Discover the main French grape varieties...

Discover the main grape varieties cultivated on French terroirs in this article! Learn to recognize them using the typical aromas identified by our tasting specialists!

Chenin: High acidity, exotic fruits, quince, linden. Dry/semi-dry or sweet. Regions and appellations: Loire: Savennières, Layon, Vouvray, white Anjou...

Sauvignon: Marked acidity. Citrus (grapefruit), herbaceous, broom, white flowers.. Regions and appellations: lightly oaked: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Entre-deux-Mers Oaked: Graves, Pessac, Bergerac

Viognier: Low acidity, rich. Aromas of apricots and exotic fruits. Regions and appellations: Condrieu (Northern Rhône), Languedoc (country wines) and Ardèche

Chardonnay: Buttery, white fruits, citrus. Often oaked. Regions and appellations: Burgundy (from Chablis to Mâcon), Languedoc (country wine)

Riesling: Marked acidity, petrol, mineral, with notes of lemongrass. Regions and appellations: Alsace

Gewurztraminer: Rose, lychee, exotic fruits. Region: Alsace

Pinot Gris: Smoky, powerful, with aromas of exotic fruits. Region: Alsace

Marsanne: Rich, powerful, with notes of dried fruits. Region: Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage

Cabernet Sauvignon: Tannic, with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, spices/green peppers, and endowed with a marked color. Region: Bordeaux: especially Médoc (Margaux, Saint Julien etc...), Provence but in blends.

Cabernet Franc: Close to Cabernet Sauvignon but cooler, less ripe, more herbaceous and less powerful, with softer tannins. Regions and appellations: Loire: single variety in Bourgueil, Chinon and principal variety in Saumur-Champigny. Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion primarily and "minor" elsewhere.

Merlot: Roundness, velvetiness, strawberry, less marked tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Region: Bordeaux: Pomerol in particular and throughout the rest of the Bordeaux region. The leading red grape variety by area in Bordeaux.

Syrah: Dark purple color, silky texture. Aromas of tobacco, blackberry, violet. Regions and appellations: Northern Rhône: Single variety in Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St Joseph, Côte Rôtie, Cornas. Languedoc-Roussillon, Gaillac, Provence... (But blended)

Pinot Noir: Light color, marked acidity, aromas of morello cherry, raspberry, undergrowth, vegetal. Regions and appellations: Burgundy, Alsace

Grenache: Light in color, with high alcohol content, this grape variety is recognized by its aromas of strawberry, cooked fruits, leather. Regions and appellations: Southern Rhône (Châteauneuf du Pape at 80%, Gigondas...), Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence.

Mourvèdre: Very tannic, animalistic, with aromas of red and black fruits, sometimes slightly saline. Regions and appellations: Bandol: from 50 to 100%, Southern Rhône, Provence.

Gamay: Gamay is characterized by very fruity aromas of red fruits (cherry); it is not very tannic, very round. Regions and appellations: Beaujolais at 100%. Touraine.

Tannat: Endowed with a very dark color, this grape variety is also very tannic. Regions and appellations: Madiran, Irouléguy