A Beginner’s Guide to Popular Red Wine Grapes

To someone who can’t tell Grenache wine from decadent French pastry fillings, wine tasting can seem like a bunch of people pretending they’re connoisseurs by using obscure words like plump and layered to describe a certain vintage. But there is much to discover in the world of red wine once you hone your palette, with an unimaginable variety of flavours and aromas to explore. Knowing your grapes is a great way to get started, so here’s a quick guide to some of the most popular red wine grapes enjoyed all over the world. 

Grenache

Grenache wine comes from a grape grown in many parts of the world including France, Spain, Australia and the United States. It is known for being a versatile grower with low acidity, high sugar and thin skins, producing sweeter young wines like rosé and more savoury aged wines. 

Merlot

Merlot is a black grape that produces medium to full-bodied wines with high alcohol content. Though it’s known for being grown in Bordeaux in France, Merlot is also grown in Australia, New Zealand, California, South Africa and South America.

Pinot Noir

Unlike the aforementioned grapes, the Pinot Noir can be a tough grape to grow. It prefers cooler climates, which is why it is linked with Burgundy in France, though it’s also grown in southern parts of Australia and other parts of the world. Pinot noir wines usually have a light colour, low tannin and medium body. 

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely grown grapes. It’s a deep black grape used to make high-tannin wine commonly associated with blackcurrant and other berry flavours, but also some unique notes like liquorice and green peppers. 

Shiraz and Syrah

Shiraz and Syrah refer to the same grape. It’s generally called Syrah in Europe and Shiraz in Australia and South Africa, though it can depend on the winemaker. These small, thick-skinned grapes produce tannic, full-bodied wines, and they are sometimes combined with a Grenache grape. 

Malbec

Originating in France but commonly grown in South America, the Malbec grape is associated with juicy, fruit flavours but also more savoury, spicy flavours like cloves. Young Malbec wines are known for having a deep purple colour in the glass. 

Tempranillo

Famously grown on the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain, Tempranillo grapes produce a full-bodied, vibrantly coloured wine with a range of aromas and flavours. They are sometimes aged in oak barrels to intensify their character or combined with other grapes like Grenache. 

Sangiovese

A popular grape in Italy, particularly in its famed home of Tuscany, the Sangiovese is used for a range of wines including Chianti and Carmignano. While it can be aged, a Sangiovese wine is typically enjoyed young when its fruity flavours are at their peak. 

Gamay

The Gamay grape is another red wine grape grown in Burgundy, France, which is used for low-tannin, medium-bodied wines with light berry flavours. It is also commonly used for blending with certain grapes like the Pinot Noir.