Wine Grape Types

2010-08-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Crouchen does not adapt successfully to as wide a range of climates as Rhine Riesling does. It does not ripen in very cool areas and loses its character in a hot climate. In areas to which it is adapted, it produces pleasant dry white wines with a delicate varietal character that can improve with ageing.

Wine-making with Clairette

2010-08-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

Oxidation occurs very readily during wine-making with Clairette, and ‘rancio’ wines made with overripe grapes are still covered by the French-controlled appellation regulations. Clairette also imparts a distinctive varietal character in the absence of oxidation and is used in many appellation wines, both still and sparkling. It is sometimes used alone but more often in combination with other varieties: some red wines contain up to 20% Clairette.

Wine ot Chardonnay

2010-07-27T01:37:00.000-07:00

Chardonnay is used in the fine white wines of Burgundy and Chablis, and is one of the varieties used in Champagne. In California it is recommended for the cooler areas. The most suitable areas for the variety in Australia have still to be determined, but it appears to be possible to make high-quality wines in a wide
range of Australian climates. Australian wine-makers make less use of oak in the fermentation and maturation of
Chardonnay. It is a wine capable of many different characters – fruity, floral, and sometimes acid – and blends well with wines such as Semillon and Colombard. Most Chardonnay wines develop quickly in the bottle and change substantially over a few years. The best wines are well balanced, soft and full-bodied with complex melon and dried peach characters. Except for the very best, most of these wines are designed to be consumed within two to five years.

Wine of Cañocazo

2010-07-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

From its origin Cañocazo should be suitable for fortified wines and for distillation. The fruit is neutral in flavour, somewhat reminiscent of Doradillo but ripening much earlier.Viticulturally it is more reliable than Pedro Ximenez and perhaps also Palomino, but does not have the same reputation for wine quality.

Wine from Montils

2010-03-30T02:44:00.000-07:00

In France,Montils is considered to make a white wine comparable with that of Colombard. At Merbein,Montils usually ripens about 2 weeks later than Colombard and has excellent low acidity. Yields of the two varieties are comparable. Wines from Montils over 4 seasons scored at least as well as those from Colombard, and Montils was one of the most promising varieties in trials in north-east Victoria. In France it has produced excellent brandies.

Wine of Mataro

2010-03-28T02:32:00.000-07:00

Mataro alone gives red wines that are deep-coloured and rather neutral in flavour, and can be very astringent. This could explain why it has not been very highly regarded in Australia. However, it combines well with other varieties such as Shiraz and is an important component in some European wines.Mataro wines age well.

Wine of Marsanne

2010-03-26T02:28:00.000-07:00

In France,Marsanne used alone has the reputation of producing light white wines with little varietal character, which age very quickly. The addition of a proportion of another variety, Roussanne, is considered to improve quality.Wines from Marsanne in Australia appear to have more body and character, but the major plantings include an appreciable proportion of other varieties, which may take the place of the Roussanne. Some of the wines made from Marsanne in the past have been rather heavy; now they are light and fruity with a perfumed fragrance.

Wine of grape Melon

2010-03-24T02:44:00.000-07:00

The white wines of Muscadet produced in the Loire Valley are dry and fresh with a good bouquet, and are highly regarded as wines to be drunk young. Good wines have also been produced in California, where a high content of tannin in the skins has been noted and special care in wine-making has been recommended to prevent darkening.The wine can improve with ageing on lees.

Wine of Malbec

2010-03-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

With moderate yields in cooler areas, Malbec makes a balanced red wine of good colour which has a less intense varietal aroma and is softer than Cabernet wines. It combines well with the other Bordeaux varieties to give wines designed for earlier maturity rather than very long holding. In the Loire Valley it is sometimes used alone to give rosé wines with strong fruit character; in Cahors it is used with up to 30% of Semillon or three other minor varieties to give a very deep-red wine which is aged for several years before bottling.

Folle Blanche

2010-02-26T01:15:00.000-08:00

Folle Blanche (fol blonsh) was best known as the variety used in making the brandies of Cognac and Armagnac.The use of rootstocks, which became necessary after the phylloxera invasion, accentuated its susceptibility to Botrytis; in affected areas its replacement by Saint Emilion (syn.Trebbiano) and, to a lesser extent, Colombard is well advanced.This is reflected in the decrease in planted area in France from 15 800 ha to 3600 ha between 1958 and 1988. However, it is maintaining and even slightly increasing its area in the lower valley of the Loire, where it is used to make a wine exported to Germany for making sparkling wines, or a white table wine, high in acid and low in alcohol, for which there is some demand.

In California it accumulates enough sugar to make a good table wine, yet retains enough acid to be excellent for sparkling wine. However, expansion is restricted by problems with bunch rot. The variety has not been grown commercially in Australia. Plantings which might have been Folle Blanche have proved to be the variety known as Sercial in Australia.

Cañocazo

2010-02-22T01:14:00.000-08:00

Cañocazo (kan-o-kah-zo) is a minor Spanish variety, not listed for use in any wines of controlled appellation and not authorised for planting in any part of Spain. Scattered small plantings still exist in the sherry area and it is one of four varieties used as parents in a breeding program at the national research station at Jerez; the others are Palomino, Pedro Ximenez and an authorised variety called Garrido. It was probably brought to Australia in early collections from the sherry area and was formerly grown under the names of Palomino and Pedro. In Australia, Cañocazo is grown mostly in South Australia with a little in the Murray Valley Irrigation Areas of New South Wales and Victoria.

Carignan

2010-02-18T00:56:00.000-08:00

Carignan (kah-rig-nan or kah-rin-yon) is best known as a French variety although it is of Spanish origin, taking its name from the town of Carinena in Aragon. It is a prominent variety in several areas of Spain but has not made much headway in other European countries. The formerly large area of Carignan planting in Algeria has been considerably reduced since 1962. It is still an important red grape variety in California where it is known as Carignane, although the area has declined and currently stands at around 2445 ha. It is grown to a lesser extent in Chile and Argentina. In 2003 there were 51 ha of Carignan growing commercially in Australia. It should not be confused with Bonvedro, which was incorrectly called Carignan in South Australia. The variety is more susceptible to fungal diseases than most other wine grape varieties and needs a higher level of light for full photosynthetic efficiency. In Australia, therefore, it should do best in the inland irrigation areas.

Chambourcin

2010-02-15T02:54:00.000-08:00

Chambourcin (sham-bour-sin) is a complex hybrid produced in France by the private breeder Joannes Seyve (JS26-205). Its parentage has not been published but it would be based on the better Seibel hybrids and involve up to eight of the US species of Vitis. It was officially released in 1963. It is being grown commercially in the eastern US and was introduced into Australia by CSIRO in 1973.

Chambourcin shows very good resistance to downy and powdery mildews and to phylloxera, both against damage to the root system and galling on the leaves

Chardonnay

2010-02-11T02:49:00.000-08:00

Chardonnay, (shah-don-nay) rather than the former name of Pinot Chardonnay, is now the official name for this variety in France and California, two places where it is widely grown, to avoid confusion with Pinot Blanc. In France most of the plantings are in the Burgundy and Champagne regions. In California it was not widely grown until selected clones of high yield became available. Expansion since then has been rapid and there are now around 40 000 ha planted. Chardonnay is grown in many other countries but it is sometimes difficult to know how much confusion there may be with Pinot Blanc. There have been small plantings of Chardonnay in Australia for many years, but only relatively recently has that the variety has become popular, with plantings now in excess of 24 000 ha.

Chenin Blanc

2010-02-07T02:47:00.000-08:00

Chenin Blanc (shen-in blohnc or shan-in

blohnc) is the official name for this variety

in France, but it is often called Pineau de la

Loire. It is the main variety of the Loire

Valley. In California there was a rapid

increase in area planted, until the early

1990s.The variety called Pinot Blanco in

Chile and Argentina is Chenin Blanc.The

largest area of Chenin Blanc is in South

Africa, where it is planted under the name

of Steen. The variety seems to have been

brought to Australia under several names

and its identity lost. In Western Australia it

was formerly incorrectly known as

Semillon, and in South Australia it was

wrongly named Albillo or Sherry. 748 ha of

Chenin Blanc were recorded in Australia in

2003

Cienna

2010-02-04T02:45:00.000-08:00

Cienna (sih-en-nah) is one of three new varieties of wine grape varieties developed by CSIRO and granted Plant Breeders Rights in 2000. Cienna, Rubienne and Tyrian are all progeny of a cross between the Spanish variety Sumoll and Cabernet Sauvignon, made in 1972 by the late Allan Antcliff at the Merbein research station. Each of the new varieties was selected using criteria including good (grape juice) sugar:acid ratios, low pH, good colour and flavour and adequate yields.The aim was to produce highquality red varieties suited to Australian conditions.The best few varieties were extensively trialled and evaluated by industry panels and under a range of climatic and cultural conditions.

Cinsaut

2010-02-01T02:44:00.000-08:00

Cinsaut (sahn-soh) (sometimes spelt Cinq-saou or Cinsault) is a variety from the Mediterranean region in the south of France. Some Cinsaut is registered for the purpose of table grapes but its main importance is as a recommended variety for improving the quality of the wines from the south of France. In South Africa it is called Hermitage. It was formerly grown quite widely in Algeria and, being the black variety best adapted to the hot dry conditions there, plantings of it may not have been as drastically reduced as those of other varieties. It is grown in Italy under the name of Ottavianello in the province of Brindisi. In California, the small planting (63 ha) is also called Black Malvoisie. In Australia, some is grown in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. It has been called Blue Imperial in north-east Victoria, Black Prince at Great Western and often Ulliade or Oeillade in other areas.

Crouchen

2010-01-28T02:40:00.000-08:00

Crouchen (kru-shen) is a French variety which has now practically disappeared from France. It is still a recommended variety in the south-west near the Pyrenees and appears on the list of varieties which can be used in the wines of Bearn. Crouchen was used in the excellent ‘vin de sable’ produced near Capbreton before the afforestation of the Landes displaced the vineyards during the twentieth century. The name used there for the variety, Sable Blanc, may well correspond with the ‘Sales Blanc’ introduced into New South Wales by James Busby in 1832. The variety now seems to be grown only in South Africa and Australia. In South Africa it came to be called Riesling, and seems to have been introduced from there to the Adelaide area as Riesling. It spread from there to the Clare and Riverland areas before the mistaken identity was discovered. It was then called Clare Riesling, until finally identified as Crouchen. It was also brought into the Barossa Valley, where it was mis-identified as Semillon, and taken from there to the Sunraysia area as Semillon before it was identified as Clare Riesling.

Clairette

2010-01-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

Clairette (klair-reht) is an important variety in the south of France. It was also the most important white variety in the French colony of Algeria before the country gained independence, with an estimated 10 000 ha. lt does not appear to be grown in Europe outside France and the only major plantings elsewhere appear to be in South Africa and Australia, nearly all in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. In France it is sometimes known as Blanquette and this name is used in New South Wales. (The so-called Blanquette of South Australia is a clone of Doradillo.) Two other varieties in France have also been referred to as Clairettes – Ugni Blanc (synonym, Trebbiano) is sometimes called Clairette Ronde in both France and Italy, and Bourboulenc has been called Grosse Clairette or Clairette Doree.

Colombard

2010-01-21T02:38:00.000-08:00

Colombard (kohl-om-bard) is a variety from the Bordeaux region of France. Although it has fallen from favour in France in recent years, with a decline in plantings, it has seen a remarkable expansion in California, where the plantings are about 14 200 ha. It is also grown in South Africa.There were a number of introductions into Australia from California and in 2003 the planted area of Colombard here was 2700 ha.

Dolcetto

2010-01-17T02:37:00.000-08:00

Dolcetto (dol-chet-oh) is an important
variety in the Piemonte region of Italy.
Unlike some of the other red varieties of
the region, which are also grown in other
parts of Italy, Dolcetto is regarded as
having a special adaptation limited to
Piemonte. There is very little Dolcetto in
other countries, with only a few hectares
in both Argentina and Australia. Australian
plantings are confined to South Australia
and Victoria. The area in South Australia,
where the variety has been correctly
named, has decreased over the years,
while in Victoria, where it has been
confused with Malbec, there have been a
few small new plantings which were
intended to be of Malbec.

Doradillo

2010-01-15T02:36:00.000-08:00

Doradillo (dor-ad-il-loh) is a variety which seems to have found its greatest acceptance in Australia. It was imported under that name from Spain by James Busby in 1832. It was also taken to South Africa and further importations were made to Australia from there. It does not seem to be a commercial variety in South Africa and it is not recorded separately in Spanish plantings. It may perhaps be included under Jaen, a name said to have been used for more than one variety in Spain. Jaen that was imported to Merbein from the Estacion de Viticultura y Enologia et Requena in Valencia province has proved similar to, but distinct from, Doradillo.Of the 145 ha of Doradillo in Australia, about three-quarters grows in South Australia and the rest in New South Wales and Victoria.

Dourado

2010-01-13T02:14:00.000-08:00

Dourado (du-rah-doh) is a variety from the Tagus Valley of Portugal. Its full name is Gallego Dourado. In South Africa it is planted as (False) Pedro. lt is likely that it was brought from South Africa to Australia as it is known here as Pedro, sometimes Pedro Ximenez in error, but more usually distinguished as Rutherglen Pedro. It may also have come in James Busby’s collection in l832 under some other name or unnamed, as it occurred unidentified in vineyards which might be sourced from Busby’s collection.Dourado can be found as odd vines in most of the older wine-growing districts. Appreciable numbers of vines are mixed with other varieties at Mudgee and Great Western and small plantings are present at Roma, in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and north-east Victoria.

Durif

2010-01-11T02:10:00.000-08:00

Durif (dur-if ) has been known as a variety for only about a century, and owes its name to Dr Durif who propagated it in the Rhone Valley in France around 1880. It resembles Peloursin and may be a seedling or a sport from this variety. It was popular in France as it appeared to have some resistance to downy mildew. However, it is no longer recommended or authorised and its planted area in France is declining. It is sometimes known as Pinot de l’Ermitage but is in no way related to the true Pinots. Another name, Syrah Forchue, refers to its tendency to produce forked shoots.The Petite Sirah of California may be a mixture of Durif and Peloursin, although the proportions are unclear. All clones imported to Australia have proved to be Durif.Vineyards examined have shown roughly equal numbers of the two varieties – the total area of plantings in 2003 was 331 ha.

Farana

2010-01-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

Farana (far-ah-nah) is the Algerian name for this variety. It is grown in other countries around the Mediterranean Sea, and is known as Planta Pedralba in Spain, Mayorquin in France, Beldi in Tunisia and Damaschino in Sicily.The major plantings were in Algeria and Spain, but as wine grape plantings have declined in Algeria since independence, Spain probably now has the largest area. In Australia a little is grown in the Barossa Valley, where it was formerly confused with Trebbiano.

Furmint

2010-01-07T04:26:00.000-08:00

Furmint (fer-mint) is a famous white grape variety but there seems to be only one major planting in the world – in Hungary, for making the special wines of Tokaj-Hegyalja. Furmint has been taken to many other countries but does not seem to have been planted extensively in any of them. It has probably been in Australia since Busby’s import of 1832 but is found only as odd vines in plantings of other varieties, including a mixed planting at Great Western dating from 1868. A variety imported from Italy as Furmint has proved to be another, as yet unidentified, variety.

Gamay

2010-01-05T03:22:00.000-08:00

Gamay (ga-may) ranks after Carignan, Grenache,Merlot, Cinsaut, Cabernet Sauvignon and Aramon among the red wine grapes of France. A little over half the total planting is in the Beaujolais region, the rest is scattered through Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Gamay is also grown in the north of Italy and neighbouring areas in Yugoslavia. It has not been grown in California and there has been confusion in Australia because varieties introduced from California as Gamay proved to be wrongly named.The Gamay Beaujolais imported in 1962 was in fact a clone of Pinot Noir with an upright growth habit, and the Napa Gamay imported in 1968 was Valdiguie. Clones of the true Gamay have since been imported from France and a single vine was found in an old planting at Great Western.

Graciano

2010-01-03T02:39:00.000-08:00

Graciano (grah sih-ahn-oh) is primarily a Spanish variety. Although it is not one of the major varieties used in bulk wines, there are a few thousand hectares of Graciano in the Ebro Valley where, along with Carignan and Tempranillo, it is an important component in the appellation wines of Rioja and Navarra. In France the variety is called Morrastel and is recommended in the south, but little remains, possibly because of its relatively low yield. The area of Graciano in Australia is very small. The variety should not be confused with the so-called Morrastel of South Australia, which is really Mataro, nor with the Mourastel imported from California, which is Carignan. In Algeria, large areas of Mataro were mistakenly called Morrastel. Xeres imported from California proved to be Graciano.

Grenache

2010-01-01T02:15:00.000-08:00

Grenache (gren-ahsh) is a very important variety in southern Europe.There are large plantings in Spain, where it is known as Garnacha. In France the area of Grenache was around 87 000 ha in 1988, and has no doubt continued to increase at the expense of the high-yielding but poorquality variety Aramon. It is an important variety on the island of Sardinia, where it is called Cannonao. Grenache is also grown in Sicily and the southern Italian mainland under the names of Granaccia and Alicante.Other than Europe and remnant plantings in Algeria, the only appreciable areas are in California and Australia. Australia has 2322 ha, most in South Australia and the rest fairly evenly dividedbetween New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Harslevelu

2009-12-30T02:13:00.000-08:00

Harslevelu (hahsh-lev-ee-loo) is an old white grape variety from the Tokay region of Hungary, where it is blended with Furmint to make the famous sweet wines of the region. Both of these varieties seem well-suited to the concentrating effect of Botrytis cinerea – ‘noble rot’ – and produce wines that more than rival the wines from the Sauternes region of France.

Jacquez

2009-12-28T02:07:00.000-08:00

Jacquez ( jak-ez or jah-kay) is one of a group of varieties to which the species name Vitis bourquiniana or V. bourquina has been given. The original members, including Jacquez, appear to be natural hybrids between V. aestivalis and V. vinifera. Jacquez, generally known as LeNoir in the US, is thought to have originated in Georgia or the Carolinas but has not been widely grown in that country. It became very popular in France after the vineyards were devastated by phylloxera, but was banned from the production of wine for sale about 50 years ago. It may still be used as a rootstock and remains popular for this purpose on suitable soils in South Africa. In Australia, where it has been called Troya, annual production has been about 100 tonnes, mostly in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area with a little in the Hunter Valley.

Malbec

2009-12-26T02:06:00.000-08:00

Malbec (mahl-bek) (sometimes spelt Malbeck) is an approved synonym for Cot, the official French name of this red grape variety. Another synonym used in some areas is Auxerrois.Most is grown in Gironde, some in the departements to the east of Bordeaux, and some in the Loire Valley. It is permitted in wines of controlled appellation in all these areas and is the principal variety in Cahors. It does not seem to have spread elsewhere in Europe and there is only a little in California, but it is one of the most important black varieties in Argentina. There is a significant amount in Chile. In Australia at least two other varieties, Dolcetto and Tinta Amarella, have sometimes been incorrectly called Malbec, but in 2003 plantings were recorded at 488 ha.

Mataro

2009-12-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

Mataro (mat-ahr-roh) is another variety from southern Europe, and needs more warmth than Grenache. In Spain it is also called Monastrell or Morastell. In France, apart from small plantings under the name of Balzac in the Cognac area, where the fruit does not ripen properly, it is confined to the warmest areas of Provence, where it is called Mourvedre. It was a very successful variety in Algeria but it is not clear how much of the 20 000 ha formerly planted has survived. There are about 264 ha in California. The 1092 ha in Australia are in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The name Balzac is used at Corowa, and at Great Western the variety is called Esparte.

Marsanne

2009-12-22T02:06:00.001-08:00

Marsanne (mah-san) is a minor French variety from the Hermitage area in the Rhone Valley. There is also a little growing in the Valais in Switzerland under the name of Ermitage. About 265 ha are planted in Australia, the vast majority in the Goulburn Valley and north-eastern Victoria and the rest in New South Wales.

Merlot

2009-12-22T00:20:00.000-08:00

Merlot (muhr-loh) is the principal black variety of the Bordeaux area and is also recommended in the south of France.The area planted in France increased dramatically between the late 1950s and the late 1980s.The variety has been introduced into other European countries and replaced local varieties. In Italy it is now recommended in more provinces than any other single variety, although it is far from surpassing Italian varieties such as Barbera and Sangiovese in area or production. In California there were almost no plantings before 1970, but by 1992 the area of Merlot was approximately 4050 ha and ten years later had increased to 21121 ha. It is a minor variety in Chile and Argentina. No early introduction into Australia has been traced.There were 10 350 ha of Merlot in production in Australia by 2003.

Meunier

2009-12-20T00:18:00.000-08:00

Meunier, (meuh-nyay) or Pinot Meunier as it is often known, is a sport of Pinot Noir and could have been established independently on a number of occasions. It has recently been shown that Pinot Meunier is a chimera. The greatest area of the variety is in France. As with Pinot Noir, the area has been expanding, nearly all in the Champagne area where it is the major variety. In Germany it is grown mostly in Wurtemburg, where it is known as Schwarzriesling. In Australia, where the name has sometimes been translated as Miller’s Burgundy, the 120 ha of plantings are confined to a few small areas in Victoria. In l960 there was a very small quantity in New Zealand, but it has since lost favour and very little remains.

Monbadon

2009-12-18T00:16:00.000-08:00

Monbadon (mohn-bah-don or mohnbah-dn) comes from France and is found mainly in the Bordeaux and Cognac areas, with a little in Provence. It is no longer recommended or authorised, and has declined in area. It is a minor white grape variety (approximately 602 ha) in California, where it is known as Burger. In Australia there is a little Monbadon in the Corowa–Wahgunyah area of north-east Victoria.

Mondeuse

2009-12-16T00:15:00.000-08:00

Mondeuse (mohn-deuhs) is a minor variety in eastern France and its area has been decreasing slowly. In California there was a more rapid decrease, to about 40 ha in 1980. Although the variety is called Refosco in California it is different from any of the varieties known as Refosco in Italy. In Australia a small area of Mondeuse is grown commercially in north-east Victoria.

Montils

2009-12-14T00:12:00.000-08:00

Montils (mohn-tils) is a minor white grape variety of the Cognac area of France, mainly grown close to the coast. Although it remains an authorised variety for the area, plantings have declined considerably. In Australia there are small plantings in the Hunter Valley, some as Montils and some under the name of Aucarot or Aucerot. This name is a corruption of Amarot, a variety introduced by James Busby in 1832, but, as happened in other cases, the plants were confused; Amarot is a large black grape.Montils was also tried experimentally in north east Victoria but the Aucerot in this area appears to be a different, as yet unidentified, variety.

Moschata Paradisa

2009-12-12T00:10:00.000-08:00

Moschata Paradisa (mos-kah-tah par-ahdihsa) is the name by which this white grape variety is known in Australia and so far it has not been traced to any variety grown or described overseas. It is known to have been planted commercially only at Mudgee although there may be odd vines elsewhere. The early maturity and rapidity with which the fruit then deteriorates, combined with the softness and slightly unusual flavour of the berries, suggest that there may be a little Vitis labrusca in the ancestry of the variety. On the other hand the leaves show no sign of any species other than V. vinifera.There is some resemblance to the Malvasia Bianca imported from California but the two varieties are distinct.

Müller-Thurgau

2009-12-10T00:09:00.000-08:00

Müller-Thurgau (muhl-ah toor-goh) was introduced into commerce in about 1920, and by 1970 passed Sylvaner and Riesling to become the leading wine grape of Germany. It is also grown in central Europe, particularly Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary but, apart from a very small area in Alsace, not in France or in North or South America. It comes from a cross made at Geisenheim in 1882 by Dr Müller, a Swiss from Thurgau, who returned to Switzerland taking his promising seedlings with him. In 1913, when its great potential was obvious, it was brought back to Germany for testing. It is supposed to be a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner, but recent DNA typing showed that Sylvaner could not have been a parent. From its character, some experts think that it is a cross of two Riesling clones, but DNA typing also showed that although Riesling was one parent of Müller-Thurgau, it could not have been both. In Switzerland and some other countries it is called Riesling × Sylvaner in deference to its breeder’s wishes. In Luxembourg it is called Rivaner. There has been very limited planting of the variety in Australia.

Muscadelle

2009-12-08T00:07:00.000-08:00

Muscadelle (mus-kah-del) is a white grape variety of the Bordeaux region, where it forms a minor component in the famous wines of Graves, Barsac, Sauternes etc. There are currently around 174 ha of this variety in Australia where it is also known under the name of Tokay. Sauvignon Vert introduced from California has also proved to be Muscadelle. Sauvignon Vert is no longer favoured in California. There also appear to be plantings in Hungary, Romania and the Ukraine. Muskadel in South Africa is a different variety, Muscat à petits grains.

Muscat à petits grains

2009-12-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

Muscat à petits grains (mus-kat ah-petigran) is the official French name for this variety, and means simply Muscat with small berries. There are three colour variants – white, rose and red. The two coloured forms mutate readily from one to the other and to white, but there appear to be two types of white – one is stable and the other mutates to the coloured forms.

The white form seems to predominate in Europe. In Italy the officialname is Moscato Bianco, and there are plantings in other Mediterranean countries. The name Muscat Blanc in California seems to indicate that only the white form is used there, and the plantings in Argentina are listed as Moscato d’Asti, among the white varieties. In South Africa most of the Muskadel, as the variety is known there, are of the red form. In Australia there are 560 ha. A little more than half is the red form and the name Brown Muscat used in north-east Victoria is very appropriate.

The fruit ripens early and, if left on the vine, wilts to give a very high sugar concentration.

Muscat Gordo Blanco

2009-12-04T00:04:00.000-08:00

Muscat Gordo Blanco, (mus-kat gorh-doh blohn-koh) the name used in Australia for this variety, comes from Spain and translates as ‘fat white muscat’.The name best known internationally would probably be Muscat of Alexandria.The variety is also called Moscatel de Malaga in Spain, Muscat de Setubal in Portugal, Zibibbo in Italy and Hanepoot in South Africa. Although widely grown, it does not cover a very large area in any country. Australia has about 2500 ha. The fruit can attain a very high sugar content in the warmer areas but is then low in acid and has a high pH.

Muscat Ottonel

2009-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Muscat Ottonel (mus-kat oht-ohn-el) is an early ripening white grape variety grown in Austria, Germany and in Alsace in France.There is very little grown in Australia. Muscat Ottonel was propagated from a seedling by Robert Moreau and its parents are uncertain although probably Chasselas × Muscat de Saumur.

Ondenc

2009-11-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ondenc (on-denk or on-dohnc) is a rather obscure French variety, which has been defined relatively recently (late 1980s). It was grown in different areas of southwestern France under different names without being recognised as the one variety.The name Ondenc comes from an area near Toulouse.

In Australia it has been known as Sercial in South Australia and as Irvine’s White in Victoria. There were 23 ha of Ondenc in Australia in 1990. It was probably among the many varieties called Piquepoule collected by James Busby in 1832 and the Victorian plantings may come from that source.The identity was lost and the name Irvine’s White commemorates the vigneron at Great Western who made the first substantial plantings. It appears in the Rutherglen collection as Blanc Select, so was presumably imported at some time as Blanc Selection Carrière.

Orange Muscat

2009-11-28T23:57:00.000-08:00

Orange Muscat (orong muskat or or-ongh mus-kat) is an old variety which has been used as a table grape in Europe. Its French synonym, Muscat Fleur d’Oranger, translates as Orange Blossom Muscat, doubtless derived from the subtle aroma of its juice.Other synonyms are Muscat Primavis and Muscat de Jesus. It has not been widely planted worldwide. There were 66 ha in California in 2002 and probably about the same in Australia. One source suggests that its origin is Syrian.

Palomino

2009-11-26T23:56:00.000-08:00

Palomino (pal-oh-mee-noh) is an important Spanish white grape variety, providing about 90% of the grapes used for sherry. In South Africa it was formerly known as White French and is an important and widely grown variety.The areas elsewhere are rather small. In California, where about 300 ha are planted, it has sometimes been erroneously called Golden Chasselas; in France it is known as Listan; in Australia it has sometimes been known as Paulo. It should not be confused with the so-called Common Palomino in Australia, which is in fact Cañocazo. 92 ha of Palomino were harvested in Australia in 2003.

Pedro Ximenez

2009-11-24T23:54:00.000-08:00

Pedro Ximenez (ped-roh zim-e-nes or pedroh him-ay-nes) comes from Spain, where there are substantial plantings of this white grape variety, mostly in the Estremadura, Andalusia and Levant regions. Although it is a permitted variety for sherry, only a small proportion of the plantings are in the sherry area. It is the most important recognised white wine variety in Argentina. In California there were less than 100 ha by 1976 and no new plantings had been made for many years. Around 68 ha of Pedro Ximenez are planted in Australia. For best results it needs a reliably dry period for ripening and harvest, which Australian viticultural areas cannot provide.

Petit Verdot

2009-11-22T23:52:00.000-08:00

Petit Verdot (pe-ti vehr-doh) is a minor red grape variety from the Bordeaux region of France. It has long been part of the varietal mix in Bordeaux but has probably never exceeded 5% of the total planting. The area planted in France decreased from 685 ha in 1958 to 338 ha by 1988, then underwent a minor revival to reach 380 ha by 1994. It is grown mainly on the left bank of the Gironde from Margaux to Saint-Estephe, and produces a highquality wine.

In Argentina two varieties are grown under the name Verdot: one is a clone of Malbec, the other is the true Petit Verdot. It is also planted in Chile, and there were 359 ha of Petit Verdot in California in 2002. In 2003 the total area harvested in Australia was 1337 ha, a rapid increase from less than 100 ha in 1998. There has been increasing interest in the variety, with some excellent wines produced.

Pinot Gris

2009-11-20T23:50:00.000-08:00

Pinot Gris, (pee-noh grih) like Pinot Noir, is grown in many countries including France, mostly in Alsace, in Germany where it is known as Rulander, and in northern Italy. It is also grown throughout central and south-eastern Europe, one of its more interesting names being Szurkebarat (Grey Friar) in Hungary. In 2002, 1637 ha of Pinot Gris were harvested in California. Pinot Blanc is probably the least-grown of any of the Pinot family.The situation has been confused because Chardonnay has often been called Pinot Chardonnay or even Pinot Blanc Chardonnay and so has come to be called Pinot Blanc in some areas. In South America Chenin Blanc has been wrongly identified as Pinot Blanc, while in California the variety Melon has been wrongly called Pinot Blanc. The true Pinot Blanc has only recently been imported into Australia and earlier plantings by that name would be either Chardonnay or derived from the Californian Melon. There is some true Pinot Blanc in France, mainly in Alsace, in northern Italy and a little in Germany and central Europe.

Pinot Noir

2009-11-18T23:48:00.000-08:00

Pinot Noir (pee-noh nwah) is the variety used in the superior red wines of Burgundy and one of the principal Champagne varieties. Plantings in France increased from 8500 ha to 17 300 ha between 1958 and 1979 and reached 22 000 ha by 1988. It is one of the few black varieties that ripens early enough to succeed in the coolest viticultural areas, such as those of Germany and Switzerland. It is grown in practically every wine-producing country, usually not extensively and only in the cooler areas such as northern Italy or the coastal valleys of California. There were nearly 10 000 ha in California in 2002, and in 2003 Australia had 4270 ha.

Pinot Noir is a very old and variable variety and we can see its progression from vines similar to the wild grapes that grew in Europe before cultivation, to highyielding selections sometimes thought to show less varietal character in the wine. There are about 30 different recognised clones in Australia with observable differences in growth habit, bunch shape and so on. It is quite possible that some clones are better adapted to particular areas and this needs to be taken into account when evaluating the variety.

Riesling

2009-11-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Riesling (rees-ling) is the noble white wine grape variety of Germany, second only to Müller-Thurgau. Although often regarded as the standard by which white wine varieties are judged it is not planted to the same extent in any other country.There are modest areas in France, northern Italy and the eastern European countries. There is a little in Argentina and very little in Chile and South Africa.Most of the so-called Riesling in South Africa appears to be Crouchen. California (747 ha) and Australia (nearly 4000 ha) may well have the largest areas outside Germany and France.

In Australia it is often called Rhine Riesling to avoid possible confusion with Hunter River Riesling (Semillon) and Clare Riesling (Crouchen).The tendency to use the name Riesling for other varieties is not confined to Australia and similar distinctions are needed in other countries. Thus it is called Riesling Renano in Italy, Rheinriesling in Austria, Rajnai Rizling in Hungary and Rajnski Rizling in Yugoslavia, mainly to distinguish it from the variety known as Riesling Italico,Welschriesling, Olaszrizling or Rizling Vlassky respectively, which provides much of the Riesling wine from these countries. In California it is called White Riesling, to separate it from Grey Riesling, a grey-fruited form of Bastardo, and there are also such names as Frankenriesling (Sylvaner), Breisgauer Riesling (Ortlieber), Budai Rizling (Kleinweiss) and Banati Riesling (Creaca).

Roussanne

2009-11-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

Roussanne (ruh-sahn) is a minor white wine grape variety from the Rhone Valley of southern France, where it is often overshadowed by its more widely planted counterpart Marsanne, with which it is often blended.There were 120 ha planted in France in 1990, mainly in the departement of Herault and Vaucluse. It is a permitted addition in several regional appellations in the south of France, including Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It is also grown in the province of Lucca in Italy. Five vineyards in Australia listed Roussanne among their plantings in the 1998 Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Directory, but the overall area is quite small.

Nebbiolo

2009-11-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

Nebbiolo (neb-ee-ol-oh) is a red wine grape variety from the Piedmont region of northern Italy around Turin.Two famous wines made from the variety are Barolo and Barbaresco, named after villages in the Monferrato hills near Alba. Further north in the Novaro region the variety is known as Spanna. There are only about 5000 ha of Nebbiolo in Italy, but its reputation far exceeds its volume.There are small plantings of the variety in Switzerland, Uruguay, Argentina and California, the latter reporting 80 ha in 1997. In Australia, around 17 vineyards list plantings but the total planted area is very small.

Rkaziteli

2009-11-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Rkaziteli (ruh-kat-sit-elli or ruh-kat-set-elli) is a local white grape variety from the Tbilisi region of Georgia. It is also grown in Moldavia on the Black Sea coast, where it is known as Gratiesti, and in Bulgaria where the wine is exported to Germany under the name of Sonnenküste. It was imported into Australia in 1971 and a small amount has been planted in the warm irrigated region of the Murray River Valley.

Rubired

2009-11-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Rubired (ruh-bi-red) is a relatively new variety from H.P. Olmo, released in 1958. It is a cross of Tinta Cao, a port variety, and Alicante Ganzin, which has an Aramon × Rupestris rootstock as one parent. This means Rubired has one-eighth of the wild American species Vitis rupestris in its make-up. This has some advantages, such as a degree of resistance to fungus diseases, but also leads to some problems, such as dense foliage and numerous light bunches. Plantings in California reached 5300 ha by 1974, declined to 2773 ha by 1992 then increased to 5345 ha. A few fairly substantial plantings were made in Australia around 1970 but they have been largely grafted over or removed. A related variety, Royalty, a cross of Bastardo and Alicante Ganzin, was released by Dr Olmo at the same time as Rubired. It is reported to be more demanding as to soil type, less vigorous and lower-yielding. Originally planted in California to about the same extent as Rubired, Royalty did not expand to the same degree, reaching only 1200 ha by 1974 then declining to its current level of 222 ha.

Ruby Cabernet

2009-11-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

Ruby Cabernet, (ruh-bi kab-er-nay) a cross between Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon, is a variety bred by H.P.Olmo at the University of California, Davis, and released in 1948. Its major commercial exploitation has been in California, where approximately 3300 ha are planted.The area currently planted in Australia is 2530 ha.

Semillon

2009-11-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

Semillon (sem-il-on or se-mih-yohn) is the major white wine grape variety of the Bordeaux area of France. A little is planted in Italy and Yugoslavia and perhaps more in the former Soviet Union. California currently has around 500 ha, but the main plantings outside France are in the southern hemisphere. Semillon is the leading white variety in Chile, and there is somewhat less grown in Argentina and South Africa, where it is known as Greengrape. In Australia, of the total 6283 ha about three-quarters is growing in New South Wales and most of the rest in South Australia. It proved to be wellsuited to the Hunter Valley and became known as Hunter River Riesling. There has been much confusion between Semillon and several other varieties in Australia.

Sauvignon Blanc

2009-11-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Sauvignon Blanc (so-vin-yohn blohnc) ranks high among the white wine grape varieties of France.The main plantings are near Bordeaux, where it is used as a minor but important partner of Semillon. There are smaller plantings in the Loire Valley, where it is used on its own. There would be a few thousand hectares of Sauvignon Blanc in northern Italy and it has also spread to eastern European countries. California has 5884 ha, but most of the socalled Sauvignon in Chile is a closely related variety known as Sauvignonasse in France and as Tocai Friulano in Italy. In Australia most of the 2953 ha of Sauvignon Blanc is grown in South Australia with the rest divided between Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Barter syndication

2009-11-09T01:14:00.000-08:00

The offering of television programs to local stations free or at a reduced rate but with some of the advertising time sold to national advertisers. The remaining advertising time can be sold to local advertisers.

Sangiovese

2009-11-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Sangiovese (san-gi-o-ve-see) is the leading red wine grape of Italy, in terms of area planted and grapes produced. Because of mixed plantings (trees and vines) the area is not well-defined, but approximately 500 000 tonnes of grapes are produced each year.The variety is thought to originate from Tuscany but it is also recommended for many other parts of Italy. Apart from Argentina, Sangiovese does not appear to have been planted much in other countries. In Australia it was found only as odd vines at Mudgee under the name of Canaiolo, another Tuscan variety. The planted area in Australia is currently 657 ha.

Solvorino

2009-11-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

Solvorino (sol-vor-ee-noh) is another white grape variety which is known only from Australia at this stage. It has clearly been in Australia for well over 100 years and may have been one of the varieties introduced by Busby in 1832.Two varieties bred as table grapes have been named Solferino, a white in France from about 1850 and a red in Italy from about 1920. Both are thus too late to be connected with the Australian variety. Solvorino is grown commercially at Roma in Queensland and also occurs as previously unidentified vines in mixed plantings on two vineyards at Great Western in Victoria. One of these was planted in 1868 and can be traced to earlier plantings in Australia.

Sultana

2009-11-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

Sultana (sul-tah-nah) is primarily a drying grape but in some seasons, in Australia, more sultanas are crushed for white wine than grapes of any other single variety. In 2003 about 9685 ha of Sultana was used for wine-making in Australia. In California it is called Thompson Seedless to distinguish it from another variety introduced earlier, erroneously, as Sultana. An even larger proportion of the crop is used for wine in California and there are also districts which specialise in the production of table grapes. In western Europe the variety is known as Sultanine or Sultanina. It seems to have originated in Asia Minor or the Middle East and is grown for dried fruit throughout the area from Greece to Afghanistan and north into the neighbouring republics. There are also small plantings in South Africa and South America.

Souzao

2009-11-05T05:07:00.000-08:00

Souzao (suh-zay-oh) is a Portuguese variety, this name being used for it in the Douro Valley where it is ranked in the second highest-quality group for producing port. It is also grown in the Minho region where it is known as Vinhao, and to a slight extent in the neighbouring areas of Spain under the name of Souson. It has also become very successful in California and South Africa.

Sylvaner

2009-11-04T05:02:00.000-08:00

Sylvaner, (sihl-vah-nah) spelt Silvaner in Germany, was formerly the leading white wine grape of that country, but in recent years has declined considerably with the rise of newly bred varieties such as Kerner, Scheurebe and Bacchus.The variety may have originated in Austria (although only a small area is planted there) and it can be found under various names through central and south-eastern Europe.There are small plantings in France, California and Australia.

Taminga

2009-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Taminga (tam-ihn-gah) is a white grape variety bred by CSIRO Plant Industry at its Merbein laboratory in Victoria. It is a cross of the Merbein selection MH 29-56 (Planta Pedralba × Sultana) and Traminer.The cross was made in 1970 and the variety released in 1982. Approximately 200 ha have been planted in Australia, mainly in the Murray River Valley.Taminga is a highyielding, late-ripening variety, which produces high-quality wines with a distinctive spicy bouquet. The juice composition has been good with low pH and high titratable acidity.

Tarrango

2009-11-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

Tarrango (ta-rang-goh) was also bred by CSIRO Plant Industry Division of Horticulture at Merbein. This red grape variety is a cross of the Portuguese port variety Touriga and the ubiquitous multipurpose variety Sultana. Approximately 170 ha of Tarrango have been planted in Australia, mainly in the warmer regions along the Murray River.

Tempranillo Grape

2009-11-01T04:56:00.000-08:00

Tempranillo (tem-prah-nil-oh) is one of the most highly regarded varieties in Spain for making red wine. Blended with Carignan, it makes the best wines of the Rioja. In La Mancha it is known as Tinta Fino or Cencibel and is used in the claretes of Valdepenas and Manzanares. In Portugal it is known as Tinta Roriz, and Negretto in Italy may be the same variety. Tempranillo was authorised in 1976 for planting in the Mediterranean region of France. It is an important variety in Argentina, and less in California (308 ha), where it is called Valdepenas. Current plantings in Australia are small, at 216 ha.

Shiraz

2009-10-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Shiraz (shi-rahz) comes from the Hermitage area of the Rhone Valley in France, where it is known as Syrah. One tradition suggests that it was brought to Hermitage from Shiraz in Iran by the hermits, another that it was brought from Syracuse by the Roman legions, but it seems quite likely that it originated in the Rhone Valley. It is sometimes called Hermitage in Australia, but should not be confused with the Hermitage of South Africa which is really Cinsaut. The Petite Sirah of California is a different variety, Durif, which comes from the same part of France where it has occasionally been incorrectly called Petite Syrah. There was a dramatic increase in the area planted to Syrah in France between 1968 and 1988, mainly to add character to wines based on Grenache or Carignan. Australia currently has more than 37 000 ha of this variety in production. A little is grown in Tuscany in Italy and some in Argentina and South Africa.

Wines of Valdiguie grape

2009-10-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

In France, Valdiguie gives red wines which are regarded as common and uninteresting. They have good colour but are lacking in alcohol and flavour. However, in California it is esteemed for the production of both red and rosé wines.Wines made at Merbein have scored well in blind tastings.

Aleatico wine grape

2009-10-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

In Italy, Aleatico is used to make a highly regarded sweet, ruby coloured, muscat wine. Aleatico can be used to make white wines and fortified wines and could be tried as a substitute for Muscat à

petits grains where there are problems with that variety.

Wines from Barbera

2009-10-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Wines from Barbera have good colour, tannin and acidity, and a distinctive varietal character which may not be immediately acceptable to Australian wine-drinkers.When aged in oak the wines can be complex and full-bodied with a delicate bouquet. In Italy it is
mostly used for making full-flavoured dry red wines with earthy character, soft tannin and ripe currant flavour, but sweet red and sparkling red wines are also made from it.

Bastardo port variates

2009-10-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Under most Australian conditions this potentially sweet, full wine is best suited
for fortified wines. The fruit ripens early and attains a high sugar concentration,
which increases even further as the berries wilt. It does not provide much colour in the wine but will combine with other varieties that provide colour and flavour. Bastardo.

Wine Biancone

2009-10-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Biancone with its high yields has little character, and this soft and fruity wine is
mainly used for distillation or bulk production in the Riverland. There is some evidence that it can produce a distinctive dry white wine in cooler areas.

Zinfandel grape

2009-10-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Zinfandel should give spicy, fullbodied red wines of a bright colour and distinctive varietal character. In California it is recommended that such wines not be blended. Its strong raspberry flavour can sometimes be overpowering to people unaccustomed to the style.

Characteristics of the Viognier

2009-10-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Viognier has not been grown extensively in Australia but there has been an increase in interest in this white grape variety and there are currently 541 ha. With its distinctive aroma of dried apricots the wine could be useful as a specialty line in some of the cooler regions of Australia. It has been used to produce a full-bodied sweet white wine in some of the warmer regions of the country with some success.

Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-10-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

Cabernet Sauvignon (ka-ber-nay so-vinyohn) comes from the Bordeaux region of France and is the major variety in some of the best wines of the Medoc area. It is also prominent in Chile and

has increased rapidly in recent years in California (30 754 ha in 2002), Australia (28 871 ha in 2003) and South Africa. In Italy it is a minor variety recommended only in the extreme north. It is probably more important in eastern Europe and Argentina.

Cabernet Franc

2009-10-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

Cabernet Franc (ka-ber-nay frahnk) is an important variety of the Bordeaux area of France.There have been small plantings in recent years, but Cabernet Franc generally occurs in Australia as odd vines in plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly in north-east Victoria where it sometimes occurs to the extent of more than one vine in ten. In France, it is also

grown in the Loire Valley and is now recommended throughout the entire south, including Corsica. In Italy it is regarded more highly than Cabernet Sauvignon and recommended in more

provinces. The Cabernet varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, are important in eastern Europe and South America but they are not always recorded separately. Cabernet Franc, with 1427 ha recorded in 2002, has not achieved the same recognition as Cabernet Sauvignon

in California. 834 ha of this variety were harvested in Australia in 2003.

Bourboulenc

2009-10-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Bourboulenc (bor-buh-lahnk) is a recommended variety throughout Mediterranean France and is found mainly in the lower valley of the Rhone. It is an approved variety for wines of controlled appellation such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhone. It appears four times, under different names, among Busby’s imports into Australia in 1832, but has not survived in any of the official viticultural collections. It is found only as odd vines in old vineyards in Great Western and Rutherglen and possibly elsewhere.

Terrets

2009-10-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Terrets (te-ret) are old recommended varieties from the Languedoc area in the south of France.Three colour variants are known – Terret Blanc (white), Terret Gris (grey) and Terret Noir (black) – and chimeras are sometimes seen in all combinations. In Australia there is a small area of Terret Noir in the Barossa Valley.

Tinta Amarella

2009-10-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Tinta Amarella (teen-tah am-ah-rel-ah) is best known as a port variety. It is widely
grown in the Douro Valley, where it is regarded as a good – rather than very good – variety. It seems to be little grown outside Portugal, but is distinctly different from the other common port varieties and it is thought that it may have come from France. It could perhaps have been the Amarot of Landes, listed among Busby’s imports into Australia. The small plantings in Australia are all in South Australia, where this red grape variety is known as Portugal. It is not uncommon as odd vines in plantings of other varieties and this seems to have led to confusion with Malbec: some intended plantings of Malbec have actually been planted with Tinta Amarella.

Tocai Friulano

2009-10-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Tocai Friulano (toh-kay frih-uh-lah-noh) probably originated in France, where it is known as Sauvignonasse, and appears to be related to Sauvignon Blanc. However, it would seem more appropriate to use the Italian name of Tocai Friulano, because the variety has almost disappeared from France yet has become very popular in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, where several thousand hectares are planted.Tocai Friulano is also the preferred name in Argentina. In Chile it has been erroneously called Sauvignon. It is widespread in Australia, but only in plantings of other varieties in Mudgee, the Goulburn Valley and Great Western.

Touriga Nacional

2009-10-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Touriga Nacional (too-ree-gah nah-syunahl) is the most widely planted of the top-quality group of port varieties in the Douro Valley in Portugal. This red grape variety is also grown in other parts of Portugal for other types of wine, but there seems to be very little outside Portugal. There are a few hectares in California and it is probably one of the ‘port sorts’ in South Africa. There is a small amount of Touriga in Australia (82 ha), mostly in South Australia.

Traminer

2009-10-16T03:10:00.000-07:00

Traminer (tram-ih-nher or trah-mee-nher) is another old white grape variety showing primitive characters. It is valued mainly for its strong aromatic character in making white wine and, as there are large clonal differences in this respect, the more
aromatic clones are sometimes distinguished as Gewürztraminer. Being a specialised variety, it is not required in large quantities and thus there are modest plantings in Germany, Austria, France and California. The variety has been in Australia for a long time but only in relatively small quantities (673 ha in 2003).

Trebbiano

2009-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

Trebbiano (treb-ih-yahn-oh) is the Italian name of this white grape variety; it is
more specifically known as Trebbiano Toscano to distinguish it from several similar varieties also known as Trebbiano. It is by far the leading grape for producing white wine in Italy, probably because it ripens reliably in most areas of the country – it has no other distinguishing characteristics. It spread into the south of France and from there into the Cognac area when a new variety was needed to take the place of Folle Blanche, which suffers from bunch rot when grafted.The official French name is Ugni Blanc but in the Cognac area it is known as Saint Emilion. In South Africa, California and Argentina it is a minor variety. In Australia there are about 490 ha. It has sometimes been known as White Shiraz or White Hermitage, but it does not appear to be in any way related to Shiraz and is not grown in the Hermitage vineyards in France.

Tyrian grape

2009-10-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

Tyrian (tih-rih-an) is the product of a cross between the Spanish wine variety Sumoll
and Cabernet Sauvignon. The original pollination was made in 1972 by the late Allan Antcliff at the CSIRO Merbein laboratory. The aim of the program was to produce high-quality red wine grapes suited to Australian conditions. Extensive evaluations were made of Tyrian, Ciena and Rubienne in three wine-growing regions; Coonawarra (South Australia), Avoca (central Victoria) and Sunraysia (northern Victoria).

Fortified wines Verdelho

2009-10-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

In Portugal Verdelho is used for fortified wines, in white port and as the predominant variety in one of the four types of Madeira. In France it is used for dry white table wine. In Australia it is generally used for white table wines and shows a strong and attractive varietal character with a delicate nutty bouquet. The wines can be golden coloured and have distinctive tannin on the palate.

Wines made from Bonvedro

2009-10-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

Wines made from Bonvedro in Australia have a pleasant varietal character but are soft and lacking in tannin, and in the past were unfavourably compared with other varieties of wine with more colour and tannin. Increasing interest in lighter red wines may encourage a reappraisal of this position.

Alvarelhao - port varieties

2009-10-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Alvarelhao is lower in colour and tannin than the other port varieties and although widely planted in Portugal, does seem to be more suitable for red wine rather than port. It has been reported as producing red wines with good acidity and balance.

Valdiguie

2009-10-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Valdiguie (val-dig-u-ay) was introduced into Australia from California as Napa Gamay. It is a variety which is authorised, but not recommended, for the south of France and is grown mainly in Languedoc and Provence.There are some plantings (258 ha) in California.

Verdelho

2009-10-11T02:31:00.000-07:00

Verdelho (vehr-del-oh) is a Portuguese variety grown on the island of Madeira and in the Douro Valley, where it is known as Gouveio. There are also some small plantings in the Loire Valley in France. In Australia there are small plantings in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales, with a total planted area of around1600 ha.The name Madeira has sometimes been used for the variety in New South Wales, a possible source of confusion because the same name was erroneously used for some of the Semillon in South Australia.

Bonvedro

2009-10-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

Bonvedro (bon-ved-roh) is the Portuguese name of this variety, which is also grown in north-eastern Spain as Cuatendra. It possibly also occurred in France as an obscure variety and may have arrived in Australia as part of a large collection, such as Busby’s. In this way it could have become confused with Carignan, the name generally used for Bonvedro in Australia.There may also have been confusion with another variety from north-eastern Spain, Miguel de Arco, as the vines grown under this name in Australia also seem to be Bonvedro. Small quantities of Bonvedro are grown in Australia, mostly in South Australia and a little in New South Wales and Victoria.

Biancone

2009-10-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

Biancone (bee-yan-kowhn) has the distinction of giving the highest commercial yield of any variety in Australia. Almost all is grown in the Riverland of South Australia. The variety comes from Corsica, where its excellent production has led to one of its names being Pagadebiti, literally ‘payer of debts’. Small areas of Biancone have been grown under the name of Grenache Blanc Productif and it was probably imported into Australia under this name.The Biancone of the island of Elba is thought to be the same variety but it does not appear to have become established in any other countries.

Bianco d’Alessano

2009-10-07T00:04:00.000-07:00

Bianco d’Alessano (be-ank-oh dal-essah-noh) is a late-ripening white wine grape variety from the Puglia region of south-east Italy with substantial plantings in the province of Taranto near Bari. Bianco d’Alessano produces yields of about 30 tonnes/ha in the warm irrigated regions of Australia. The juice is sweet and neutral in flavour.

Bastardo

2009-10-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Bastardo (bas-tah-doh) is considered one of the better port varieties in Portugal, although it is not as widely grown as Touriga or Tinta Amarella. It is also grown under the name of Trousseau in the Jura region in eastern France. It is probably one of the ‘port sorts’ in South Africa and there may be a little in California and South America, but not enough to be recorded separately. The exact area of planting in Australia is uncertain. There is a small quantity in South Australia as Cabernet Gros, a little in north-east Victoria and nearby in New South Wales called Bastardo. Some plantings called Touriga in New South Wales are also Bastardo.

Viognier

2009-10-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Viognier (vih-onyay) is an old variety restricted to the right bank of the Rhone River south of Vienne in France. In the appellation Cote-Rotie it is blended with Shiraz to add perfume to the red wine, but in Condrieu it is vintaged alone to make a dry white wine with a floral scent and a long spicy aftertaste. Chateau Grillet, at the centre of Condrieu, with its 1.6 ha of Viognier, is the smallest vineyard with its own appellation in France – and one of the most famous.

Zinfandel

2009-10-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Zinfandel (zihn-fahn-del) is the Californian name for this variety, where in 2003 it was the third most widely planted red wine grape after Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It does far better in warmer regions where it ripens well, and is also becoming established in Australia, South Africa and South America. It has now been confirmed that it is the Italian variety Primitivo, which is grown quite extensively in the province of Taranto. It is also grown in the Dalmatian region of Yugoslavia under the name of Plavac Veliki.

Barbera

2009-10-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

Barbera (bar-beer-ah) is the leading wine grape of Italy, grown mainly in Piedmont. It is used in wines of controlled appellation, sometimes alone and sometimes mixed with other varieties. Argentina grows some Barbera. It was popular in California in the 1970s, reaching 8600 ha in 1977, with around 4000 ha currently. There are 141 ha of Barbera planted in Australia.

Alvarelhao

2009-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Alvarelhao (ahl-vah-rel-oh) was recommended, along with Bastardo and Touriga, by Mr F. de Castella, former Government Viticulturist in Victoria, for the production of port. However, in the variety classification used in the Douro Valley in Portugal, Bastardo and Touriga are rated as very good but Alvarelhao is rated as only reasonable. So it is perhaps not surprising that less Alvarelhao than Touriga and Bastardo has been planted in Australia, with a few small plantings in north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales only.There appears to be very little of this variety grown outside Portugal. It is not clear whether it is present in California, as the variety imported from there as Alvarelhao proved to be actually Touriga.