Wine Encyclopedia
Explore Varietals & Blends
Browse 36 grape varietals with classic regions, discovery picks, and curated wine selections from our library of 11.7 million wines.
Showing 36 varietals & blends
Full-Bodied Red
Cabernet Sauvignon
Red
The king of bold reds — dark fruit, firm tannins, and structure for aging.
Pairs with
🥩 Steak
🧀 Aged Cheddar
🍖 Lamb
Classic Pick
Napa Valley
USA
Sun-drenched power and polish
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Bordeaux,
France
Coonawarra,
Australia
Stellenbosch,
South Africa
Syrah / Shiraz
Red
Dark, peppery, smoky — ranges from elegant Northern Rhône to blockbuster Barossa.
Pairs with
🍖 Lamb
🌶️ BBQ Ribs
🧀 Blue Cheese
Classic Pick
Northern Rhône
France
Smoky elegance with black pepper and violets
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Barossa Valley,
Australia
Paso Robles,
USA
Swartland,
South Africa
Nebbiolo
Red
High tannin, high acid, hauntingly aromatic — tar, roses, dried cherry.
Pairs with
🍄 Truffle Pasta
🥩 Braised Beef
🧀 Parmigiano
Classic Pick
Barolo, Piedmont
Italy
The benchmark — ethereal complexity
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Barbaresco, Piedmont,
Italy
Roero, Piedmont,
Italy
Malbec
Red
Plush, velvety, dark-fruited — approachable power with a soft, juicy core.
Pairs with
🥩 Grilled Steak
🌮 Empanadas
🧀 Gouda
Classic Pick
Mendoza
Argentina
The spiritual home — altitude and intensity
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Uco Valley,
Argentina
Cahors,
France
Merlot
Red
Plummy, velvety, and generous — softer tannins make it the approachable side of Bordeaux.
Pairs with
🍗 Roast Chicken
🍝 Tomato Pasta
🧀 Brie
Classic Pick
Pomerol, Bordeaux
France
Where Merlot reaches its apex — Pétrus, Le Pin, silk and power
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Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux,
France
Napa Valley,
USA
Hawke's Bay,
New Zealand
Zinfandel / Primitivo
Red
Jammy, brambly, spiced — high-octane fruit with a wild, rustic charm.
Pairs with
🌶️ BBQ
🍕 Pizza
🍖 Pulled Pork
Classic Pick
Sonoma (Dry Creek Valley)
USA
Old-vine Zin at its finest — concentrated, spicy, layered
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Paso Robles,
USA
Puglia,
Italy
Lodi,
USA
Petite Sirah
Red
Inky, powerful, tannic — brooding dark fruit and massive structure.
Pairs with
🥩 Short Ribs
🌶️ Smoked Meats
🍫 Dark Chocolate
Classic Pick
Napa Valley
USA
Concentrated and muscular, built for bold palates
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Paso Robles,
USA
Lodi,
USA
Mourvèdre / Monastrell
Red
Meaty, earthy, dark-fruited — the brooding backbone of many southern blends.
Pairs with
🍖 Lamb Stew
🫒 Olive Tapenade
🧀 Manchego
Classic Pick
Bandol
France
The only region where Mourvèdre truly stars — leather, game, lavender
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Jumilla,
Spain
Barossa Valley,
Australia
Medium-Bodied Red
Pinot Noir
Red
The heartbreak grape — silky, aromatic, endlessly complex when it's great.
Pairs with
🦆 Duck
🍄 Mushroom Risotto
🐟 Salmon
Classic Pick
Burgundy
France
The pinnacle — terroir-driven, no two villages alike
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Willamette Valley,
USA
Sonoma Coast,
USA
Central Otago,
New Zealand
Sangiovese
Red
Cherry, leather, herbs, bright acidity — the soul of Italian reds.
Pairs with
🍕 Margherita Pizza
🍝 Bolognese
🧀 Pecorino
Classic Pick
Chianti Classico, Tuscany
Italy
Centuries of tradition, food-pairing perfection
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Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany,
Italy
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,
Italy
Tempranillo
Red
Leather, tobacco, dried fruit — the backbone of Spain's greatest reds.
Pairs with
🍖 Chorizo
🧀 Manchego
🥘 Paella
Classic Pick
Rioja
Spain
Oak-aged elegance, generations of craft
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Ribera del Duero,
Spain
Toro,
Spain
Grenache / Garnacha
Red
Warm, generous, berry-rich — soft tannins and a spicy, herbal edge.
Pairs with
🥘 Ratatouille
🍖 Grilled Sausages
🫒 Mediterranean
Classic Pick
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France
Complex blends, garrigue herbs, Provençal warmth
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Priorat,
Spain
Barossa Valley,
Australia
Gigondas,
France
Cabernet Franc
Red
Herbal, peppery, elegant — violets, graphite, and a leafy freshness.
Pairs with
🍗 Herbed Chicken
🧀 Goat Cheese
🫑 Stuffed Peppers
Classic Pick
Chinon, Loire Valley
France
The purest expression — elegant, herbal, food-perfect
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Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux,
France
Finger Lakes,
USA
Bolgheri, Tuscany,
Italy
Gamay
Red
Bright, juicy, crunchy — red fruit, floral notes, and effortless drinkability.
Pairs with
🍗 Charcuterie
🧀 Comté
🐟 Tuna
Classic Pick
Beaujolais
France
Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent — serious wines from granite soils
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Beaujolais-Villages,
France
Willamette Valley,
USA
Barbera
Red
Juicy, bright cherry, low tannin, high acid — Italy's everyday charmer.
Pairs with
🍕 Pizza
🍝 Red Sauce Pasta
🍗 Prosciutto
Classic Pick
Barbera d'Asti, Piedmont
Italy
Vibrant acidity, rich fruit, food-pairing gold
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Barbera d'Alba, Piedmont,
Italy
Sierra Foothills,
USA
Rich White
Chardonnay
White
The world's most versatile white — from lean and mineral to rich and buttery.
Pairs with
🦞 Lobster
🍗 Roast Chicken
🧀 Gruyère
Classic Pick
Burgundy (Meursault, Puligny)
France
Where terroir speaks loudest in white wine
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Sonoma,
USA
Margaret River,
Australia
Limari Valley,
Chile
Viognier
White
Opulent, perfumed, stone-fruit-laden — apricot, honeysuckle, and a lush, round texture.
Pairs with
🦐 Shrimp
🍛 Thai Curry
🧀 Soft Cheese
Classic Pick
Condrieu, Northern Rhône
France
The benchmark — exotic aromatics, silky weight, mineral finesse
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Languedoc,
France
Virginia,
USA
Eden Valley,
Australia
Marsanne / Roussanne
White
Waxy, honeyed, nutty — weighty Rhône whites with almond and stone fruit.
Pairs with
🐟 White Fish
🍗 Roast Pork
🧀 Comté
Classic Pick
Hermitage Blanc, Northern Rhône
France
Age-worthy white wine at its most profound
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Crozes-Hermitage,
France
Central Victoria,
Australia
Crisp White
Sauvignon Blanc
White
Electric acidity, citrus, cut grass, gooseberry — the ultimate refresher.
Pairs with
🐟 Oysters
🥗 Goat Cheese Salad
🦐 Ceviche
Classic Pick
Sancerre / Pouilly-Fumé
France
Mineral-driven elegance, the original benchmark
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Marlborough,
New Zealand
Bordeaux,
France
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris
White
Light and zippy as Grigio, rich and honeyed as Gris — two personalities, one grape.
Pairs with
🐟 Light Fish
🥗 Caprese
🦐 Calamari
Classic Pick
Alsace
France
Full, off-dry, smoky — Pinot Gris at its most complex
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Alto Adige,
Italy
Willamette Valley,
USA
Grüner Veltliner
White
White pepper, green apple, lentil — Austria's brilliant, food-friendly white.
Pairs with
🥗 Asparagus
🐖 Wiener Schnitzel
🦐 Shrimp
Classic Pick
Wachau
Austria
Terraced vineyards, mineral depth, world-class quality
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Kamptal,
Austria
Weinviertel,
Austria
Albariño
White
Sea salt, peach, citrus zest — the Atlantic white built for seafood.
Pairs with
🦐 Shellfish
🐟 Grilled Fish
🫒 Tapas
Classic Pick
Rías Baixas
Spain
Granite soils, ocean mist, Spain's finest white
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Vinho Verde (Monção),
Portugal
Western Australia,
Australia
Aromatic White
Riesling
White
The connoisseur's white — razor acidity, petrol notes, ages like few others.
Pairs with
🍛 Spicy Asian
🐖 Pork Schnitzel
🦐 Scallops
Classic Pick
Mosel
Germany
Featherweight body, electric acidity, haunting minerality
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Alsace,
France
Clare Valley,
Australia
Gewürztraminer
White
Lychee, rose petal, ginger — unmistakably perfumed and unapologetically bold.
Pairs with
🍛 Thai / Indian
🧀 Munster
🍖 Duck Pâté
Classic Pick
Alsace
France
The definitive expression — Grand Cru complexity, exotic spice
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Alto Adige,
Italy
Pfalz,
Germany
Chenin Blanc
White
Chamomile, quince, wet wool — astonishing range from bone-dry to lusciously sweet.
Pairs with
🐟 Sole Meunière
🧀 Goat Cheese
🍎 Apple Tart
Classic Pick
Vouvray, Loire Valley
France
Dry, off-dry, or sparkling — Chenin at its most versatile
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Savennières, Loire Valley,
France
Stellenbosch,
South Africa
Swartland,
South Africa
Torrontés
White
Floral, grapey, intensely aromatic — Argentina's signature white with Muscat-like perfume.
Pairs with
🦐 Ceviche
🌶️ Spicy Tacos
🥗 Fresh Salad
Classic Pick
Salta (Cafayate)
Argentina
High-altitude vineyards, intense aromatics, crisp finish
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La Rioja,
Argentina
Mendoza,
Argentina
Moscato / Muscat
White
Grapey, peachy, orange blossom — the ancient aromatic grape in still, fizzy, and sweet.
Pairs with
🍰 Fruit Tart
🧀 Ricotta
🍑 Stone Fruit
Classic Pick
Asti, Piedmont
Italy
Light, fizzy, floral — the world's favourite easy-drinking white
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Rutherglen,
Australia
Alsace,
France
Blend
Bordeaux Blend (Red)
Red
Blend
The world's most revered blend — Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot form the backbone, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec adding complexity.
Pairs with
🥩 Lamb
🧀 Aged Comté
🍖 Braised Short Ribs
Classic Pick
Pauillac
France
First Growths and iron-fisted tannins — Bordeaux at its most powerful
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Saint-Emilion,
France
Napa Valley,
USA
Stellenbosch,
South Africa
Bordeaux Blend (White)
White
Blend
Sauvignon Blanc's raciness meets Semillon's waxy richness — crisp when young, honeyed with age.
Pairs with
🦪 Oysters
🐟 Sea Bass
🥗 Goat Cheese Salad
Classic Pick
Pessac-Leognan
France
Graves whites — age-worthy, mineral, complex
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Bordeaux,
France
Margaret River,
Australia
Rhone / GSM Blend
Red
Blend
Grenache's warmth, Syrah's spice, Mourvedre's structure — the sun-baked holy trinity of southern France.
Pairs with
🍖 Lamb Stew
🫒 Provençal Herbs
🌶️ Merguez
Classic Pick
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
France
Up to 13 permitted grapes, garrigue-scented complexity
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Gigondas,
France
Barossa Valley,
Australia
Languedoc,
France
Champagne Blend
Sparkling
Blend
Chardonnay's finesse, Pinot Noir's body, Pinot Meunier's fruit — the original prestige blend.
Pairs with
🦪 Oysters
🧀 Brioche & Brie
🍣 Sushi
Classic Pick
Champagne
France
The benchmark — chalk soils, centuries of craft, tiny bubbles
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Franciacorta,
Italy
Cava,
Spain
Tasmania,
Australia
Port Blend
Red
Blend
Touriga Nacional leads a field blend of native grapes — dark, rich, and built for decades.
Pairs with
🧀 Stilton
🍫 Dark Chocolate
🥩 Game Meats
Classic Pick
Porto
Portugal
Steep Douro terraces, centuries of tradition, legendary Vintage and Vintage Vintage Ports
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Douro,
Portugal
Dao,
Portugal
Dessert & Sweet
Sauternes / Botrytis
White
Liquid gold — honeyed apricot, saffron, and marmalade from nobly-rotted Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Pairs with
🧀 Roquefort
🍮 Crème Brûlée
🍑 Foie Gras
Classic Pick
Sauternes
France
Château d'Yquem and its neighbours — the pinnacle of sweet wine
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Barsac,
France
Rosé
Rosé
Rosé
Pale, dry, refreshing — strawberry, watermelon, and Mediterranean sunshine in a glass.
Pairs with
🥗 Niçoise Salad
🦐 Grilled Prawns
🫒 Mediterranean
Classic Pick
Provence
France
The global benchmark — pale, bone-dry, effortlessly elegant
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Tavel,
France
Navarra,
Spain
Bandol,
France
Sparkling
Champagne / Sparkling
Sparkling
Tiny bubbles, big complexity — toast, brioche, citrus, and celebration.
Pairs with
🦪 Oysters
🧀 Triple Cream Brie
🍣 Sushi
Classic Pick
Champagne
France
Nothing else quite matches the chalk-soil magic
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Franciacorta,
Italy
Cava,
Spain
Crémant d'Alsace,
France
Prosecco
Sparkling
Frothy, fruity, fun — green apple, pear, and white flowers with a playful sparkle.
Pairs with
🍗 Prosciutto & Melon
🦐 Fried Calamari
🍕 Bruschetta
Classic Pick
Valdobbiadene (Conegliano)
Italy
DOCG hillside vineyards — the premium heart of Prosecco
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Asolo,
Italy
Cartizze,
Italy