So you know what the most-planted wine varieties are, right?
MANY WINE lovers would be amazed on being told that neither Chardonnay nor Cabernet rank among the Top 3 most widely planted grape vines in France. And outside Spain and Portugal, who would have thought that Tempranillo is as big as it is in the total scheme of things.
In the Cape winelands, the most-planted variety of grape vine is Chenin, with the most successful South African cross being Pinotage, and/but around the globe, the No. 1 grape differs from country to country. Excluding table grapes (e.g. Sultana) and varieties used mainly for distilling (e.g. Ugni Blanc), the scenario in terms of the largest wine-producing nations is as follows:
In Italy it’s Sangiovese followed by Montepulciano, Glera, Pinot Gris, Merlot…
In France it’s Merlot followed by Grenache Noir, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon…
In Spain it’s Airen followed by Tempranillo, Bobal, Grenache Noir, Viura, Mourvedre…
In the USA it’s Chardonnay followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel…
In Australia it’s Shiraz followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot…
In Chile it’s Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Mission, Merlot, Chardonnay, Carmenere…
In Argentina it’s Malbec followed by Cereza, Bonarda, Criolla Grande, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz…
In South Africa it’s Chenin Blanc followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Pinotage, Chardonnay, Merlot…
In Germany it’s Riesling followed by Muller Thurgau, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder…
In Portugal it’s Tempranillo followed by Touriga Franca, Castelao, Fernao Pires, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira…
Overall, worldwide, the most-planted varieties of grape vines used for winemaking are:
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Merlot
3. Tempranillo
4. Chardonnay
5. Shiraz
6. Grenache Noir
7. Sauvignon Blanc
8. Pinot Noir
Data sources: the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS). For more industry statistics, click here.
