Let's discover the great protagonists of Wine
Wine has always accompanied our history, and wild vine is a plant that grows almost everywhere. However, not all grape varieties produce quality fruit, and with the development of viticulture and the pleasure associated with a good glass of wine, in many parts of the world, grape varieties suitable for quality wine production have been revived and grafted. Let's discover together which wine grape varieties, thanks to their versatility, ability to adapt to different climates, and the quality of the wine produced, have spread the most worldwide.
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
The absolute primacy belongs to Cabernet Sauvignon, a black grape variety from France originating in Gironde, in the Médoc and Graves-Saint-Amant areas, and cultivated practically worldwide: from Europe to California (Napa Valley), from Chile to South Africa.
The cluster is compact, medium or cylindrical; the berry is spherical. The characteristics of the wine, often a protagonist in many blends, are good structure, tannic, with notes of blackcurrant, pepper, and vanilla.
In Italy it is widely spread: in Tuscany (Bolgheri, Maremma), Veneto (Colli Euganei), Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Sicily (Etna and inland areas).
On ArsWine.it we offer a wide selection of this wine:
is Discover all the Cabernet Sauvignon available on ArsWine.it
including a precious blend, of very high quality, multi-award-winning (among others, James Suckling gives it a score of 95/100):
is The Serre Nuove from the prestigious Ornellaia winery: a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
2. Merlot
Merlot also has French origins, specifically in the Gironde area. It is a black grape variety, particularly appreciated by blackbirds – the name Merlot comes precisely from the blackbird's fondness for its berries. Loved for its softness, it is often the first red recommended to beginners, but it is also a key component in the blend of some of the most prestigious wines in the world, such as Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Margaux. Its characteristics – soft, fruity, with hints of plum and chocolate – make it extremely pleasant to drink and at the same time flexible to blend well with other varieties.
Bordeaux is its area of origin, but today Merlot is successfully cultivated almost everywhere: in Chile, the United States (in the Washington area as well as California's Napa Valley), Argentina (Mendoza area), Australia, and South Africa (the Stellenbosch region). And, of course, in Italy, where it finds fertile ground in several areas: Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Grave, Colli Orientali), Veneto (Piave, Colli Berici), Tuscany (used in blends with Cabernet), and Trentino-Alto Adige. If you want to try a high-quality pure Merlot, ArsWine.it recommends it ArsMagna, the pure Merlot of Omina Romana
Curiosity: in the film Sideways, directed by Alexander Payne in 2004, the scene where Miles shouts at his friend Jack: “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I won’t drink any f****ing Merlot”, followed by a passionate speech in favor of Pinot Noir, left an indelible mark on wine lovers – and a concrete impact on consumption: at the time of the film's release, there was a 2% drop in Merlot sales in favor of Pinot Noir, which instead recorded a 16% increase. More generally, the film had a considerable impact on American wine culture, helping to make wine better known, more accessible and “frequented” by Americans, so much so that the term “Sideways effect” was coined.
3. Airén
In third place in the ranking of the most cultivated grape varieties in the world is this white grape type, which remains confined to Spain – where however it covers more than 30% of the total vineyards, for more than 200,000 hectares, particularly in the area of Castilla-La Mancha. Neutral, drought resistant, it produces still and dry wines and is often used for distillates.
4. Chardonnay
Chardonnay is an international white grape variety, grown in all the wine-growing areas of the world. It is also used for sparkling wines “classic method”, Champagne, Trentodoc and Franciacorta. From the original area of Burgundy, in France, it has “moved” to Australia, California and other parts of the world.
Versatile, varied, its notes can range from a fresh and mineral taste to a buttery and round one.
In Italy it is grown in
- Trentino - Alto Adige à classic method sparkling wines, try the Ferrari Perlé di Trento DOC and also the Chardonnay Riserva Vigna "Castel Ringberg" by Elena Walch
- Lombardy à 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, the exceptional Franciacorta Docg Teatro Alla Scala Brut - Bellavista
- Veneto à the Chardonnay grappa by Giuseppe Romano Brotto
- Calabria and Sicily à the Critone di Librandi
- Piedmont: from Elio Grasso, one of the best wineries of the Langhe, the Chardonnay Langhe "Educato"
And we also recommend the Champagne Brut Leclerc, where the combination of Chardonnay with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier generates a pleasant sparkling wine with notes of almonds, praline, and citrus: a stylish choice for connoisseurs, to enjoy at aperitif or during gourmet dinners.
5. Syrah / Shiraz
Some theories indicate the origin of this red grape variety in Iran or Sicily, but they seem to be disproved from DNA analysis: Shiraz is a cross between Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza and therefore comes from France, particularly from the northern Rhone Valley. However, it was the revolutionary success of Shiraz red wines from Australia that made this grape truly popular. Historically, from the Rhone Valley, Syrah spread towards the sunny south: the grape tolerates heat, but not bad weather and cold. So it found ideal climatic conditions, besides in France (70,000 hectares) and Australia (40,000 hectares), in Spain, Argentina, and South Africa. In Italy, the Syrah has found a second home, in Tuscany, especially in the Cortona area; it is also cultivated with great success in Sicily and in Lazio, where finds excellent expression in wines from the Federici winery.
Spicy, intense, with notes of black pepper and blackberry, the style of wines called Syrah is generally more “French” – elegant, acidic, and rich in tannins – while Shiraz represents the overseas style – powerful, fruity, and with a high alcohol content.
6. Tempranillo
What in Spain is considered the “king” of red grape varieties, does not find great success elsewhere – like Airén. Outside Spanish borders it is really rare, with few isolated experiments in Italy. An elegant red, with notes of red fruits, tobacco, and vanilla, mainly grown in the La Rioja area (more than 30,000 hectares) and Ribera del Duero.
7. Sauvignon Blanc
A white berry grape variety, originating from the French Loire region, also widespread in New Zealand, Chile, South Africa. The name derives from the French word sauvage, wild; it has small, tight clusters, with small, spherical, yellow-green berries, slightly aromatic in flavor that produce wines with varied aromas, fruity (passion fruit, grapefruit, mango, quince, banana), citrus (lemon, mandarin), herbaceous (tomato leaf, green pepper, mown grass, nettle, tea).
And then... the characteristic cat pee smell which distinguishes Sauvignon: it is due to a specific molecule (4-methyl-4-mercaptopentan-2-one) that has a strong scent of boxwood. Indicating precisely the boxwood plant as responsible for the smell is certainly more refined!
In Italy, Sauvignon cultivations produce excellent wines, with intense and mineral aromatic profiles, especially in Friuli, Alto Adige, and Veneto.
8. Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir)
And here we are at Pinot Nero, the subject of the famous rivalry with Merlot in the film Sideways. The charm of this red wine is undeniable: noble, elegant, delicate, with notes of cherry, raspberry, and undergrowth, difficult to interpret – a challenge both in tasting and for winemakers: the quality suitable for black vinification, characterized by small and compact clusters and small berries, varies considerably from Vintage to Vintage and makes vinification so complex that on average only one good Vintage out of five is usually achieved!
The other variety, vinified in white without skin contact, produces a "neutral" wine that is however the best base for sparkling wine production, including champagne.
From the French regions of Burgundy and Champagne, it arrived in Italy for the first time in the 17th century in Oltrepò Pavese (75% of the total Italian production), then spreading to Alta Langa, Trentino, Veneto, Friuli, and Alto Adige (where it is called Blauburgunder) and in some areas of Tuscany.
We at ArsWine.it especially love the Pinot Noir of Trentino winery of Burggraefler.
9. Garnacha (Grenache) – Cannonau
Spain, France, and Italy dispute the origin of this ancient grape variety, with red, spicy fruit, good alcohol content and softness; but recent Spanish and Italian studies, and the discovery of grape seed remains dating back 3200 years in various areas of Sardinia (particularly in the nuragic village of Duos Nuraghes) seem to prove that it is indeed Cannonau the oldest wine of the Mediterranean Basin – it certainly was not imported in the 1400s from Spain as previously thought.
In any case, Grenache grape varieties are very versatile, so much so that they have adapted well even to the arid climates of California and southern Australia and allow the production of wines ranging from the rosés of the Côtes de Provence (90,000 hectares cultivated in France), to the sweet wines of Banyuls, produced on the border with Spain, where Garnacha is the second black grape variety by area (75,000 hectares), surpassed only by Tempranillo.
Our preference goes to the Sardinian version, absolutely to try in the extraordinary version Nudo Cannonau di Siddùra – best rosé in the world 2024.
10. Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc)
Of Italian origin, widespread in France as Ugni Blanc, Trebbiano is a family of white grape varieties present in the blend of more than 130 DOC wines, both white and red.
Capable of adapting to the most diverse types of soil and climatic conditions, very productive, it produces a pleasant wine, easily marketable and sufficiently neutral to be used in combination with other wines with a more pronounced personality.
Fresh, acidic, neutral, it is also used for distillates such as Cognac.
In Italy it is mainly found in the central regions: Abruzzo, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Lazio, and Marche.
Absolutely to try in the pure version of Marina Cvetic, a 14-degree reserve which, also thanks to aging in French oak barriques, offers an explosion of tropical fruits, acacia honey, and lively acidity.
Where can you find your favorite wine in Italy?
The most widespread grape varieties in the world not only dominate the rankings by cultivated area, but also represent the diversity and richness of wine worldwide. Each has a unique voice, a distinct character, and a story to tell. Here are the most suitable Italian zones for each of them:
|
Grape variety |
Main Italian Zones |
|
Cabernet Sauvignon |
Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli, Sicily |
|
Merlot |
Friuli, Veneto, Tuscany, Trentino |
|
Airén |
— |
|
Chardonnay |
Trentino, Lombardy, Veneto, Sicily, Piedmont |
|
Syrah/Shiraz |
Tuscany, Sicily, Lazio, Sardinia |
|
Tempranillo |
— (experimental only) |
|
Sauvignon Blanc |
Friuli, Alto Adige, Veneto, Tuscany |
|
Pinot Noir |
Alto Adige, Oltrepò Pavese, Trentino, Tuscany |
|
Garnacha |
Sardinia (Cannonau) |
|
Trebbiano |
Abruzzo, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Lazio |
Have a good trip and enjoy the tasting!
