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| Grape
| | Varieties and Alternative Names
| | Notes
| | Example Wines
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| Gewurtztraminer | | Traminer; Rotclevener |  | A native of northern Italy, this grape is at its best in Alsace, where is gives a distinctive spicy wine with a hint of exotic fruit. It is also grown widely in Australia, New Zealand and California as well as Eastern Europe. | | The Gewurtztraminer wines of the Alsatian producer, Zind Humbrecht are considered particularly fine. |
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| Grenache | | Garnacha; Cannonau; Grenache Noir; Garnacha Tinto | | The most widely planted red grape variety of Spain, from where it originates. The wines have a tendency to oxidise early and can be highly alcoholic. | | Grenache is the main grape in Navarra and is a constituent of Rioja. |
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| Merlot | | Merlot Noir | | Merlot is the second grape variety in Bordeaux and the dominant one of Saint Emilion and Pomerol. It has recently become prominent in the US and, as a result, there are widespread plantings in California. Probably at its best when blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, it suffers from mildew and grey rot and as a wine has a soft fruitiness and low tannin. | | There are many examples of Bordeaux wines using Merlot as part of the blend. Here are some examples of the top wines from this region: Angelus, LaFleur, Le Pin, Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Montrose and Lynch-Bages. |
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| Muller-Thurgau | | Rivaner; Riesling-Sylvaner; Rizlingszilvani |  | This white grape variety is a cross with some doubts as to its origins. It is thought to be part Riesling, and part another clone of Riesling or Silvaner. It is one of the most widely planted varieties in Germany but its high yields tend to lead to undistinguished wines. | | Muller-Thurgau is one of the main grapes in the production of Liebfraumilch, Niersteiner, Bernkastler and Piesporter. |
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| Muscadet | | Melon de Bourgogne | | Originally from Burgundy, it is now almost entirely grown for producing the dry, crisp white Loire wine of the same name. Apparently, much of the Pinot Blanc grown in California is actually Muscadet. | | The Muscadet wines of the Loire are produced entirely from the Muscadet grape and of particular note are Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine and Muscadet des Coteaux de la Loire. |
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| Muscat | | Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, Muscat of Alexandria; Muscat Ottonel | | There are a number of different Muscats grown around the world, but they all give wines, often fortified or sparkling, with an intense grapey taste. | | Banyuls is a wine which is made from these grapes. |
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| Nebbiolo | | Spanna, Nebbiolo D'Alba, Picutener, Chiavennasca | | Nebbiolo is the classic red Italian grape from the chalky soils of Piedmont. It gives wines high in tannin and acidity, at their best after long ageing in cask. | | The grape is used to produce the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. |
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| Palomino | | Palomino Basto; Palomino de Jerez; Palomino Fino; Listan; Listan de Jerez; Fransdruif; White French | | A white grape variety most closely associated with Jerez in southern Spain. | | Palomino is considered the most suitable variety for Sherry production. |
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| Pedro Ximenez | | Pedro Jimenez; Pedro | | A white grape vine which is susceptible to disease, giving high yields of grapes with high sugar content. In sherry production, the grapes are dried so that the sugars are concentrated and the resultant wine is used for sweetening purposes. | | Pedro Ximenez is used in the production of Sherry and in the wine "PX" |
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| Pinot Blanc | | Clevner, Klevner; Weissburgunder, Weisser Burgunder, Pinot Bianco; Beli Pinot | | Long confused with Chardonnay, this vine is common in Alsace and Italy. It gives a good yield or fresh, fruity, simple wines. | | In Alsace, the grape has been used in the production of Cremant. |
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| Pinot Grigio | | Pinot Gris | | Pinot Grigio is the common Italian name for the French vine variety Pinot Gris. Most of the plantings in Italy are in the north east of the country, particularly Fruili. | | Pinot Grigio vines produce some of the most admired white wines of Collio. |
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| Pinot Noir | | Spatburgunder; Pinot Nero | | Pinot Noir has created its reputation from a single region: Burgundy. While it is planted widely around the world, nowhere else, with the possible exception of California, does it create such perfect wines. There are many clones, all of which produce small yields, demand well-drained soil and are liable to rot and mildew. At its best it gives wines which taste of "summer pudding", when old the wine takes on a peculiar aroma of rotting vegetables. | | An example of a regional Burgundy wine is Bourgogne Passetoutgrains, which is a blend of Pinot Noir and the Gamay grape. |
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| Pinot Gris | | Tokay-Pinot Gris; Rulander; Pinot Grigio; Malvoisie; Pinot Beurot; Grauer-Burgunder; Szurkebarat | | Pinot Gris tends to give flavorful, almost oil wines, rather high in alcohol and low in acidity. Best when grown in Alsace and in Friuli, Italy. | | The Rulander of Baden is considered to be a good example of wine made from Pinot Gris grapes. |
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