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A to Z of GRAPES and BANDS

THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A GUIDE TO HELP YOU GET TO GRIPS WITH GRAPES USING MUSIC AND BANDS @ ME IF YOU DISAGREE BUT IT'S JUST A BIT OF FUN. PHONETIC SPELLING TO HELP.

  • A  

  • AGLIANICO - ACDC 

  • Aglianico, pronounced (Ay-YAY-neeko) is one of the worlds oldest commercially used grapes. Found mostly in Southern Italy it has found some very, very limited success in California and Australia.  

  • Like ACDC, the grape is powerful but very straightforward. High in tannin and acid, it has a dark colour (back in black) and despite it being rather limited, it ages very well and produces peerless enjoyment and great wines - you just have to prepare yourself for what you are going to get. 

  • Top producers - Quintodecimo, Mastroberardino (both Campania) and for something different: Alpha Box & Dice (McLaren Vale, South Australia) 

  • Other Prominent 'A' Varieties: 

  • ALBARINO (Alba-REE-no) Lovely textural but high acid white grape found in Rias Biaxas in the North West of Spain, fabulous Summer white. 

  • ARNEIS (AH-NAS) - Means 'little rascal' in Piedmontese dialect, grown alongside Nebbiolo and Barbera in North of Italy. Full bodied, low acid wine that is (typically for Italy) good with food.

  • B

  • BARBERA - BOB DYLAN 

  • Barbera (BAH-BEE-RAH) is Italy's oldest gem, grown in d'Alba, d'Asti and alongside Nebbiolo. It has lived in the shadow of Barolo and Barbaresco for some time but is now being taken seriously once more. Grown widely with varying success in the new world. 

  • Barbera is like Bob Dylan, certainly not short on substance but not overtly flashy. With high acidity and juicy body, it lacks tannin and power but is no less enjoyable for it. Its earthy Northern Italian flavour has a folksy charm that appeals to almost everyone. Like Bob its been here a long time and it will always be here.    

  • Other prominent 'B' Varieties: 

  • BLAUSFRANKISCH (blau-fran-KEESH) Austrian grape with a distinctly Burgundian character, lying somewhere in between Pinot and Gamay - an unknown treasure of the world of wine. Becoming popular in North America.

  • C

  • CHENIN BLANC - THE CLASH 

  • Chenin Blanc (Shen-In) is possibly the most versatile grape in the world of wine, made in a variety of styles. Traditionally found in the Loire Valley, it is grown widely but prefers cooler climates. 

  • Like the Clash, Chenin Blanc has a number of guises, dry to sparkling to sweet (punk to rock to raggae). It's most famous expression is Vouvray from the Loire which is amongst the longest lived white wines in the world. It is also South Africas most successful grape where it is sometimes labelled 'Steen'. Chenin can be cheap and cheerful, even sloppy, or it can be polished and sublime - remind you of anyone? 

  • Other notable 'C' Varieties: 

  • CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Hardy, tannic and alcoholic black grape. Grows anywhere and blends well but is frequently drunk on its own. Spiritual home is the left bank of Bordeaux. 

  • CHARDONNAY - The worlds most famous white grape. It can be rich and buttery or steely and austere, nearly everywhere that grows grapes grows chardy and it has come a long way commercially from the ABC 80's (anything but chardonnay). 

  • CABERNET FRANC - Similar to Cab Sauvignon but is less frequently vinified on its own. Spiritual home is Bordeaux but is grown all over the world. 

  • CARIGNAN - Gives tannin and acid to blends, lacks fruit and colour and o is rarely used on its own. Grown mostly in France and Spain and is frequently used in Provence Rose. 

  • CINSAULT Used as a blender to soften wines.

  • D

  • DURIF - DEF LEPARD 

  • Durif (Dur-if) is a black French grape that was imported to Australia and propogated. No longer planted (or even authorised) in France, Australia has persisted with it although it is dying. California refers to it as Petite Syrah. 

  • This grape is Def Lepard. Everything is loud, overpowering, clumsy, alcohilic, full bodied, flambouyant and only appreciated by people of a certain age profile. Requiring serious age before it is even drinkable, it has huge tannin, fruit and alcohol. There is a time and a place for Durif as there is for Def Lepard, but these times and places are becoming more fleeting and difficult to find. Should be eradicated. 

  • (Editors note - I actually like Def Leopard) 

  • Other notable 'D' Varieties: 

  • DOLCETTO - North Italian grape with velvet texture and bright colour, capable of brilliance but very rarely. Tiny spots exist in McLaren and Victoria in Australia, but this really is a Piedmontese grape.

  • F

  • FURMINT - FRANK SINATRA 

  • Furmint (fer-mint) is a white grape that is native to Hungary. It is rarely vinified as a dry wine and is almost exclusively in the production of sweet wine (with the help of another Hungarian native Harslevelu). 

  • Furmint, like Frank Sinatra had one inimitable style. Vinified to a sweet wine with the help of noble rot, the resulting matching of luscious sweetness and lightening bolt acidity puts it in a league of its own. Like Sinatra, there are many imitators, but there is only one Furmint.

  • G
  • GEWURTZTRAMINER - KRAFTWORK
  • Gewurtztraminer is a white grape that originated in Germany and traditionally found in Alsace but has found great success in many cool regions around the world.

  • Like Kraftwork, this grape is unmistakable and incredibly polarising. Highly perfumed and alcoholic, it has incredible range. Sweet to dry, intense to neutral, it can do anything. Even its colour can vary, with a slight pink tinge not being unusual. Like Kraftworks industrial sound, its perfume carries a lot of baggage and is simply too much for some.

  • Top Producers - Hugel and Trimbach (both Alsace) Ochota Barrels (Australia)

  • Other Notable 'G' Varieties:
  • GRENACHE - Famous red grape of the Souther Rhone, AKA Garnacha in Spain. There are plenty of varietal examples of Grenache but it is mostly a blending partner and is most famous for dominating the wines of the Southern Rhone. 
  • GAMAY - Red grape that is the main constituent of Beaujolais, the region South of Burgundy. Long thought of as a poor cousin of Pinot Noir, it shares similar characteristics and is now on of the last bastions of value in the wine world.

  • GRUNER VETLINER - Austrian white grape similar to Riesling but typically a little bit rounder. Becoming very fashionable and a great source of good value.

  • M

  • MENCIA - THE MARS VOLTA 

  • Mencia is the best red grape you have never heard of. Virtually eradicated during Franco's rule in favour of more industrious varieties, Mencia is making a comeback and is rarely found outside the Iberian Pensinsule, mostly in the region of Bierzo.

  • This grape is hard to manage and must be perfectly made to balance its aromatics, alcohol and tannin. At its best it is absolutely mesmerizing and unique. Like the Mars Volta, it is ambitious and incredible technical, and is awful if not done properly, symphonic if done well! 

  • Top Producers - Descendientes Palacios, Raul Perez (Bierzo)

  • Other Notable 'M' Varieties:

  • MACABEO - Spain's most prominent white grape, capable of making dry refreshing whites or long lived, rich fine wine, especially in Rioja where is is known as Viura.

  • MARSANNE - Rich and round white grape of the Northern Rhone that is actually permitted in some of the reds but is mostly blended with Viognier and Rousanne.

  • MERLOT - Oft maligned black grape, after getting serious treatment in the film Sideways. Limited enough grape on its own, nevertheless it is found in some of the most famous wines in Bordeaux and Tuscany.

  • MALBEC - Bordeaux black grape that has found more fame in its new classical expression in Argentina - a big and juicy, fruit forward wine.

  • MONASTRELL - AKA Mouvedre in France and Mataro in Australia (where they exist mostly as blending companions) Monastrell, found on Spains Meditereanean Coast, makes big and alcoholic red wines. 

  • MONTEPULCIANO - The source of huge confusion, Montepulciano is a cheerful and uncomplicated red that gives universal easy drinking wines from all over Italy, playing second fiddle to Sangiovese. Montepulciano is also a town famous for the production of Sangiovese-led 'Vino Nobile Montepulciano'. Confused? Good! 

  • N

  • NEBBIOLO - NEIL YOUNG

  • Nebbiolo is famous for being used in the famous expressions of Barolo and Barbaresco in Northern Italy. Roero also provides an alternative that does not require as much ageing and is synonymous with better value.

  • Neil Young IS Nebbiolo. With its etheral aromatics and delicate nose, Nebbiolo is femenine and tender, but it also displays great power and hooks that make it at once instantly recognisable and without peer. An influencer of everything else below it.

  • Top Producers - Too numerous to mention, Rinaldi, Mauro Veglio, Elio Altare and Giacomo Conterno for a start (Barolo) Rizzi (Barbaresco)

  • Other Notable 'N' Varieties:

  • NERO D'AVOLA - Big, fruity alcoholic wine from the South of Italy, simple and pleasurable. Finding some limited success in the new world. 

  • NERELLO MASCALESE - The best kept secret in the wine world, frequently referred to as the Barolo of the South. Delicate and elegant black grape with unique nose.

  • P

  • PINOT NOIR - PINK FLOYD

  • The ultimate wine geeks grape. Most famous for the red wines of Burgundy, it is grown all over the world with exceptional examples also being found in California and Australia and especially popular as a neo-classical style in New Zealand.

  • Pink Floyd's haunting sound fits Pinot Noir. Capable of both power and tenderness, they are at their best when the are ponderous and abstract, Pinot Noir can be sniffed and swirled for an eternity, which is just as long as it takes for vocals to come in on any Floyd track, if they ever do. Lower in tannin and higher in acid, it means that it can be enjoyed any time, with any food.

  • Top Producers - Rousseau and the famous DRC (Burgundy) Littorai (California) Yabby Lake, Curly Flat, Mac Forbes (Australia) Felton Road, Ata Rangi, Burn Cottage (New Zealand)

  • Other Notable 'P' Varieties:

  • PINOT GRIS - Simple white grape that comes in a range of styles from simple to full bodied, can often show a pink tinge. 

  • PINOT GRIGIO - Popular Italian expression of Pinot Gris, picked earlier to retain more acidity.

  • PINOTAGE - South Africa's most famous black grape, it is a manufactured crossing of two other varieties. At its worst it can taste like bin liner and burnt rubber, at its best I am sure its lovely! (Apologies to any South Africans or Pinotage afficianados!)

  • R

  • RIESLING - RADIOHEAD 

  • The wine geeks white wine. Made in a variety of styles from bone dry to lusciously sweet, it hails from Germany and is now a special proposition in its own right in Australia.

  • Riesling is powerfully aromatic and acidic, which makes it one of the few wines versatile enough to stand up to Asian food, with appealing fruit and freshness, it appeal in some way shape of form to everyone. If dry Riesling is Radiohead's early stuff, sweet Riesling is there output as they matured. It is more challenging and unique, but all the more rewarding.

  • Top Producers - Dr Loosen, JJ Prum, Egon Muller (Germany) Grosset, RieslingFreak, Pikes, Crawford River (Australia) Rippon (New Zealand)

  • Other Notable 'R' Varieties:

  • ROUSANNE - Blending partner of Marsanne of the Northern Rhone.

  • S

  • SANGIOVESE - SMITHS

  • If Nebbiolo and Barolo are the Queen of Italian wine, Sangiovese and Brunello are the King. Brunello is Sangioveses most famous expression from the town of Montalcino in Tuscany, it is also the chief component of the wines of Chianti and some Super Tuscan, limited mostly to Tuscany.

  • Like the Smiths, Sangiovese almost has a self important swagger and a drying manner. Dusty tannins, high and acid and big fruit make it a popular and universally loved grape. Absolutely sings with pasta. 

  • Top Producers - Querciabella, Isole Olena, Valdicava, Fontodi (Tuscany)

  • Other Notable 'S' Varieties:

  • SAUVIGNON BLANC - depending on where you stand, it is a erious turn on or a serious turn off. Relatively limited white grape that makes high acid, neutral wines. Responsible for the famous wines of Sancerre and its neo-classical expression from New Zealand.

  • T

  • TEMPRANILLO - TAME IMPALA

  • Spains most populous black grape, found in Rioja and Ribera del Duero and across the Iberian Peninsula, known as Tinto Roriz in Portugal and as a blending component for Port.

  • Like Tame Impala it has a myriad of associated acts but is also appreciated on its own now - particularly in Ribera. It has bright appealing fruit and it gains wonderful complexity when oaked. Becoming a dominant force in its landscape. 

  • Top Producers - Remelluri, Pingus, Roda (Spain)