There are so many terms when it comes to wine, it can be hard to know where to begin. How does one even scratch the surface of understanding wine when there are all these weird ways of explaining it? Well, fear not, because I am here to be your wine spirit guide, so you can navigate the wine world with confidence. This week I’m tackling the question: what is a noble grape?
You may have seen it around when you’ve been learning about wine and wondered what it is. Is it a wine that comes from royal vineyards? Does it have special lineage? Is it a name for super expensive wine I’ll never be able to afford? What about this noble rot stuff – is it weird gross wine? All these questions are definitely valid, but they aren’t related to noble grapes. Hence the confusion around this term! So let’s get into what a noble grape really is.
What is a noble grape?
The reason that this term is so confusing is because everyone has a different definition. Seriously, I looked this up and got many different answers. You’d be forgiven for getting confused when there is so much differing information out there!
But let’s get back to the basics. Technically, a noble grape is an internationally recognisable variety that reliably produces high-quality wine and is planted in major regions. These wines are at the heart of the wine industry and are those common wine varieties you hear so much about. Noble grapes are also known for expressing the terroir of the place they’re grown. So a wine from one region will taste different from wine from another. Some say the reason is also that they are easy to grow, so they sort of took over the wine world. But this isn’t the case when it comes to wines such as Pinot Noir or Riesling that are notoriously fickle to grow. So where does this term noble grape actually come from?
What started this whole thing around noble grapes was an excellent marketing campaign which King Louis XIV started sort of by accident. You see, he loved luxury, and his reputation for extravagance soon led the world to crave all things French, including the wine. Therefore, those grapes that were grown in France were in higher demand, especially as France had such a rich history in the craft of perfecting wine. As these grapes began to be grown outside of France, they were put on a pedestal and beloved across the world.
Oh, and they were also labelled cépage noble, or, roughly, noble grapes. Marketing at its finest.
So it really is a mixture of everything that makes a grape noble. Good French marketing, ease of growth, palate-pleasing – but what sets one wine in the list out from the other great wines on the market? Are they really that much better, or were they in the right place at the right time? Well, here’s where the water gets murky.
Where is gets confusing
The problem is that no one can agree on how many noble grapes there actually are. For traditionalists, 6 or sometimes 7. But there are plenty of people who argue that there should be up to 18. Why are they confusing us?
Well, it comes down to the definition of what constitutes “international and recognisable”. Does this just mean wines that are popular universally, or does ease of growth also impact it? No one can agree, which means that a simple question of “what is a noble grape?’ becomes confusing.
The fact is, times are changing, and the traditional noble grapes, although still relevant, are part of a much wider wine world with greater wine production, hybrids and drinkers with more access to new varieties than ever before. The list also excludes any wine that isn’t red or white, leaving you rosé and sparkling wine lovers out.
As the world expands vineyard plantings, there are now so many more wines available, and many more wines that fit the definition of a noble grape. So if the wine trends have changed, should we change an age-old tradition? Well let’s look at the different wines and you can decide for yourself!
The originals
You’ll find no one can even agree on how many traditional noble grapes there are. Some say 6, some say 7, including Syrah (Shiraz) in the mix. All but one of these wines originated in France, hence the label of noble grape. There are 3 white wines and 3 (or 4 if you count Syrah) red wines on this prestigious list. These wines are classics and I don’t think this list will come as a surprise to anyone. But let’s dive into each one.
Chardonnay
Well, you either love it or hate it, but Chardonnay is one of the most popular white wine varieties on the planet, particularly in France. Chardonnay is easy to grow and versatile, producing very different flavours depending on its climate. It’s also part of the base for Champagne if you needed another reason to love it. Despite a bit of an issue with its image from excessively wooded wines, Chardonnay is definitely making a comeback. Read my full wine profile on Chardonnay here.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is known for being crisp and having citrus flavours. Depending on the climate, it can be bone dry to peppery. It can also be oaked for smokey flavours, or even blended with other wines such as Semillon for classic Bordeaux whites.
Riesling
Riesling is the only wine on the list that didn’t originate in France but instead comes from Germany. You’ll find it planted all over the world now. It sometimes has a reputation for being too sweet, but there is a great range to try from refreshing wines with plenty of acidity to citrus-driven wines.
Merlot
Merlot is a fruity and smooth red with lower tannin than some other varieties. It became wildly popular a few decades ago which led to overproduction and backlash. If you’re looking for an easy-drinking red, this should be top of your list!
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir grapes are small and quite difficult to grow, so make it hard to produce wines outside of the right climate. But when done well, Pinot Noir is a highly sought after wine and often carries a hefty price tag. It’s smooth, low tannin and has a good acidic kick. The best part about it is the lightness of the wine which makes it easy to pair with almost any dish. Read my full Pinot Noir wine guide here.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Lastly, Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the full-bodied red wine that changes greatly based on the terroir. It has high tannins and acidity which creates lingering flavours, and also makes it good for ageing. This wine pairs best with heavier foods.
The new royals on the block
So now that we’ve discussed the classics, let’s have a look at the contender noble grapes. These varieties are establishing themselves as prominent in the wine industry. Although the 6 noble grapes are a good place to start with wine, why limit yourself to only 6 when there are so many more to discover?
Many of these new noble grapes are still well known, but maybe just not quite as classic. But as tastes change and production further expands, maybe we need to rethink what we call a noble grape.
So what are the varieties you can add to your list? Here they are from lightest to heaviest.
New Red Noble Wine Varietals
- Grenache
- Sangiovese
- Nebbiolo
- Tempranillo
- Syrah (if you’re not including it in your classics)
- Malbec
New White Noble Wine Varietals
- Pinot Grigio
- Chenin Blanc
- Moscato
- Gewurztraminer
- Sémillon
- Viognier
So what’s you’re favourite?
So what’s the message here, and have we really answered the question of what a noble grape is? Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to including the new and old-world noble grapes. I think you should make up your mind for yourself! Just remember that at their core, the noble grapes are wines that are internationally recognised. So whether you are a traditionalist or a modernist, you’ll be guaranteed to have a good time trying these wines!
And that’s what you should do. If you’re starting out with wine, the best thing you can do is try these internationally recognised wine varieties. They’ll give you the best wine education in the world – the one that comes from what your palate likes and doesn’t like! Tasting these wines will give you a great introduction into the notes, tannins and colours in wine and how they differ. Then you can work out what you like!
If a teacher were to ask me if I’d rather study wine from a textbook or just try a few bottles, I know what I’d try! This is the kind of wine education I can get behind!
What about you? What’s your favourite noble grape?