It can be found everywhere in central Italy, but the acclaimed home of Sangiovese is Tuscany, where it has been used to create blends like Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, as well as the famed “Super Tuscans.” Sangiovese, while capable of ageing well, is best enjoyed as a young wine, when it has fresh, fruit-forward flavours. Sangiovese is the most popular red grape variety in Italy. They also tend to have a relatively high alcohol content. Grenache grapes are used to produce wines that are berry-flavoured, spicy in subtle ways, and soft to drink. The best Grenache wines can be found in France (especially the Rhône Valley) and Spain (especially Rioja and Aragon). Grenache (known as “Garnacha” in Spain) is one of the most popular red grape varieties in the world. Based on the success of Malbec within Argentina, Chilean winemakers in the Central Valley are also working on creating high-quality Malbec wines.

Within Argentina, the primary wine growing regions for Malbec include Mendoza, La Rioja, San Juan and Catamarca. The Malbec wines of Argentina tend to be softer and less tannic than those found in the southwest of France, where Malbec originated.

Malbec is generally considered to be the national grape variety of Argentina. In France, the grape variety is known as Syrah however, in New World wine markets such as Australia, it is usually known as Shiraz. In the New World, Syrah has become very popular in Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, California and Washington State. Syrah (also known as “Shiraz”) is most closely associated with the Rhone Valley in southeastern France, but it is truly an international grape variety. Outside of France, other places to find examples of high-quality Merlot wines include Italy, Chile (especially the Colchagua Valley), California and Washington State. Within Bordeaux, the wine regions of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol particularly stand out. Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, is the home of the best Merlot wines in the world. The popularity of the Merlot red grape variety trails only that of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir’s popularity has led to it being embraced by winemakers in northern Italy, Germany, Chile, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, California (especially Sonoma) and Oregon (especially the Willamette Valley). Due to differences in terroir, Pinot Noir wines created in two different villages in Burgundy may differ widely, adding to the complexity of the wine.

This grape variety is most closely associated with France’s Burgundy wine region. Pinot Noiris part of the Pinot grape family that includes Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier. They often have notes of blackcurrant and spices and have moderate to good tannin structure. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are typically deep red in colour with moderate acidity. While the historic home of Cabernet Sauvignon is the Bordeaux wine region of France, winemakers in California’s Napa Valley and Australia’s Coonawarra wine region are also making world-class Cabernet Sauvignon wines, some of which rival those made in Bordeaux. Here’s a closer look at each of them, with a focus on which wine regions produce the best wines with these grapes.Ĭabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular and famous red wine grape varieties in the world. While a handful of red wine grape varietals – such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir – may get most of the attention from wine enthusiasts, there are actually 20 different red wine grapes that are extremely popular around the world.

Red wine types