43 Alternative French Varieties

When we are talking about alternative varieties in Australia we most automatically think of those from Italy or Spain, or perhaps Portugal.

In fact, France is the origin of plenty of alternative varieties. Here’s the ones that I have on my database.

Alternative French varieties in Australia

These varieties will be discussed in the next Darby’s Taste and Talk: details in Footnote¹

French varieties make up the vast bulk of Australian wine

As of 2024 just three French varieties Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay make up over 63% of wine grape plantings in Australia². Five other French varieties, namely Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Pinot Gris make up another 20 percent or so. Minor quibble: Pinot Gris stats include grapes destined to make Italian style Pinot Grigio type wines. So eight French varieties totally dominate the wine scene in Australia.

The only non-French grapes to be planted with over 1% of the vineyard area in Australia Are Riesling and Grenache. Sangiovese and Tempranillo both make up about 0.5% of vineyard plantings.

43 Beans in a cup

Here’s a list of the alternative French varieties that are being used by Aussie wineries at the moment. How nay have you tried? Leave a comment below.

1. Alicante Bouschet

2. Aligoté

3. Aranel

4. Baco Noir

5. Baroque

6. Bourboulenc

7. Caracosa

8. Carmenere

9. Chambourcin

10. Chenin Blanc

11. Cinsaut

12. Clairette

13. Colombard

14. Counoise

15. Crouchen

16. Durif

17. Fer

18. Friulano

19. Gamay

20. Gouais

21. Madelaine Angevine

22. Malbec

23. Marsanne

24. Melon

25. Monbadon

26. Mondeuse

27. Muscadelle

28. Orange Muscat

29. Petit Manseng

30. Petit Meslier

31. Petit Verdot

32. Pinot Blanc

33. Pinot Meunier

34. Piquepoul

35. Roussanne

36. Saint Macaire

37. Sauvignon Gris

38. Savignan

39. Tannat

40. Terret Noir

41. Trousseau

42. Vaccaresse

43. Villard Blanc

These are the varieties that I have listed in my Vindata database. They will appear in my Beyond Shiraz book to be published later in the year. Subscribers to this newsletter will get a heads-up for early bird pricing of the book.

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What future for Shiraz in Australia?

Just a quick note. The dominance of Shiraz in Australia may be on the turn. The tonnage crushed over the past few years has been in decline.

Source: Wine Australia

Of course there are seasonal variations but there seems to be a trend here. Anecdotally, there are many vineyards grafting Shiraz over to other varieties.

1. The next edition of Darby’s Taste and Talk will be held on Thursday 17 July at 5pm. Subscribers to this newsletter will get a reminder and login details closer to the date.

2. Source: https://www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/regions-and-varieties/variety-snapshots