New (and Uncommon) Grapes in Town!

Cabernet….Chardonnay…. There’s a reason these tried and true varietals are the most popular in the world. 

The distinctiveness of grape varieties and geography can offer something different on the palate each time. At TWDC, we find it thrilling how winemakers are experimenting with the lesser-known, niche grape varieties. Peculiar grape varieties forge the foundation for many fabulous creations.

With thousands of different varieties in existence, it’s definitely worthy to venture outside your wine-tasting comfort zone now and give some of these uncommon wines a try! 

Let’s have a look beyond the common and usual grapes and dive into some of the oddball grapes which had made their way onto our portfolio.

Assyrtiko

Assyrtiko is Greece’s most striking white grape, used for both dry and sweet wines. It hails from the Cyclades island of Santorini and covers 65% of its vineyard area, where many vines are ungrafted and vary in age from 60 to 250 years. On this windswept volcanic isle, the roots of the Assyrtiko vine can reach up to 18m in the black, ash-rich soil, giving the resulting wines great minerality. The vines are uniquely trained in ground-hugging, basket-weaved fashion to minimise wind damage during flowering, as well as grape sunburn. 

Assyrtiko is made for people looking for unconventional, intense styles of whites, that lean towards texture and density. It offers sensations that are well away from the average, “commercially appealing” dry white. Very food-friendly, especially with grilled fish and seafood. All Assyrtiko wines, both barrel-aged and stainless steel matured, can age confidently for five or even ten years, sometimes significantly more.

General Style of Assyrtiko:

– Yellow-gold in colour

– Mineral

– Aromas & flavours of Pear, Apple, Citrus blossom

– Naturally high acidity

– Able to age for many years

Mavroudi

The Mavroudi variety owes its name to the dark and almost black colour of its berries (Mavro means black). This dark colour is also the reason why Mavroudi is used mostly in the production of dark red wines, though they remain rare.

Originating from Bulgaria, the Mavroudi is now mainly grown in the Peloponnese and northern regions of Greece.

The low-yielding, late-ripening vine produces small, almost black grapes with thick skins. They have pronounced tannins and excellent acidity, with an abundance of stewed-fruit flavours on the palate giving a sweet-tasting mouthfeel. The grape also has a herbal characteristic, sometimes giving Mavroudi wines a medicinal finish. These wines certainly do not lack character! 

General Style of Assyrtiko:

– Heavy and strong aroma

– Intense body with forest fruit and herbal notes

– High acidity and robust tannins, with a long-lasting aftertaste

-Pairs well with veal, smoked ham, and grilled cheese

– Mid-term ageing for wine to reach it’s true potential

Melon de Bourgogne

Melon de Bourgogne is the white grape synonymous with the Muscadet appellation in the western Loire Valley. The grape was introduced to the region in 1709 after a vicious winter killed many of the Loire’s vines, around the same time it was expelled from its home in Burgundy. What the Dukes of Burgundy regarded as an overproductive variety of little viticultural interest, growers in the Loire saw as the cold-resistant answer to their troubles.

In the vineyard, Melon de Bourgogne buds early and vigorously, meaning that, even in the event of spring frosts, a second budding is still capable of producing a reasonable yield. Its major vulnerability is its susceptibility to mildew, though this affliction is less likely in the cool climate.

The variety has naturally high acidity, often with a lighter body. The best wines show apple and citrus flavours, with underlying mineral notes. A saltiness can sometimes be identified in the wine, suggestive of the region’s maritime geography.

General Style of Melon de Bourgogne:

– Lighter in body

– Primary flavours include lime, green apple, pear and bread dough

– High acidity with a mineral body

-Pairs well with seafood

Grillo

Grillo is a Sicilian white grape variety most famous for its role in the island’s fortified Marsala wines. It is still widely planted in Sicily despite Marsala’s fall from fashion, and is now used most commonly in a variety of still white wines, both varietal and blended.

There is some debate as to the origins of Grillo, as its earliest mention comes as recently as the mid-19th Century. Some believe that the variety is native to Sicily, suggesting it is the progeny of Catarratto and Muscat of Alexandria. Others have hypothesized that it was brought to the island from the southern Italian region of Puglia. There is even some evidence to suggest that this was the variety in the Roman wine Mamertino, a particular favourite of Julius Caesar.

As the focus has shifted from quantity to quality, Sicilian producers are beginning to revisit and replant Grillo, particularly as viticultural and vinicultural techniques have improved. Winemakers are now able to control thiols more easily, giving Grillo wines with more pleasant, fruit-driven aromas rather than the rather more earthy styles that were previously available. 

Grillo, when vinified to a high standard, makes a fresh, light white wine with nutty, fruit-driven flavours that include lemon and apple.

General Style of Grillo:

– Floral and herbal aroma

– Primary flavours include grapefruit, citrus blossom, thyme, and saline

– Major component of Sicily’s fortified flagship wine: Marsala

Beichun

Rkatsiteli

We are always on the lookout for new, exotic and fascinating grape varietals so stay tuned to our next edition of ‘New Grapes in Town’!