Wine Course Handbook

Prepared by Belinda McLaughlin.  Information gathered with thanks from Distell, Cape Wine Academy, Theta and experience

Belinda McLaughlin of Cape Legends has compiled a Wine Course and very graciously agreed to school those of us who enjoy wine and want to learn more!  This week we are looking at what is meant by the term "Cultivar"

Cultivar is the word for the type of grape, or variety of grape. In America they use the word varietal.

Red Wine Cultivars

We talk about red wines as light, medium or heavy bodied. This is the list of the main red grapes that you are likely to come into contact with:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon (usually heavy bodied)
  • Shiraz (Also known as Syrah) (usually heavy bodied)
  • Merlot (usually medium bodied)
  • Pinotage (usually medium bodied)
  • Cinsaut (usually light bodied)
  • Ruby Cabernet (usually light bodied)
  • Pinot noir (usually light bodied)

Other red grapes used, but not as familiar are:

  • Tinta Barocca
  • Zinfandel
  • Malbec
  • Cabernet Franc

White Wine Cultivars

We talk about white wines as sweet or dry. More common white types of wine growing grapes are:

  • Chardonnay (usually wooded, sometimes not - always dry)
  • Sauvignon Blanc (dry)
  • Rhine Riesling (the same as Weisser Riesling) (off-dry)
  • Riesling (the same as Cape, Paarl or SA Riesling) (off-dry)
  • Chenin Blanc (also known as Steen, not to be confused with Stein) (off-dry to dry usually)
  • Semillon (usually wooded)
  • Gewurztramminer (semi-sweet to off-dry)

Other white grapes used, but not as familiar, are:

  • Bukettraube (semi-sweet)
  • Colombar (off-dry)
  • Fernai Pires (semi-sweet)
  • Pinot Grigio (also known as Pinto Gris) (off dry to dry)

Note of interest:

PINOTAGE has a very special place in South African wine history. It is our very own and unique cultivar and is a cross

between PINOT Noir and Cinsaut, which used to be known as HermiTAGE

 

HOME