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Muscat is actually a family of over 200 grape varieties, making it one of the oldest and most diverse grape groups in the world. The two main types — Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria — produce everything from dry Alsatian whites to sweet sparklers like Moscato d'Asti. The common thread: intensely grapey, floral aromas.
Sémillon is a golden-skinned white grape grown on about 22,000 hectares — mostly in Bordeaux and Australia's Hunter Valley. It's the backbone of Sauternes, one of the world's greatest sweet wines, thanks to its thin skin that welcomes botrytis (noble rot). In a completely different style, Hunter Valley Sémillon produces some of Australia's most age-worthy dry whites.
Cabernet Franc is the elegant parent of Cabernet Sauvignon — lighter, more aromatic, and more floral. Grown on about 55,000 hectares worldwide, it shines as a solo performer in France's Loire Valley (Chinon, Bourgueil) with raspberry, violet, and green pepper notes, and adds finesse to Bordeaux blends, especially in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
Mourvèdre — known as Monastrell in Spain and Mataro in Australia — is a thick-skinned Mediterranean red grape grown on about 85,000 hectares worldwide. It loves heat and sun, producing deeply coloured wines with intense blackberry, smoked meat, leather, and wild herb flavours. It's the star of Bandol in Provence and the 'M' in GSM blends.
Viognier is a gloriously aromatic white grape that nearly went extinct in the 1960s — down to just 14 hectares worldwide. Today it's planted on about 18,000 hectares, mainly in the Rhône Valley, Languedoc, and Australia. It produces rich, perfumed whites bursting with apricot, peach blossom, and honeysuckle.
Chenin Blanc is arguably the world's most versatile white grape, capable of making everything from bone-dry mineral wines to sparkling and some of the greatest sweet wines on earth. Grown on about 55,000 hectares worldwide — mainly in South Africa and France's Loire Valley — it's prized for its high acidity, honeyed richness, and ability to reflect terroir.
Sangiovese is Italy's most important red grape, covering about 70,000 hectares — mostly in Tuscany. It's the soul of Chianti, the sole grape in Brunello di Montalcino, and the base of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Think sour cherry, dried herbs, earthy leather, and bright acidity that makes it a dream with tomato-based Italian cuisine.
Nebbiolo is Italy's noblest red grape, responsible for two of the world's greatest wines: Barolo and Barbaresco. Grown almost exclusively in Piedmont on about 6,000 hectares, it produces pale-coloured but intensely flavoured wines with haunting aromas of tar, roses, dried cherry, and truffle. The best can age for decades.
Tempranillo is Spain's flagship red grape and the most widely planted red variety in the world, with roughly 230,000 hectares under vine. It's the star of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, producing elegant wines with dark cherry, leather, vanilla, and tobacco notes — especially when aged in oak, which is a Spanish tradition.
Malbec is a red grape from southwest France (Cahors, where it is called Côt), now the flagship variety of Argentina. It produces deeply coloured wines with aromas of blackberry, violet, plum and cocoa, with supple tannins and a generous character.
Gewurztraminer is one of wine's most instantly recognisable grapes — intensely aromatic with lychee, rose petal, and Turkish delight on the nose. Grown on about 14,000 hectares worldwide, mainly in Alsace, Germany, and northern Italy, it makes richly textured whites that range from off-dry to lusciously sweet. The name literally means 'spicy Traminer' in German.
Riesling is a noble white grape from Germany's Rhine Valley, considered by many experts to be the world's greatest white grape. It produces wines of exceptional aromatic purity (lime, petrol, flowers), vibrant acidity and remarkable ageing potential, from bone-dry to lusciously sweet.
Grenache — called Garnacha in Spain — is one of the world's most widely planted red grapes, covering around 160,000 hectares globally. It's the backbone of southern Rhône blends like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and thrives across Spain, Sardinia (as Cannonau), and Australia. Expect generous, warming wines with ripe strawberry, spice, and herbal notes.
Gamay is a light-skinned red grape behind Beaujolais, one of France's most food-friendly and refreshing reds. Grown on about 30,000 hectares worldwide — mostly in Beaujolais and the Loire Valley — it delivers bright cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flavours with low tannins and a lively acidity that makes it perfect slightly chilled.
Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic white grape from the Loire Valley and Bordeaux. It stands out for its vivid aromas of citrus, boxwood, passion fruit and cut grass, with piercing acidity. It is the grape behind Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and white Bordeaux, and also thrives in New Zealand.
Syrah (called Shiraz in Australia and South Africa) is a red grape from France's northern Rhône Valley. It produces dark, powerful, spicy wines with aromas of blackberry, black pepper, violet and black olive. It is the sole grape behind the prestigious Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage appellations.
Merlot is the world's second most planted red grape (~266,000 ha), from Bordeaux. Softer and fruitier than Cabernet Sauvignon, it delivers plum, dark cherry and chocolate aromas with round, velvety tannins. It dominates Bordeaux's Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol).
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most planted red grape (~340,000 ha), a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc born in Bordeaux. It produces tannic, structured wines with blackcurrant, cedar and graphite aromas and exceptional ageing potential.
Chardonnay is the world's most famous white grape, originating from Burgundy. Naturally neutral, it brilliantly reflects its terroir and winemaking: mineral and crisp in Chablis, rich and buttery in Meursault, tropical in California. It is also the grape behind Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Pinot Noir is a red grape from Burgundy, widely regarded as one of the noblest and most challenging to grow. It produces elegant, lightly coloured wines with cherry, raspberry and forest-floor aromas, fine tannins and fresh acidity. It is also a key Champagne grape.