Jancis Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes

Grape names and characteristics have never been so important for wine producers and consumers. An increasing proportion of wines are labelled with the names of the grape variety or varieties that go into them. They can provide vital clues for the wine drinker to the likely flavour and characteristics of the liquid inside the bottle. A handful of varieties - Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and so on - are grown in almost every wine region so that understanding them provides a fast track to understanding a significant proportion of all wine produced in the world today. But producers and consumers are tiring of this domination so that the range of grapes trumpeted on labels is broadening. This book, with more than 800 grape names listed and hundreds of different varieties described, provides a guide to an increasingly important aspect of wine appreciation.