Definition: noble grape varieties

Grape varieties are classified according to the taste quality of the wines they produce: noble grape varieties, medium-quality grape varieties (the most numerous), and poor-quality grape varieties, such as interspecific hybrids. Among the noble grape varieties, we distinguish: universal grape varieties, i.e. those that can be acclimatised to all kinds of environmental conditions where they produce good wines with character. For reds, examples include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, etc. For whites, there are Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Riesling, Marsanne, etc., as well as varieties that are difficult to adapt and whose wine is only successful in very few places in the world. The most striking example is Pinot Noir, which only thrives perfectly in Burgundy and perhaps Oregon (USA).