Ever end up looking at a wine checklist, not sure the place to start? We’re right here to assist. BBC Good Meals’s wine skilled Henry Jeffreys has every little thing it’s essential find out about acquainted grape varieties, together with the place on this planet to search out it, what to search for on a bottle label, what temperature to serve it at and what meals to pair it with. You will be a wine skilled very quickly.
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Chenin Blanc
One of many wine world’s nice all-rounders, Chenin Blanc is at house in a wide range of types: nonetheless or glowing, dry or candy, oaked or unoaked. It’s mostly present in South Africa or cooler components of Australia, however originates from the Loire in France. Its acidity means it pairs properly with fatty meals resembling wealthy meats or creamy cheese – match with goat’s cheese stuffed roast rooster for an upmarket Sunday roast or warming sluggish cooked lamb shanks.
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Durif
By no means heard of Durif? You are still more likely to have tried it – comparable in type to Syrah, it often seems in blended wines. It is a grape native to France however now rather more generally present in California (the place it’s used to darken purple wines), Australia or Mexico. Durif makes large, daring reds with robust tannins – match it with equally hearty meals, resembling this winter hotter black bean and pork stew.
Discover out extra with our full information to Durif.
Gamay
Proving that not all purple wines ought to be drunk at room temperature, Gamay grapes produce perfumed purple wines which can be good served slightly chilled. Gamay is synonymous with the Beaujolais area and isn’t generally discovered outdoors France – confusingly, Gamay might usually simply be labelled as Beaujolais. It may well produce a wide range of types, usually with cherry and blackberry notes. A flexible purple, Gamay or Beaujolais will go together with every little thing from roast rooster and fish to exhausting or gentle cheeses and may even deal with spice. Pair a refreshing Gamay with our indulgent macaroni cheese for a successful mixture.
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Grenache
An unsung heroes of the wine world, Grenache is initially from Spain, the place it’s often known as Garnacha. It’s a major factor in wine blends from France to Australia and may produce purple, rosé and even fortified wines. The flavour profile varies based mostly on local weather: in scorching climates resembling Australia there might be jammy strawberry notes, while cooler climates supply extra natural and floral aromas. Ageing brings spice and vanilla. This selection means totally different Grenaches can go together with a variety of meals. It matches properly with much less spicy Asian meals – strive with our saucy Japanese greens with sticky sesame rice.
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Malbec
Initially from France, Malbec is now mostly related to Argentina. Malbec could be grown everywhere in the world and produces every little thing from sturdy reds to mild, perfumed wines and can be utilized alone or in blends. In Argentina, Malbec has floral notes with plummy fruit and supple tannins. In Cahors in France, Malbec makes tannic wines with earthy flavours, however nonetheless retains the floral notes. Malbec is an excellent wine to serve at a barbecue, or match the meals to the placement of the wine – for instance strive a Cahors Malbec with a a basic French cassoulet.
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Marsanne
Marsanne originates from France however is now significantly better identified in Australia – Victoria has the biggest planting of Marsanne grapes on this planet. In France it’s grown within the Northern Rhône and blended with Roussanne to make long-lived and costly white wines. Most Marsanne produces dry, nonetheless white wines and when younger may have lemon and stone fruit flavours, while ageing mellows these to attract out a distinguished honeysuckle type. Younger Australian Marsanne is nice with our simple fish recipes in addition to strong-tasting greens like asparagus. The heavier wines from the Northern Rhône go well with fatty meals like slow-roasted pork shoulder with leeks, apricots & thyme.
Discover out extra with our full information to Marsanne.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is likely one of the hottest grapes in Britain. Most Pinot Grigios you will discover listed here are easy dry wines from northern Italy, excellent for consuming chilly on sunny days. Pinot Grigio is mostly often crisp, with citrus fruit, apples and a touch of spice. However, in Alsace, the place it’s often known as Pinot Gris, it makes perfumed wine dripping with honey and spice. Most Pinot Grigio is dry, however it’s additionally made in off-dry and even candy types, notably in Alsace. Italian Pinot Grigio is nice with seafood recipes or recent veg dishes, like a vibrant inexperienced pea risotto. In off-dry kind, it’s nice with lighter Indian dishes and Thai recipes made with coconut.
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Riesling
Riesling is a white grape with a robust popularity. It is a cool local weather grape, native to Germany however now grown the world over the place it isn’t too scorching – from Austria and Australia to Washington State and the Alsace in France. It’s well-known for its acidity – current even within the sweetest displays of Riesling – and the precise flavours differ based mostly on location. Within the Moselle Valley in Germany one can find notes of inexperienced apple and blossom; within the Rhine, richer stone fruit flavour; or head to Australia’s Clare Valley for vivid lime notes. This all-rounder attribute means you could find a method to match most dishes: strive off-dry Rieslings with roast pork with crackling to steadiness the fats, and pair zingy Australian wines with the spice in Thai meals, resembling our Thai pork & peanut curry.
Discover out extra with our full information to Riesling.
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is an Iberian speciality. It’s best-known as the idea for Rioja however it’s grown everywhere in the peninsula in each Spain and Portugal and additional afield in Australia, Argentina and California too. Tempranillo is a chameleon grape, making every little thing from fruity mild reds to oak-aged wines. The basic style of tempranillo is strawberry however in hotter climates, you’ll get darker fruit like blackcurrants. At altitude, resembling Rioja Alta, you’ll get extra spices and floral aromas like violets, while basic oak ageing provides vanilla and tobacco. Observe the ‘if it grows collectively, it goes collectively’ rule for meals pairing – since it’s the dominant purple grape in Spain and Portugal, Tempranillo is a superb match with tapas and cured meats. Why not get pleasure from it alongside a feast of our scrumptious tapas resembling ham croquetas, patatas bravas meatballs and sautéed chorizo with purple wine?
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Verdejo
Verdejo hails from northern Spain. It was historically used to make fortified wines however for the reason that Seventies, has develop into one among Spain’s finest white wines, producing crisp and dry whites with pronounced acidity and grassy natural flavour. Younger, crisp Verdejo tastes finest chilly, whereas richer examples ought to be served slightly hotter. The excessive acidity in Verdejo matches properly with battered fish, because it cuts by the fats – strive our beer-battered fish burgers. Richer examples are an important substitute for white Burgundy, and go properly with buttery dishes and poultry.
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Vermentino
An more and more standard white, Vermentino is almost definitely native to northern Italy however is discovered throughout the entire nation, plus France (there are literally extra hectares grown right here than Italy), Australia and California too. Vermentino often tastes of citrus fruit resembling lemons, oranges and satsumas. There’s usually a beautiful bitter word too, paying homage to grapefruit pores and skin, apricots or almonds, while early picked examples can have a grassy edge and riper examples could be stuffed with orange blossom. Finest examples come from Piedmont and Sardinia and infrequently have a salty, mineral edge. Good examples additionally age properly, giving them physique to face as much as to wealthy tomato dishes like ratatouille and pasta dishes.
Discover out extra with our full information to Vermentino.
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