The birth of modern grape vines is a story of nature’s romance, patience and creation. Over centuries vines grew side by side, their roots sprawling through the soil giving them support while pollen quietly drifted through ancient vineyards. As seasons passed something entirely new was born. A relationship between grapes developed and they were transformed into the vinous power couples that fill our glass today.
Historically, wines were named after the area in which they were raised, not the grape variety. Think Rioja, Bordeaux or Chianti. Not only are these classics given their moniker based on geography, but they are also produced from a blend of grapes, not a single variety. In the U.S. we are infatuated with labels smothered in grape names. It’s a commonplace belief that when you buy a bottle listing a grape such as Syrah, that it is 100% of the stated variety. In most cases, wines are blends even when a specific grape is listed. For instance, a bottle of Syrah must contain, by law, a minimum of 75% Syrah while the remainder may be ANYTHING, even white grapes. More intriguing is the story of the parental lineage of these grapes. While there are more than 10,000 wine grapes on the planet, here are just a few of the more well-known dynamic duos.
Chardonnay
This wine is a cross of the ancient grapes Gouais Blanc and Pinot. These two grapes along with Savagnin (not to be confused with its relative, Sauvignon Blanc) were the most common grapes of France during the Middle Ages.
Sauvignon Blanc
Being a bit of an unruly and productive vine explains the root of its name, from sauvage, the French word for “wild. This grape is an important part of other grape equations while it is unknown where this wild child was born.
Cabernet Sauvignon
A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, this youngster reared its head in the mid-18th century. It is native to Bordeaux but shows versatility around the globe from Lebanon to South Africa and beyond.
Merlot
The grape we love to loathe (Thanks, Sideways!) is almost genetically identical to Cabernet Sauvignon. This variety gets its name for the French word for blackbird, merle. This cross of Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes is one of the most common blending grapes found in bottles labeled Cabernet Sauvignon.
Annaliese Kondo, Studio Pixel Pop
Advanced Sommelier Brian Henderson is happy to guide you through the wines at JP's Wine & Spirits
Akin to the development of the vine, our relationships are a story of connection. Growth and change are integral facets of existence. And like vines, we are forever transforming and evolving. Embracing change reminds us to savor the passion that fills our proverbial glass. You decide what it contains.
To find more love children of ancient grapes head over to JP’s Wine & Spirits for tales of long-lost grape trysts. Let us open the doors of exploration into the exciting world of grape history. Cheers!
By Brian Henderson, CSW, FWS, Advanced Sommelier, JP’s Wine & Spirits
