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Grape varieties

Grape varieties trace their origins to ancient rituals and sun-drenched hillsides—think of the wines poured at Roman banquets in 121 BC, when Julius Caesar first tasted the smoky depths of Falernian. From these ancestral vines sprung a world of expression, where place, culture, and grape intertwine with astonishing intimacy. France alone lays claim to over 200 distinct varieties, a botanical Babel whispered through Chardonnay in Burgundy or Syrah in the Rhône. Yet amid all this complexity, there’s a curious truth: the more we pretend to recognize a varietal by its name, the more it slips away behind terroir, tradition, and time. Consider the paradox of Pinot Noir—ubiquitous, yet capriciously shaped by every slope that dares grow it. Whether crushed in concrete, aged in clay amphorae, or nurtured on volcanic soils, each grape tells a distinctly local tale. Savoring them is less about mastery than about listening. The perfect moment? A late afternoon in September, when the first cool winds tease the ripening skins and the vineyard hums in golden hush. Explore beyond the vine with articles that uncover the secrets, soil, and soul of each variety.