French Red Grape Varieties

AlsaceBeaujolaisBourgogneChampagneJuraL-RLoireRhôneSavoieSud-Ouest

Character: Aromatic grape with good acidity and moderate tannin; rather light red in color.

Name: "Pinot" from French pin (pine) — references compact, pine cone-like clusters. "Noir" = black.

Aromas: Cherry, strawberry (primary); earth, leather, violets, clove, cinnamon, sandalwood, smoke, truffles (secondary/tertiary).

Medieval importance: Like Gouais and Savagnin, widely planted in Middle Ages. Shares kinship with Savagnin. Spontaneously crossed with Gouais to create many modern varieties.

Genetic note: Pinot Blanc, Gris, and Noir share the same genotype — impossible to know which Pinot participated in historical crosses.

Origin: Undetermined; current theory hints at the Jura.

Synonyms: Auvernat Noir (Loire)

CorseL-RProvenceRhôneSud-Ouest

Parentage: Natural Mondeuse Blanche × Dureza cross; native to southeastern France bordering Switzerland and Italy.

Character: Densely pigmented, tannic wines with moderate alcohol and acidity.

Aromas: Cherry, plum, white pepper, black pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, herb, cocoa, fountain-pen ink. Can display leathery, gamey, barnyard notes due to reductive nature.

Reductive nature: Does not bond with oxygen easily — prone to barnyard/reduction aromas.

CorseL-RProvenceRhône

Origin: Native to Aragon, Spain.

Character: Vigorous, productive, wind- and drought-resistant. High alcohol, moderate acidity/pigment/tannin. Prone to oxidation.

Aromas: Bright strawberry, wild cherry, prune with licorice and spice.

Genetic note: Grenache Blanc, Gris, and Noir share the same DNA fingerprint — different phenotypes.

Synonyms: Garnacha Tinta (Spain)Cannonau (Sardinia)

BeaujolaisBourgogneL-R IGPLoireRhôneSavoieSud-Ouest

Name: "Black Gamay with White Juice" — commonly called Gamay.

Parentage: Natural cross between Gouais Blanc × Pinot. Native to Bourgogne.

Character: Thin-skinned; low tannins and pigments, high acidity. Light- to medium-bodied with bright purple pigments.

Aromas: Cranberry, raspberry, strawberry; rose, iris, violet; subtle hint of hard candy.

Vinification: Most often vinified by carbonic maceration.

CorseL-RProvenceRhône

Origin: Native to Spain.

Viticulture: Requires significant warmth and light to mature. Vulnerable to winter freezes — thrives best near Mediterranean coastline.

Character: Densely pigmented, high alcohol and tannin. Aromatic profile intensifies with age.

Aromas: Youth — herbs, ripe plum, strawberry with meaty undercurrent. Age — leather, truffles. Tends to be reductive (barnyard aromas possible).

Synonyms: Mataro (Spain)Monastrell (Spain)

CorseL-RProvenceRhône

Origin: Native to Spain.

Viticulture: Vigorous, drought- and wind-resistant; abundant crop. Very late ripener — thrives in warm, sun-drenched locales, preferring dry, rocky hillsides.

Character: Well-structured, aggressively tannic wines with good acidity and color.

Vinification: Carbonic maceration commonly used to tame tannins.

Synonyms: Cariñena (Spain)Mazuelo (Spain)

CorseL-RProvenceRhôneSud-Ouest

Origin: Native to southern France.

Character: Productive, drought- and wind-resistant. Moderate to low pigment, low acidity, light tannins, expressive red fruit aromas.

Note: Also spelled "Cinsault."

BordeauxL-RLoireProvenceSavoieSud-Ouest

Parentage: Natural cross between Cabernet Franc × Sauvignon Blanc — hence the name. Occurred prior to mid-18th century. Native to Bordeaux.

Viticulture: Late-ripening; demands warm soils (gravel, sand) and long growing season.

Character: High acid, high pigment, high tannin, moderate alcohol.

Aromas: Black cherry, black/red currant, lilac, tobacco/cigar box, graphite, cedar, cocoa, tea, chocolate, herb.

BordeauxL-RLoireSud-Ouest

Parentage: Natural Magdeleine Noire des Charentes × Cabernet Franc cross; native to Bordeaux.

Character: Moderately tannic, moderately pigmented, high alcohol, moderate to low acidity.

Aromas: Blueberry, cherry, plum with nuances of coffee, spice, cocoa.

Name: From French merle (blackbird) — bird and grape inseparable at harvest.

BordeauxL-RLoireSavoieSud-Ouest

Origin: Recent genetic research places origin in Spanish Basque Country; parents are ancient Basque grapes Morenoa × Hondarribi Beltza.

Character: Moderate tannin, pigment, and acidity.

Aromas: Tea, tree bark, forest floor, moss, herb, cocoa, violet, strawberry, cranberry, mulberry.

Importance: Parent of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Synonyms: Breton (Loire)Bouchy (SW)Acheria (Irouléguy)

BordeauxL-RLoireSud-Ouest

Parentage: Prunelard × Magdeleine Noire des Charentes cross.

Origin: Believed to have originated in old French province of Quercy (Sud-Ouest); Cahors was its capital.

Character: Blackberry, plum, prune fruit; low acid; supple yet ample tannins. High pigment — wines referred to as "black" since 18th century.

Synonyms: Malbec (Bordeaux)Noir de Pressac (Bordeaux)Auxerrois (Cahors)

BordeauxL-R IGPSud-Ouest

Origin: Long believed native to Gironde, now thought to be from Sud-Ouest near Spanish border.

Character: Tannic, highly pigmented, high alcohol, aromatic with peppery spice notes.

History: Historically failed to ripen consistently — fell out of favor until global warming allowed more reliable ripening.

Etymology: Shape/structure suggests descent from wild vines (lambrusques in French).

Synonyms: Lambrusquet (Bordeaux)

BordeauxL-R IGP

Parentage: Natural cross between Cabernet Franc × Gros Cabernet. Gros Cabernet = Hondarribi Beltza × Fer Servadou (both Spanish Basque grapes).

Origin: Native to the Gironde.

Character: Rich, velvety red with indescribable mélange of Indian spice.

History: Fell out of favor in late 1800s due to susceptibility to coulure. More successful in warmer, drier climates. Global warming prompting renewed experimentation.

BordeauxL-R IGPRhône

Parentage: Cabernet Sauvignon × Grenache cross developed in Montpellier.

Character: Small, thick-skinned berries; wines rich in pigment, tannin, and aroma.

Rhône

Origin: Believed indigenous to the Southern Rhône.

Character: Similar to Syrah in pepper and tannin components.

Synonyms: Camarèse (Rhône)Vaccarèse (Rhône)

ProvenceRhône

Origin: Believed to have originated in southern France.

Character: Prolific producer. Contributes fruit, spice, and acidity to blends; moderate tannin and alcohol; little pigment.

Synonyms: Moustardier (Rhône)

Rhône

Origin: Believed indigenous to the Rhône Valley.

Character: Used in red blends; contributes acidity and "lift" via floral aromatics.

L-RRhône

Origin: Ancient grape native to the Rhône.

Character: Lightly pigmented, aromatic wine with good alcohol.

Genetic note: Piquepoul Blanc, Gris, and Noir share the same DNA — different phenotypes.

L-RProvenceRhône

Origin: Productive vine believed native to Languedoc.

Character: Tart, pale red wines of moderate alcohol.

Genetic note: Terret Noir, Gris, and Blanc are color mutations.

L-R

Identity: Hairy-leafed mutation of Grenache Noir. Considered separate variety in France but technically Grenache family.

Character: Ripens with less sugar and higher acid than Grenache Noir.

Spelling: Lladoner Pelud (Catalan), Lledoner Pelut (French), Lladoner Pelut (Roussillon) — all acceptable.

L-R IGPRhône

Identity: Red-skinned member of the Muscat family.

Character: Pigmented wine with intensely grapey aroma.

CorseL-R IGP

Identity: Better known by Italian name Sangiovese.

Character: High acidity, low extract, moderate alcohol. Tannin moderate but can be astringent. Prone to oxidation.

Aromas: Baked terra cotta, dried orange peel.

Synonyms: Sangiovese (Italy)Niellucciu (Corse)

Corse

Origin: Tuscan grape that found home in Corse.

Character: Lean, lightly pigmented reds and rosés; bright acidity, generous alcohol, spicy red fruit.

Synonyms: Mammolo (Italy)Sciaccarellu (Corse)

Provence

Origin: Unknown, but DNA confirms identity with Rossese di Dolceacqua (Liguria, Italy).

Character: Pale, earthy, supple wine with mushroom and stone fruit aromatics.

Synonyms: Rossese di Dolceacqua (Italy)

César

Bourgogne

Parentage: Pinot × Gänsfüsser cross; native to area between Yonne and Rheinland-Pfalz.

Crafts rustic, tannic, spicy red with generous alcohol.

Grolleau Noir

Loire

Origin: Indigenous to Loire; offspring of Gouais.

Low-alcohol, high-acid wines.

Synonym: Groslot (Loire)

Pineau d'Aunis

Loire

Origin: Native to the Loire.

Name: Like Pinot, from French pin (pine) — references pine cone-like clusters. NOT a member of Pinot family.

Pale red wines; moderately tannic, tantalizingly acidic, distinctively spicy.

Meunier

ChampagneLoire

Identity: Chimeric mutation — part-Pinot, part-something else. Has two DNA types: Pinot genotype for internal cells, different genotype for epidermis (outer layer). For this reason, often called simply "Meunier" (not "Pinot Meunier").

Character: Good acidity, moderate alcohol; red fruit aromas with subtle pumpernickel/rye hint.

Name: "Meunier" = Miller — underside of leaf looks dusted with flour.

Synonyms: Gris Meunier (Loire)Meunier Noir (Loire)

Gouais Noir

Champagne

Black-skinned variant of Gouais Blanc; one of three traditional varieties in Champagne 9th–16th centuries. Completely disappeared in 19th century.

Mondeuse Noire

L-R IGPSavoie

Origin: Native to southeastern France; shares kinship with Mondeuse Blanche (NOT color variants).

Character (varies by site):

• Poor sites (slopes, rocky soils): Naturally low yields → high color, acidity, alcohol, extract with ample tannins.
• Fertile sites (valley floor, sandy-loam): Overproduction → astringent, thin, tart wine.

Aromas: Black cherry, white pepper, spice. Requires ample sunshine for full development.

Persan

Savoie

Status: Traditional Savoyard grape in decline — buds early, susceptible to spring frost and mildew; yields regularly impacted.

Character: Supple but ample tannins, dense raspberry fruit, tangy acidity, ethereal violet aroma.

Poulsard

Jura

Origin: Native to Franche-Comté (near Swiss border).

Character: Thin-skinned, lightly pigmented; tends to oxidize, often picks up salmon hue. Often made into vin gris or still blanc de noirs.

Aromas: Red currants, wild strawberries, smoke.

Synonyms: Ploussard (Jura)

Trousseau

Jura

Origin: Indigenous to Franche-Comté.

Viticulture: Late-ripening; needs plenty of sun and warm soils. Characteristics seldom achieved in Jura — more successful in Spain/Portugal past 200 years.

Character: Deeply tannic, pigmented when fully ripe.

Aromas: Strawberry jam, raspberry, nutmeg.

Synonyms: Bastardo (Portugal, Spain)

Duras

Sud-Ouest

Origin: Ancient grape from southern Sud-Ouest.

Peppery reds of high acidity, pigment, and alcohol.

Fer Servadou

L-RSud-Ouest

Origin: Believed to have originated in Spanish Basque Country as domesticated wild grape.

Character: Similar to Cabernet Franc in taste/structure. Hardy vine; well-structured wines of tannin, pigment, and acidity.

Synonyms: Braucol (SW)Mansoi/Mansois (SW)Pinenc (SW)

Négrette

L-R IGPLoireSud-Ouest

Origin: Long cultivated in Sud-Ouest; origin unknown.

Character: Supple, fragrant, deeply pigmented; low to moderate tannin and acidity.

Aromas: Blackcurrant, licorice.

Synonym: Petit Noir (SW)

Tannat

Sud-Ouest

Origin: Believed native to Sud-Ouest France.

Character: Deeply pigmented, acidic, tannic, full-bodied with raspberry fruit.

Prunelard

Sud-Ouest

Importance: Ancient grape; father of Malbec (Côt).

Origin: Native to Garonne/Tarn river valleys.

History: Fell out of favor post-phylloxera due to low yields. Resurgence since 2008; valued for color, structure, spice.