Today, May 25th is National Wine Day, so in honour of learning about wine, I thought we should learn about the Noble Grapes of the world. What are noble grapes you ask? They’re also known as ‘International Varieties,’ they’re grape varieties that are widely planted in most of the dominant and major wine producing regions in the world and have wide-spread appreciation by wine consumers and enthusiasts. History has a lot to do with it, as well as many other varieties look to these as standards for a wine category and retain their “character wine style” no matter where they’re planted. Typically these grapes are associated with higher quality wines as well.
Wine expert Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible, describes an international variety as a “classic variety” which has a long established reputation for making premium quality wines in locations across the globe.
According to Wine Folly, there are 18 noble grapes which include:
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- Pinot Noir
- Grenache
- Merlot
- Sangiovese
- Nebbiolo
- Tempranillo
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Malbec
- Pinot Grigio
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
- Moscato
- Gewürztraminer
- Sémillon
- Viognier
- Chardonnay
So in the spirit of tasting wines of these noble grapes of the world, here are my top picks. 😉 Want to hear more about National Wine Day, my favourite selections–as well as some good banter with my good friend Steven Branco? Join us for our kick-off IG LIVE show, #SipsandGiggles, tonight at 6pm ET–cheers!
Expert Picks: Top 6 Wines of the Week to celebrate National Wine Day through the week!
1. Villa Sandi Pinot Grigio
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2. Kung-Fu Riesling
3. Two Sisters unoaked – Chardonnay
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4. Hidden Bench Pinot Noir
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5. Washington Cabernet
6. Boschendal Syrah / Shiraz
