There are over 150 grape varieties grown in Australia between wine and table grapes. Yet the Annually over 75% of total crush is made up of just 5 grapes. To drill down into the other varities that make up the minority of production we are joined by resident wine expert, BSC: Wine Science student, Cal Lee.

Important to note the terms variety and varietal are used a lot in this piece, sometimes interchangeably, and I would like to clarify:
Variety: Is the named cultivar (Cultivated variety) of grape being grown, e.g Cabernet Sauvignon, Sultana, Muscat Gordo Blanco
Varietal: Is when a wine is named after the specific grape cultivar it is made from, e.g “Tyrrell’s ‘Hunter Valley’ Semillon” or when a wine presents as a textbook example of a specific cultivar ” The ‘Jade & Jasper’ Fiano shows a lot of varietal characteristic”

Wine of the Week

2024, Coriole Picpoul, McLaren Vale, S.A.

Fresh and acid driven aromatic white wine, with a backbone of brine and and wet stone. A varitey indigenous to Rhone Valley in France, its been grown as an alternative variety by Coriole for 10+ years. It’s slippery and saline texture pairs perfectly with fresh sea food, and the last of the warm weather.

Find more information here