Merlot is an early-budding, mid-season-ripening black grape from Bordeaux whose wines span a wide stylistic range. Bordeaux examples can be light and juicy or concentrated and built to age; Merlot also appears in other regions, including Friuli, where local sources describe a distinct regional expression. Its parentage is established by DNA research, while the finished wine’s body, freshness and texture depend on place and cellar choices.
Continue readingCastelão is a Portuguese black grape whose style can shift with climate and crop level. Warm, dry sites in the south—especially old sandy vineyards around Palmela—can produce structured wines with tannin, acidity and redcurrant or plum notes. Cooler sites can yield more delicate wines. DNA-based Portuguese records identify its parentage as Cayetana Blanca and Alfrocheiro Preto.
Continue readingTrincadeira is a Portuguese black grape whose success depends on ripening healthy fruit. The vine is vigorous, and its thin-skinned berries are vulnerable to rot; in cooler or wetter conditions it may fail to ripen fully. When ripe, Portuguese wine sources describe raspberry, pepper, herbs and floral complexity, with colour and good acidity. In the Douro it is known as Tinta Amarela.
Continue readingEncruzado is a Portuguese white grape strongly associated with Dão, where it is regarded as the region’s leading white variety. INIAV describes an early-ripening, vigorous vine and wines with delicate aromas and notable balance between alcohol and acidity. Dão regional descriptions add floral, mineral, citrus and, with age, nut and resin notes. Some producers use new oak, but the grape’s identity is broader than an oak-influenced style.
Continue readingArinto is a Portuguese white grape known for retaining freshness as it ripens. It is prominent in Bucelas and appears widely across Portugal; in Vinho Verde the same cultivar is called Pedernã. Its naturally high acidity supports crisp dry whites, blends and sparkling wines. Arinto dos Açores is a separately catalogued Azorean variety and should not be confused with mainland Arinto.
Continue readingTouriga Nacional is a low-yielding Portuguese red grape valued for intense colour, expressive aromas and structure. It is an important variety in both Dão and the Douro, where it contributes to dry table wines as well as Port. Its small bunches and thick-skinned berries can build colour and aroma precursors, while WSET describes typical wines as high in acidity and tannin. In the vineyard, its performance must be matched to the parcel: altitude, exposure, water and maturity vary widely across the Douro.
Continue readingTouriga Franca is a Portuguese black grape with a central role in the Douro, where it contributes to both dry reds and Port. The Douro authority describes regional wines with intense colour, blackberry and floral notes, dense body and firm but polished structure. It is often blended with Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, so the variety is frequently encountered as part of a regional composition.
Continue readingBaga is a late-ripening Portuguese black grape most closely identified with Bairrada, although it is also grown elsewhere in the Beiras. Its compact clusters and susceptibility to rot make fruit health and harvest timing important. When ripe, it can give firm, high-acid reds with dark fruit and savoury notes, yet WSET also documents lighter red and sparkling styles.
Continue readingAuxerrois is a white grape with a quieter, rounder profile than the briskest northern European whites. It is established in Alsace and Luxembourg, where official regional descriptions emphasize fruit, aromatic breadth and a softer feel. Its name is easy to misread: Auxerrois is a distinct cultivar, related to Chardonnay through shared Pinot and Gouais Blanc parentage, not another name for Chardonnay or Pinot Blanc.
Continue readingAligoté is Burgundy’s other long-established white grape, with an identity that extends beyond its role as a foil to Chardonnay. Bourgogne Aligoté can be found across the regional appellation, while Bouzeron gives the variety a focused village expression. Its lively freshness is a useful starting point for comparing how harvest, site and cellar choices shape a white Burgundy.
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