Wine Varietals by Country
When you head to the wine department in a grocery or specialty store do you find yourself going to the same section every time? It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, revisiting the same wines in the domestic section over and over again because it’s something you know and are comfortable with. For many of us, the hardest part about buying international wine is understanding the complex classification systems, labels and unfamiliarity with grape varietals.
To help you navigate the world of wine, I want to highlight some of the different varietals by country, region & grape. Once you become more familiar with what varietals typically grow best in certain regions you will also be better able to navigate a wine menu at a restaurant and make wise decisions as you venture out and try new things. As a good rule of thumb, you want to buy/ order wine varietals from the regions or climates that the grape varietal thrives most in. For example Sangiovese is a signature Italian grape grown is Tuscany. A Sangiovese wine from Tuscany would most likely be superior to a Sangiovese grown in California.
The wine world is broken into two camps, old world and new world. Old world wines are produced in countries with long and deep roots in winemaking and encompass mostly the European winemaking countries. New world wines are produced using new age winemaking methods in the United States, Australia and South America. The classification system for old world wine tends to be more complex using strict guidelines and rules to classify wine and its quality. The French system can leave just about anyone’s head spinning! So for purposes of simplicity and forming a starting point to think about international wine, I’m only going to focus on major regions by country, the primary grape in that region, and the varietals produced from them.
Since I lead with an example from, Italy I think it’s a great place for us to start our international wine journey. I will also cover France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Australia.
Italy
Italy is the largest producer and consumer of wine in the world with 20 wine regions and more than 1000 types of varietals. It’s no wonder I fell in love with this country! Most of Italian wine is considered to be table wine, meant to be enjoyed with food, but they also produce some of the best, most prestigious wines in the world. Two major wine regions for Italy producing the highest quality wines are Tuscany and Piedmont. The Italian’s use the following scale to denote quality from highest to lowest:
- D.O.C.G
- D.O.C
- I.G.T
- Vino da Tavola (Table Wine)
When you are ordering wine off a menu or looking at a wine label keep at eye out for these acronyms to gauge the quality level against the price tag. Next time you are having an Italian dinner, spring for an Italian bottle of wine. Italian wine shines best with Italian food!
Region: Tuscany
The Grape: Sangiovese
The Sangiovese grape is the signature Italian grape grown in Tuscany. Typical characteristics of this grape are:
- Medium to full bodied wines
- Dry with high levels of alcohol, acidity & tannins
- Cherries, strawberries & violets are typical on the nose and palate
Sangiovese Wine Varietals:
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Chianti: Italy’s best known varietal and most commonly thought of as table wine; however, Chianti can range in quality. Higher quality levels can be identified by terms such as Classico, Riserva & Superiore on the label.
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Super Tuscan: Puts a modern spin on Chianti, and steps outside the rules governed by Chianti classification to allow for blending of other grape varietals.
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Brunello di Montalcino: Italy’s highest quality and most expensive wines made of 100% Sangiovese grapes.
Region: Piedmont
The Grape: Nebbiolo
The Nebbiolo grape is grown in Piedmont, Italy. This grape produces two of Italy’s most prestigious and famous wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. It is a very difficult grape to grow, requiring a very specific climate, which is why Nebbiolo grapes have had limited success outside of Piedmont. Typical characteristics of this grape are:
- Big full bodied wines
- Dry and very high in alcohol, acidity, & tannins
- Produces wines that are best with age (Pay attention to the year when ordering).
- Tar, roses & strawberries are common on the nose and palate in young Nebbiolo’s. As they age they shift to dried fruits, leather and tobacco.
Nebbiolo Wine Varietals:
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Barolo: Is considered the king of wine in Italy! A notable price tag comes along with such a title. It’s a powerful, full bodied wine that should be paired with a heavy dish or fatty meat. A bottle of Barolo could age up to decades.
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Barbaresco: Very similar to Barolo. The main difference is that the Barbaresco softens quicker that Barolo, which makes them drinkable at a younger age.