurztraminer.

White blends

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Cabernet Sauvignon

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The influence of Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux wines has made it the most recognised and well-travelled red wine variety. Being easy to cultivate it is now found in virtually every wine producing country, though generally in warmer climates as it ripens late. It produces thick skinned grapes giving full-bodied, high-acid and highly tannic wines which age extremely well. It is classically known for its blackcurrant and cedar flavours and in hotter climates like Australia can have hints of eucalyptus or menthol.

Merlot

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Merlot has bigger berries and thinner skins which are easy to grow giving smooth, soft-tannin easy drinking wines. Its flexibility makes it an ideal wine for blending and it is best-known as the traditional blending partner to Cabernet Sauvignon within Bordeaux producing world-famous clarets. However it is being increasingly drunk on its own and in recent years has seen a soar in popularity, especially in California and as a result is now planted extensively throughout the world.

Shiraz/Syrah

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Syrah is possibly the oldest grape variety and is mainly produced in Southern France or Australia, where it is known at Shiraz. It produces very powerful, rich wines of deep colour and high tannins which age extremely well. It has a strong aroma of blackberries and dark chocolate with notes of mint in cooler climates and spice notes like liquorice and anise in hotter climates.

Other single varietal red

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Some of our other red grape varieties include Pinot Noir, the main black grape of Burgundy. It has tight bunches of small berries giving soft, light-coloured wines which are usually at their best when young. It is very sensitive to climate and soil and so the only other notable regions where the grape can be found are New Zealand and the cooler areas of California and increasingly now from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. Flavours to look out for are red cherries, raspberries and violets. It is also the other ingredient found in Champagne along with Chardonnay and its cousin Pinot Meurnier.

Grenache/Garnacha is the most widely planted red grape of Spain but can also be found in Southern France and California. It is responsible for many great rosé wines due to its sweet, thin-skinned grapes that give high-alcohol full-bodied wines. It classically has red fruit flavours of strawberry and raspberry.

Carmenère historically found in Bordeaux but now widely associated with Chile. It is deep in colour, soft with gentle tannins with herbal flavours.

Tempranillo, (can be confusing as it takes several other names) is considered Spain's leading red grape variety. It is often best when blended with other varities and is a major constituent of the best Riojas along with Garnacha. It is increasingly valued for fine wine and port and remembered for its smell of soft leather and taste of strawberries.

Other red varieties include Sangiovese, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Zinfadel, Malbec, and Touriga Nacional.

Red blends

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