A Guide to Pronouncing 12 Common Grape Names
With Accompanying Instructional Video and Song - 6 Wine Recommendations
Common Grapes and Their Pronunciation – Top 10
Julien Miquel of Julien’s Wine School, a French winemaker, of Social Vignerons, is a wine personality on the internet and in social media. He has advice on pronouncing the top 10 wine types. Many comments from this YouTube video say “he saved me from embarrassing myself in front of….(my future husband, my boss, etc.)” Enjoy the video and song below. I’ve listed some Wine Wanderings newsletters regarding many of these grapes as a reference.
More Songs of Grape Pronunciation
When Richard Hemmings was an MW – Master of Wine student, he put together this YouTube song-piano piece. Richard Hemings, MW, now is the Head of Wine, Asia for 67 Pall Mall Singapore, and writes for JancisRobinson.com and other publications. A big thank you to Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, for bringing this video song to my attention.
7 Easy Grape Name Pronunciations
*Chardonnay (Shaar-dun-nay) - This famous international white wine grape is planted in more than 40 countries and hails from France, as the famous “White Burgundy.” Try an Oregon Chardonnay; one of my favorites is Domaine Drouhin. See: “Touring Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wine Country.”
*Riesling (Reh-slunhng) or (Ree-slunhng) - This international grape comes to the rest of the world most famously from Germany, Alsace, and Austria. You find Riesling wines in all levels of dry/sweetness from bone dry to sweet, including Ice Wines. See Recommendations below.
*Pinot Gris (Pee-no Gree) or Pinot Grigio (Pee-no Greejho) – This international grape is most famous from Alsace, France and in Italy in the Lombardy and Alto Adige regions. You can find wonderful Pinot Gris in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Finger Lakes, New York, and in New Zealand. Be sure to try Pinot Gris if you take a Rhine River Cruise. See: “Discover New & Old World Wine on a Wine-Themed Rhine River Cruise.”
*Zinfandel (Zin-fan-dell) - A red grape originally thought to be native to California, and a genetic relative to Primitivo, it actually came from Croatia, per Carol Meredith, UC Davis grapevine geneticist. The ancestral grape name is Crljenak Kaštelanski.
*Syrah (Seer-ra) also known as Shiraz (Sheer-raz) – This international grape is well-known in the Rhone Valley as well as Australia (famously Penfolds Grange) and the rest of the world. See recommendations below.
*Merlot (Mehr-loh or Mare-loh) - I hear Somms (Master Sommeliers) say it both ways, but if you can say a French “r,” then use the first pronunciation. This international grape is important in Bordeaux, especially the right bank red blends of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Merlot was much maligned in the movie Sidesways. Too bad, but Merlot has bounced back. Give me a Pomerol or a Napa Valley Rombauer Merlot any day of the week. See “Is Merlot Alive and Kicking 17 Years After the Movie, Sideways?
*Pinot Noir (Pee-no No-ah) and add the French “r” at the end if you can. This international grape, the famous “Red Burgundy” of France is also grown well in Oregon, Central Otago, New Zealand, and other areas around the world.
5 Tougher Grape Names to Pronounce
*Cabernet Sauvignon (Caa-bar-neh So-vuhn-yown) - This international grape variety is the king of red grapes. Genetically it is the child of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It is grown around the world but is internationally famous from Left Bank Bordeaux First Growth wines like Chateau Lafite and from the full-bodied Cabs of the Napa Valley, California. Watch the movie, Bottle Shock (trailer above) to see how these two regions competed in 1976. See WW Newsletters: “8 Favorite Wine and Travel Movies.” or “45th Anniversary of the Judgement of Paris Wine Tasting – 1976.”
*Sangiovese (San–joh-vay-say)– now an international grape, famous in Italy, particularly in Chianti and Brunello. Name comes from the “blood of Jupiter.”
*Sauvignon Blanc (So-vuhn-yown blahnk)--some in Australia and other regions say (Saw-vuhn-yown)- This famous international grape is well-known in France (Sancerre), Bordeaux (with Semillon is a White Bordeaux), New Zealand, the US, Chile, and around the world.
*Viognier- (Vee-aa-Nyay) - This international grape famous in the Northern Rhone region of France, but is also grown well in parts of California – Santa Barbara and Carneros, as well as Australia.
Tempranillo (Tehm-prah-NEE -oh)- International grape famous in Spain’s Rioja region as well as Texas and the rest of the world.
6 Recommended Favorite Varietal Wines
2019 Rombauer Merlot, Napa Valley, $55
Known for their Chardonnay, Richie Allen makes wonderful reds as well. See: “Rombauer Vineyards: Chardonnay Giant, But Don’t Forget the Reds.”
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points.
2021 Chappellet Grower Collection Viognier, Carneros, Sonoma, $40
2021 Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, $44
See: “Touring Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wine Country.”
2019 Powell & son Barossa Valley, Shiraz, Australia, $37
James Suckling, 94 Points
2021 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Les Baronnes Blanc, Loire, France, $32
Decanter, 90 Points
Dr. Konstantin Frank Pinot Gris, Finger Lakes, New York, $15
See: “The First Lady of New York Wineries – Meaghan Frank”
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar
A Blind Wine Tasting in Your Home – Italian Style
Live From Slow Wine: US Tour 2023
Message in the Bottle – A Book Review and Interview with Tim Gaiser, MS
Touring Texas Distilleries – Newly Launched Bourbon Distillery at Bending Branch Winery
New Zealand: 1% of World’s Wine but Packs a Punch
Famous NZ Wine Regions and Recommendations
Napa Valley Grape Varieties: Napa Rocks – the Road to Individualism
A White House State Dinner- Contrasting Administrations
Book Review: The Wines of the Southwest
What is Eau de Vie? Cocktails and Aperitifs
1881 Museum Napa Valley: A Transformation of the Oakville Grocery
Unexpected Blends – Explaining this Phenomenon
Thanks for the update Darby
Great article Tricia. However your info about Primitivo/Zinfandel is outdated. It now seems that the earliest known name of the variety is Tribidrag, and its origin is Croatia. See Jancis Robinson's Wine Grapes for a detailed description of the historical and genetic evidence for this.