Wine Grape Varieties of British Columbia

Agria:(black grape) Has found its way into North America via British Columbia, where it is sometimes blended with Pinot Noir. Originally from Hungary, Agria is known there alternatively as Turan. Agria’s chief attribute is its dark color.

Auxerrois (Ox-err-wah) Sometimes referred to as Pinot Auxerrois. A white grape valued for its low acidity, it produces exciting and long lasting wines if yields are kept low. It adds ‘body’ to blended wines. Also grown in Alsace, where it is usually blended into ‘Edelzwicker’, and found in Luxembourg, Burgundy, Canada, New Zealand and USA. As a neutral Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay style variety it is also useful for barrel aging or as a sparkling wine base.

Bacchus: (back-us) A white grape that is a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner grape varieties, it has a distinctive fruity varietal characteristic.

Baco noir: (back-o no-are)A black grape, the fruit is usually high in acid and produce wines of good quality which are usually deeply pigmented but low in tannin content.

Barbera: (Barr-bear-ahh) A red varietal widely grown in Italy and California, a few small acreages are planted in British Columbia. It produces an intense red wine with deep color, low and high acid.

Cabernet Franc: (cab-er-nay frangk, black grape) Wines made in Canada from this variety are high quality and softer than Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc has fewer tannins and less acidity, the fruit is better suited to cooler climates. This variety is also important in the Bordeaux and Loire regions of France. Also found in Italy. Delicious when served young and slightly chilled. Often used as a component of Meritage blends.

Cabernet Sauvignon: (cab-er-nay so-vin-yonh, black grape) Regarded as the top red wine grape in the world. Cabs produced in Canada are big in structure and flavour. This is the grape of choice of the best vineyards of Bordeaux. Often blended with Merlot and Cab Franc to produce Meritage (Bordeaux-style) blends.

Cayuga: A white variety having medium body, and good balance.  It lends itself to making semi-sweet wines emphasizing the fruity aromas, and is also made as a dry, less fruity wine with oak aging.

Chancellor: A red hybrid varietal once widely planted in France for table wine production. In terms of wine quality, Chancellor is among the better French-American hybrid varieties.

Chardonnay: (shar-dun-nay, white grape) Because it is easy to grow and versatile, Canada's cooler climate regions are producing excellent Chardonnays. The grape may have originated in the north of France where about half of it is used to make Champagne. It is often barrel-aged but can be made in a fruit forward unoaked style as well. With flavours of tropical fruit and buttered toast, it is touted as the world's most popular grape.

Chasselas: (Shass-el-lass, white grape) Chasselas grapes produce light bodied, neutral wines. Home of the chasselas grape is Switzerland so they are a natural with cheese fondue.

Chenin Blanc: (shen-in-blahn,white grape) Commonly grown in the Loire Valley of France (Vouvray), South Africa and California - there are small acreages in British Columbia. It makes white wines that are fragrant and high in acid. Chenin Blanc can make wines that range in style from dry to very sweet depending on decisions made by the winemaker. Because of the high acidity in wines made from Chenin Blanc, they tend to age very well.

Dornfelder: (red grape) Colourful, early-ripening red producing fruity, appealing reds in Germany and grown to a limited extent in England and Canada.

Dunkelfelder: (red grape) Its strong point is deep colour, which is useful when blended in with other grapes. On its own, the wine is fairly neutral with low acidity and is best blended with other red varieties. Grown in small amounts in British Columbia.

Ehrenfelser: (air-en-fehl-zehr, white grape) Makes a good wine because of its high sugar content. Ripens earlier than Riesling and is used for table and dessert wines. Ehrenfelser has an advantage in climates like Canada, as it is less susceptible to frost. The intensely fruity, slightly muscat flavour goes well with many foods.

Gamay Noir: (red grape) It produces a light lively, fruity red wine. French Beaujolais wine is made from this grape.

Gewurztraminer: (gaa-verts-traa-mee-ner, white grape) Best consumed young, before 5 years. Clean, crisp and spicy perfume flavour makes it an ideal accompaniment to Asian cuisine. Lychee-like nose distinguishes it from any other wine. (Lychee, one of China's fruits, delicate creamy white, sweet flavour.) Late harvest grapes make tasty dessert wines.

Kerner: (white grape) Originating as a cross between Trollinger, a red grape and Riesling a white grape. Wine produced has a light Muscat bouquet and a lively acidity.

Lemberger: (lihm-buhr-guhr) Also known as Blaufränkish. Cold-hardy red wine grape with mild tannins and a chocolate/raspberry flavour. Wines made from this grape can often have low levels of histamines. Histamines in high amounts may cause headaches in people with food sensitivities.

Leon Millot: (lay-on mill-oh) (red grape) Planted in Canada and the wine region of Alsace. It has characteristic berry flavours. Referred to as "le medicin du vin (wine doctor)" for its ability to increase the color intensity of red wine.

Madeleine Angevine: (white grape) Designed for northern planting, it flowers late but is an early, reliable grape. It is useful for blending and it ages well.  With its relative low acidity, it blends well with higher acid varieties. On its own it produces wines that are light and fruity with a pronounced muscatty bouquet.

Madeleine Sylvaner: (white grape) A very early ripening varietal, it can be too early in hot locations. Produces large clusters of fruit and has a pleasant flavour with some floral notes. Since it is so early, it is often the victim of birds and wasp attacks. Best suited for the coolest sites - North Okanagan, Shuswap and Vancouver Island.

Malbec: (red grape) It is one of the six grape varieties approved for making red wines in the Bordeaux region of France.  In Bordeaux, Malbec is used like a chef would use a spice, it is blended with other wines. There are small plantings of this varietal in the Okanagan Valley of BC. Argentina has had good success with growing this grape and bottling it as a straight varietal wine.

Marechal Foch: (faush or fosh) (red grape)Thrives in Canada as it has cold tolerance to -20⁰ F. Medium in structure and fruity with dark berry flavours and deep, vibrant color, it is sometimes referred to as having a "Burgundian" character.  This hybrid varietal has had much success in some areas (Okanagan Valley).

Merlot: (murlow, red grape) Wine made from this variety is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon though softer and it ages more rapidly. It is easily the most popular red grape variety in British Columbia Canada, Bordeaux (France) and it is found throughout Italy, Eastern Europe and the Western United States. It is characterised by strong berry flavours and smooth tannins.

Muller Thurgau: (mule-er-turgow) A white grape, usually produces dry to semi-dry wines and is lightly aromatic.  Muller-Thurgau is a variety that was created in the late 19th century as a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner.  It is early maturing and can grow well in cool climates. It is grown extensively in Germany.

Muscats: A wide family of white grapes that produce very aromatic, almost floral notes in wines from dry to very sweet. Muscat Ottonel is an example of such a variety.

Optima: A white varietal (Silvaner x Riesling) x Müller-Thurgau. An early ripening variety that achieves high must weights, and therefore suitable for ‘late harvest’ wines.

Ortega: (Müller-Thurgau x Siegerrebe) This vine suits a more northerly climate with a shorter growing season (North Okanagan BC, Vancouver Island) although it is prone to disease, it is planted widely. It produces very full flavours and high natural sugars and has been used for late harvest wines. When ripe it produces wines that are rich and zesty with good balance. Good for blending with more neutral varieties.

Petite Verdot: (petite ver-doh) A quality red varietal originating in France. There are small acreages in British Columbia. It is used mostly as a blending component in Meritage style blends.

Pinot Blanc: (white grape) This is a mutation of Pinot Gris (see below). There are various strains of this grape. The grape produces wine with good and full fruit flavours and crisp acidity with notes of apple and pear. It crops heavily in most years. Can produce a style similar to Chardonnay.

Pinot Gris: White grape produces wines that are medium bodied with nice floral aromas.  Grown in Canada, Alsace, Germany and Italy where it is known as Pinot Grigio. It can be made in a barrel-aged or unoaked style.

Pinot Meunier: (pea-no moon-yay) Red grape primarily used for Champagne in France. It resembles Pinot noir and is among the most winter hardy of the red Pinot family. Produces a light, fruity wine in British Columbia.

Pinot Noir: (pea-no no-are, red grape) Grown in Canada, the grape can yield spicy, complex wines or fruity, light to medium wines with notes of red cherry and berry. The grape originates in France where it is used to produce the red wines of Burgundy. With delicate yet intense flavour, Pinot Noirs go well with most foods.

Pinotage: (red grape) It was developed and is grown in South Africa primarily. It makes smooth textured wines with lots of fruit flavours, but can be high in tannins.  Pinotage is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Small plantings of this varietal exist in the Okanagan.

Riesling: (reez-ling, white grape) Regarded as the world's greatest white table wine variety. Riesling is native to Germany where it is believed to have been cultivated for the last 500 years and possibly much longer. Of all white grape varietals, it is Riesling that can age successfully for decades. It is very successfully grown in Canada and can be made into excellent quality ice wine.

Rotberger: (red grape) A cross between Trollinger and Riesling grapes that produces a light, lively wine. Usually made into rosé wine.

Sangiovese (san-joe-VAE-sae) is the most planted red variety in Italy's vineyards. Planted in very small acreages in the southern Okanagan Valley with good success.

Sauvignon Blanc: (soh-vihn-yohn blahn) One of the main grapes in France used to produce the fine dry wines of Bordeaux (Graves). Produced in Canada as well as much of the New World. Sharp, tangy, gooseberry flavour. Often blended with Semillon to make White Meritage.

Scheurebe: (sherr-eeb-ahh) A white grape variety that was developed in Germany as a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner varieties.  It produces wines that are crisp due to its lively acidity, very aromatic and very fruity. 

Schonburger: (shown-burger) Found in cool climates like Canada, England and Germany. Other names are Rosa Muskat and Geisenheim. Produces full-flavoured, fruity wines.

Semillon: (say-mee-yohn, white grape) Found in France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and much of the new world, it is the second most important white wine variety used in the Bordeaux. Often blended with Sauvignon Blanc to make white Meritage, it generally produces a dry white wine with lemon and pear flavours and occasionally green herbaceous notes.

Seyval Blanc: (say-val-blahn,white grape) Well suited to cool climates, this French-American hybrid is the second most planted vine in England, behind Müller-Thurgau. The variety is also popular in Ontario and the eastern U.S., particularly New York State. Reliably productive and early ripening, Seyval Blanc is made into crisp white wines, or sometimes into off-dry versions where the tart nature of the variety is balanced with residual sugar.

Siegerrebe: (see-gur-eebah) A white grape produced from a cross of Madeleine Angevine x Gewürztraminer. It ripens very early and has good winter cold hardiness. The wine is very fruity with some similarity to that of Gewürztraminer.

Saint Laurent: (red grape) A highly aromatic dark wine grape of the same family as Pinot Noir, which originates from France. Wine produced from St. Laurent is said to be similar to the higher-quality but more demanding (from a viticultural point of view) Pinot Noir from which it probably partly descends. It products a medium body wine with aromas of forest berries and black cherries.

Syrah or Shiraz: (sir-aah or sure-razz) A red grape, known as Syrah in France, Shiraz is Australia's principal red wine grape. Stronger and more age worthy than Cabernet Sauvignon. Also grown in Argentina, Canada, California, Chile, Italy and South Africa. Wines produced hold the flavours of blackberries, black currants and plums. Silky texture and gamey when fully mature.

Traminer: (white grape) Less aromatic than its offspring Gewurztraminer, although it shares similar spiciness and fruity character. It is prone to bud damage in hard winters, and the vines have a somewhat shorter life span than other varieties. Grown in very small amounts in the central Okanagan Valley.

Vidal Blanc: (white grape) A French-American hybrid, the fruit produces a wine that is Riesling like in taste. The wine is balanced between fruity and floral.

Viognier: (vee-own-yay) This white wine grape is experiencing resurgence in popularity. It's home is the Rhone Valley of France and more recently it has been planted in Canada, Australia, California and South America. Layered flavours of apricots, peaches, mandarin orange and flowers are characteristic. The wines produced have a medium body, perfumed and exotic taste. Often described as velvety and luscious.

Zinfandel: A red grape variety that has been important almost exclusively in California, there is a small acreage in the southern Okanagan Valley of BC.  The Zinfandel grape can make solid, fruit forward dry wines with blackberry flavours and deep purple colour. White Zinfandel is a rosé that is left slightly sweet with an acid balance. No other country but the USA grows so much Zinfandel, but its origins have been traced to the Primitivo grape of Apulia, Italy and its even more ancient ancestor, the Mali Plavic (little blue) grape of the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia.

Zweigelt: (zviye-gult) A red grape widely grown in Austria with small acreages grown in Canada. Wine produced in Canada from this grape is light, fruity and spicy with a long finish. Because of its fruity characteristics, it has been compared to the wines produced from the Gamay grape, like the red wines of Beaujolais. Most Zweigelt is drunk young.