25 Grape Types: A Breakdown of Different Grape Varieties

Grapes are berries that grow in clusters on grapevines of the Vitis genus in the Vitaceae family. These small, oval fruits contain skin, flesh, and seeds that producers meticulously cultivate for fruit, juice-making, and wine-making. (However, many varieties are seedless grapes, producing tiny, edible cores or none at all.) Grapes are also an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K.

Knowing about the many different types of grapes can help you identify a flavor of wine or choose the right produce for your charcuterie spread. Here is a breakdown of the many types:

1. 1. Cabernet Franc: This red wine grape grows in France’s Loire Valley and Bordeaux regions, as well as in New York’s Finger Lakes. Wines made from this grape have a medium body with moderately high acidity and tannin and flavors of red cherry, graphite, and bell pepper.
2. 2. Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine grape that grows in France’s Bordeaux wine region and California’s Napa Valley. These grapes create full-bodied wines, with black currant, mint, and bell pepper flavors.
3. 3. Carménère: Carménère is a red wine grape in the cabernet family. Its green pepper aroma is even stronger than the similar note in Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Carménère is herbal and spicy, with ripe red fruit aromas and mocha tones when aged in oak.
4. 4. Chardonnay: This white wine grape grows worldwide, including Burgundy and Champagne in France, California, and southern hemisphere countries like Australia and South Africa. Wines made from chardonnay grapes range from steely and acidic to lush, buttery, and spicy.
5. 5. Concord: Dark purple Concords can make grape juice, wine, or ready-to-go snacks. They have a bright, sweet grape flavor and a fruity aroma. Grape jelly or jam typically calls for Concord grapes. Grape soda is a riff on the sweet, deep flavor of Concords.
6. 6. Cotton Candy: Cotton Candy grapes have a sugary taste reminiscent of cotton candy; they get their name from the sweet carnival treat. Rich in nutrients like potassium and vitamin C, these seedless table grapes originated in California.
7. 7. Edelweiss: These pale, seedless green grapes are both cold-hardy and resistant to diseases and fungus. Edelweiss grapes grow in large, loose clusters and make good wine or table grapes due to their high sugar content.
8. 8. Gratitude: Gratitude grapes are seedless and green with a crisp, bright flavor and thin, crack-resistant skin.
9. 9. Malbec: These red wine grapes carry dark fruit notes of black cherry, blueberry, and prunes, with coffee and chocolate overtones. The grapes have a natural acidity, and moderate tannins make for smooth and drinkable wines. Learn more about Malbec wine.
10. 10. Merlot: Winemakers in France’s Bordeaux region (especially on the right bank) prioritize Merlot grapes. Growers now cultivate them worldwide, including in Italy (where it is part of some Super Tuscan blends) and the US states of California and Washington. Merlot wines have a velvety texture and plum and blueberry flavors.
11. 11. Moon Drops: Moon Drops (or Moon Balls) are seedless table grapes with an oblong shape and a lightly sweet taste. They grow in colors ranging from deep purple to dark black. Moon Drops thrive in the San Joaquin Valley in California.
12. 12. Petit Verdot: This red wine grape produces dense, tannic wines with flavors of blackberry, licorice, pepper, and dark chocolate. Petit Verdot wines pair best with smoky, meaty cuisine.
13. 13. Pinot Noir: Pinot noir grapes are difficult to grow in most climates, but wine drinkers are willing to pay a high price for its delicate red cherry, pomegranate, and cedar flavors. Winemakers produce pinot noir in Oregon, Baden, Germany, and New Zealand.
14. 14. Pinot Grigio: This white wine grape grows in the Veneto region in northern Italy, where winemakers use it to make crisp, citrusy, dry, white wines. Winemakers producing in the French tradition refer to this same grape as Pinot Gris, which can yield a higher-alcohol, sweeter product.
15. 15. Primitivo: This red wine grape goes by Primitivo in southern Italy and Zinfandel in the US. Italian Primitivo wines have denser tannins than their US counterparts. They tend to be rustic and higher in alcohol, with a sweet finish.
16. 16. Reliance: These rose-colored grapes thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. Reliance grapes are often very sweet, making them a popular ingredient for jelly and jam.
17. 17. Riesling: Originated in Germany, riesling grapes make crisp, highly-acidic, fruity white wines. Winemakers can produce riesling in a range of styles, including sparkling wines, from dry to sweet. Tasting notes often include honeysuckle, lime, slate, and petrol.
18. 18. Sangiovese: This red wine grape is the main grape in central Italy’s most popular wines, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. These grapes produce medium to full-bodied wines with high acidity and moderately high tannins. Sangiovese wines have notes of red and black cherry, tobacco, herb, and leather.
19. 19. Sauvignon blanc: This white wine grape—which grows in New Zealand and France’s Loire Valley—is powerfully aromatic and crisply acidic, with strong aromas of grass, grapefruit, and gooseberry.
20. 20. Somerset: Somerset grapes are large, red, seedless grapes. They are self-pollinating, cold-hardy, and also resistant to most diseases. Eat these grapes fresh or use them to make jam or jelly.
21. 21. Sultana: Sultanas, also known as Thompson grapes, are small table grapes that producers commonly use to make raisins. They either grow as small white fruits or light green ones. The sultana grape is a common culinary ingredient due to its sweetness and high sugar content.
22. 22. Syrah/Shiraz: This red wine grape goes by the name syrah in France, and shiraz in Australia. French syrah has moderate to high acidity and tannins. Australian shiraz has riper fruit, more robust tannin, and higher alcohol than its European cousin. In both places, the grape carries notes of olive, smoked meat, violet, and boysenberry.
23. 23. Tempranillo: This red wine grape is the main feature in Spain’s iconic Rioja wine. Tempranillo produces medium-bodied wines with moderate tannins and lower acidity. Spanish tempranillo has red plum, cherry, tobacco leaf, and soil notes.
24. 24. Thomcord: Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of Thompson seedless grapes and Concord grapes. Its heat-resistant vines bear dark blue grapes that are full of flavor.
25. 25. Zinfandel: Zinfandel is the second-most planted red grape in California. This grape makes robust, aromatic, juicy red wines high in alcohol.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, and more.