SEYVAL BLANC
(White Grape)
Developed in the 1920’s in France by crossing a native European
vine with an American vine. In 2002 it was the most widely grown
variety in the UK. It crops heavily even in the most unfavourable
of summers and also has effective disease resistance. It is a
good ‘all rounder’ - often used for blending, and
is well suited to oak ageing and used for still or sparkling wines.
Can produce a neutral white wine with crisp acidity, but is often
blended with other grapes.
TRIOMPHE (Red Grape)
Another French hybrid. Very vigorous in growth and disease resistant.
Produces close knit bunches of small red grapes which give a dark
red juice. Llanerch vineyard use this grape to produce an off-dry
fruity rosé wine with flavours of strawberries and blackcurrants.
BACCHUS (White Grape)
Capable of producing world-class wine, Bacchus is considered
to be one of the Wales's best varieties and in 2003 was the third
most widely planted grape in the UK. Its grapes have an intense
and distinctive aromatic flavour, with high sugar content. Bacchus
wines age well and develop interesting flavours. This grape is
also grown a lot in Germany.
KERNLING
(Red Skinned Grape with White Flesh)
Kernling, a new German pedigree variety, produces a typical Germanic-style
white wine. The grape is relative of Kerner and Riesling and tends
towards acidity. This vigorous vine needs much summer pruning.
HUXELREBE (White
Grape)
Bred in 1927 in Germany, Huxelrebe produces large tightly packed
bunches of grapes which produce a pleasant medium wine, again
Germanic in style. It has a high natural acidity and strong aromas
of elderflowers, producing very fruity wines that age well. It
needs careful management and can be used for dessert wines because
of its susceptibility to ‘noble rot’.
REICHENSTEINER
(White Grape)
Currently the second most widely grown variety after
Seyval Blanc (2002), this German variety ripens early and regular
cropper producing grapes with good sugar levels. It is reliable
but a little neutral and is often used for blending in both still
and sparkling wines, having good sugar levels.
SIEGERREBE (White
Grape)
A small berried and intensely aromatic
variety. One of its parents was the famously spicy Gewürztraminer
grape. It ripens sometimes to excessive levels and has a very
dominating flavour. It is often used to bolster blended wines
and a few growers use it as a varietal in its own right - some
for late harvest and dessert wines.
MADELEINE ANGEVINE (White Grape)
This grape was designed for northern planting. It flowers late
and crops early. It is useful for blending since it ages well
and its relative low acidity will blend well with higher acid
varieties. On its own it produces wines that are light and fruity
with a pronounced muscatty bouquet.
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