Well some are not new…
But here is how it happened.
I’m massaging my database to get it ready for another book. So I look back at my first book Emerging Varietal Wines of Australia (2005). You can still buy it from Amazon1, if you are a masochist.
How many varieties did I miss when I wrote the book? How many have been introduced since 2005? We can talk about this in a taste and talk. 5pm Thursday 21 March.
In the 2005 book I described 100 varieties I regarded back then as alternative. A few have since been dropped off my list of varieties, namely Grenache, Mourvedre, Verdelho and Viognier.
The first two were predominately used in blends with Shiraz. I had underestimated just how much Verdelho was around. Viognier was used back then as a co-fermenting partner with Shiraz, although there were and still are a few varietal Viognier wines around.
Sixty or so new varieties
Here’s the list of varieties that are now used which didn’t appear in Emerging Varietal Wines of Australia.
These varieties were missed in that book because they weren’t used in Australia at the time, or more likely, I didn’t know about them. But it is fair to say that the average punter didn’t know about them in 2005.
Most of these varieties are still relatively obscure, but if you are reading this newsletter then you are likely to know about many of them.
How many have you heard about or tried?
Aligote
Ancelotta
Arinto
Assyrtiko
Baco noir
Blaufrankisch
Boǧazkere
Bonvedro
Bourboulenc
Colorino
Cornifesto
Dornfelder
Fer
Fernao Pires
Friulano
Grecanico
Grenache Blanc
Grenache Gris
Grillo
Baroque
Bianco d'Alessandro
Canaiolo
Caracosa
Carmenere
Caverdella
Flora
Greco
Inzolia
Kyoho
Lambrusco Maestri
Lexia
Macabeo
Madeline Angevine
Mammolo
Mencia
Moscato Giallo
Pavana
Pedro Xinmenez
Pignoletto
Pinotage
Red Semillon
Ribolla Giallo
Rossola Nera
Roter Veltliner
Rubired
Saint Macaire
Sauvignon gris
Schioppettino
Schonburger
Siegerrebe
Slancamenka Bela
St Laurent
Teroldego
Tinta Barroca
Torrontes
Verdejo
Verdicchio
Vespolina
Zweigelt
A wine offer
Thirteen to the dozen, ~ alternative reds
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I will be writing more about these rare varieties over the next few weeks.
A pevious list you issued listed Angovie Wines as producing this grape but when I checked with them they said they don't grow it. Who else might have it ? Meanwhile I have had all of the other wines on your latest list. Dave Tonkin