Alpine Wine Varieties
Ancient grapes kept alive by dedicated (stubborn?) people, some of the rarest grapes anywhere, classic grapes with an Alpine twist, and even some extremely new grapes - there is a diversity in the Alps that is hard to beat and a delight to explore.
- Altesse The most prestigious white grape of Savoie
- Amigne There are few grape varieties rarer!
- Blauer Portugieser A modest grape but a lovely one
- Blauer Wildbacher A wild red used mostly for the Schilcher Rosé
- Blaufränkisch The most acclaimed Austrian red
- Cabernet Franc Hard to ripen but a most elegant animal
- Cabernet Sauvignon The most popular red on the planet
- Chardonnay Cool climate Chardonnay is magic
- Chasselas The Swiss gem, freshness without acidity
- Cornalin Once the dominant variety in Valais
- Diolinoir An unexpected cross on a mountainside
- Divico New eco variety
- Divona A new eco variety
- Doral Doral, the exotic little number
- Dornfelder Dark, refreshing and smooth
- Dôle Blend A blend that is almost a variety
- Etraire de la Dhuy And old Alpine variety
- Eyholzer Roter Also known as Hibou, a light rarity
- Frühroter Veltliner Another ancient Veltliner
- Fumin Rare red from Aosta
- Furmint The great Eastern white wine
- Galotta A surprising new variety, try it
- Gamaret A new eco friendly smooth red
- Gamay One of the great red grapes of humankind
- Garanoir The more structured sibling of Gamaret
- Gewürztraminer The floral champion
- Grüner Veltliner Austria's favourite white wine
- Gwäss The Casanova grape, father of multitudes
- Himbertscha A rare ancient Valais curiosity
- Humagne Blanche Pre roman and tastier than most
- Humagne Rouge The elegant animal of the St Bernard?
- Jacquère The fresh mineral crisp white from Savoie
- Johannisberg / Sylvaner a fantastic white often overlooked
- Lafnetscha Lafnetscha, the "take your time" grape variety
- Lagrein the most powerful of the Alpine reds
- Marsanne or Hermitage in Valais
- Merlot Merlot is Everywhere!
- Mondeuse Blanche Mondeuse Blanche, rescued from oblivion
- Mondeuse Noire The smoother dark stranger from Savoie
- Muscat Dry muscat is a delight
- Müller Thurgau NOT a riesling sylvaner cross. Taste it.
- Nebbiolo Alpine Nebbiolo is the original
- Neuburger a rather impressing "modest" variety
- Persan An wild dark stranger from the French Alps
- Petite Arvine The bright star of the Alpine whites
- Petit Rouge The most popular red from Aosta
- Pinot Blanc The best wine for thinking
- Pinot Gris Alpine Pinot Gris is something else!
- Pinot Noir The most important red around the Alps
- Plantscher An ancient variety related to Furmint
- Prie Blanc aka Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle
- Resi Another Valais ancient grape
- Riesling The great white wine, for good reason
- Roter Veltliner The ancestor of most Veltliners
- Rotgiplfer Sibling of Zierfandler
- Roussanne If you like Roussanne, look to Savoie
- Räuschling one of the important medieval varieties, saved in Zurich
- Sauvignon Blanc The most popular white here in mineral glory
- Schiava Grigia A beautifully unique light red
- St Laurent "Pinot with tannins" but much more too
- Syrah At its best with Alpine elegance
- Sämling Quite unique notes, try it
- Traminer / Heida Savagnin climbs the highest
- Verdesse
- Viognier Rich and fruity white
- Welschriesling The classic eastern European white
- Zierfandler Rotgipfler's sibling, ancient and unique
- Zweigelt The smooth and spicy young red from Austria