Grapes Used in Wine Making

There are more than a thousand grape types used in wine making around the world. Varieties are types of grapes, i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Chardonnay grapes, Zinfandel grapes, etc.

While the grape and the wine it produces often share the same name, this page looks at grapes from the vineyard's perspective — where they're grown, how they behave, and the role they play in winemaking, whether as a varietal or as part of a blend.

Understanding the grape behind a wine is one of the most useful things a curious wine drinker can learn. Knowing that Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be bold and tannic, or that Riesling can range from bone dry to beautifully sweet, gives you a foundation for navigating a wine list or a wine shop shelf with much more confidence.

A grape's juice can find its way into a wine in one of three ways — as a varietal wine named directly for the grape, as part of a blend with other varieties, or as a regionally named wine where the grape takes a back seat to the place it was grown.Below is a brief listing of some of the more common grapes used to produce wine, along with links to a full listing of wine making grapes.

If you’re interested in a description of what these grapes taste like in a wine, visit the Listing of Wines page.

The Noble Grapes

Traditionally, there were six original “Noble Grapes” that include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.

Because the traditional list is heavily focused on French varieties, the wine industry has expanded the list over time. Some lists add Syrah to the list to make it a total of seven grapes. Other lists have expanded the definition to fully cover a broader spectrum, with as many as 18 Noble Grape.

Here is a listing of 18 of the most widely planted and commonly known grapes, listed from lightest to richest:

Grapes Used in Wine Making

> Full Listing of White Wine Grapes

> Full Listing of Red Wine Grapes

The Noble Grapes

White Noble Grapes

Red Noble Grapes

Most Common White and Red Noble Grapes and Other Similar Grapes