The Wine School: Grape varieties

Related tags Chardonnay Cabernet sauvignon

Creating a succinct wine list from scratch is no mean feat, particularly with the vast array of wines available. A trip to any of the major trade...

Creating a succinct wine list from scratch is no mean feat, particularly with the vast array of wines available.

A trip to any of the major trade tastings or shows can be intimidating for licensees whose knowledge of wine might be limited. But the news is that wine consumption is on the increase, more so than before the smoking ban.

So no matter what your personal preference, now is the time to mug up on what's what and what's hot to realise greater profit through better wines. In the first part of The Publican Wine School, we will take a look at the basic and most popular grape varieties, their characteristics, why they are 'must-haves' on a wine list, and how best to sell them.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay enjoyed heady popularity during the 1990s, but the arrival of heavily oaked Australian styles led to a downturn and the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd. Despite this, chardonnay remains one of the most well-known, popular and versatile white wine grapes, grown the world over from America to New Zealand.

Styles vary from crisp chablis with its steely, green-apple notes to rich tropical fruits with butter and vanilla flavours. Chardonnay is one of the most recognised grapes and with chablis being one of the most recognisable labels geographically, it is a good wine to encourage people to venture away from house wine.

Pinot grigio

Instantly recognisable, pinot grigio is a stalwart of every licensee's wine list and is always a best-seller thanks to its easy-drinking, non-acidic light style. Pinot grigio is actually French in origin, but today it is widely produced in many countries from Germany to New Zealand. Styles vary depending on the region and wine-making style and include full-bodied, spicy wines as well as the crisp, easy- drinking ones most associated with Italy. There are some pretty poor pinot grigio wines on the market, but as a varietal, it is a good one for up-selling as customers will recognise the name, so it's worth opting for a decent quality.

Pinot noir

On the red front, pinot noir has been growing in popularity. Pinot noir wines offer a stunning range of styles from light and fruity to dark and powerful. Chiefly associated with the Burgundy region, it is thriving in a growing number of countries including New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Chile and now even England. With the growing emphasis on provenance, more customers want to see British-sourced produce, both food and wine, so this is a good option as there are some good-quality pinots out there as well as sparkling varieties.

Tempranillo

A favourite with many wine drinkers who don't actually know it! Tempranillo produces the fabulous Spanish wines from the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions and is becoming popular further afield in Australia and California, where just to confuse matters it is called valdepenas. It produces a typically robust wine, that can be consumed at a young age, but is best aged in oak barrels. With those characteristics it must be the perfect pub wine!

To find out more about these and other wines that should be on a pub list, visit Wine+ on January 16 and 17 2008. With a focus on making more money from wine sales and education, it is a must-attend event for licensees.

Erica Dent from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust will be hosting a 'Wine School for Pubs' - a seminar aimed specifically at those working within the pub trade - while Will Beckett of the Underdog Group & Consultancy will present a session on effective outsourcing, including working with wine experts to put together a list that will improve revenues.

For further information and free registration visit the Wine Plus website

Will Beckett is a founder and owner of the Underdog Group

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