THE CHOICES
VINE SELECTION
The Choice
What is a Grape Variety?
A grape variety is the type of grape used to make the wine. Just as there are many different kinds of apples, there are hundreds of different grape varieties, each with its own flavours, aromas and characteristics.
Some of the best-known varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Chenin Blanc.
Its consequence
Why does it matter?
Every grape variety has its own personality. Some naturally produce light, fresh wines, while others create rich, powerful wines. Certain varieties prefer cool climates, while others thrive in warmer regions.
Choosing the right grape variety for the vineyard is one of the most important decisions a grower can make.
What does it do to the wine?
The grape variety forms the foundation of a wine's character.
Chenin Blanc
is incredibly versatile, producing styles from crisp and dry to rich and complex.
Chardonnay
can range from crisp and refreshing to rich and creamy.
Sauvignon Blanc
is known for bright acidity and fresh citrus or tropical fruit.
Shiraz
often produces bold wines with dark fruit and spice.
Cabernet Sauvignon
is often full-bodied with dark fruit and firm tannins.
Even when grown in the same vineyard, different grape varieties produce very different wines.
Choosing a grape variety is only the beginning. Growers also decide which clone and rootstock to plant, helping each vineyard perform at its best.
Going a little deeper
Clones & Rootstocks
A clone
A clone is a different version of the same grape variety. Two vineyards may both grow Chardonnay, but one clone may produce smaller grapes with concentrated flavours, while another produces larger bunches with brighter fruit.
The grape is still Chardonnay. Each clone simply has its own strengths and personality.
A rootstock
A rootstock is the root system beneath the vine. The fruiting vine is carefully joined to the rootstock, which provides the roots.
Different rootstocks help vines adapt to conditions such as drought, poor soils and pests. The rootstock does not directly determine the flavour of the wine, but it plays a vital role in keeping the vine healthy and productive.
These are choices that most people never see, yet they influence the vineyard for decades. In Aurenloch, they remind us that some of the most important choices are made long before the first grape is ever harvested.
In the world of Aurenloch
Choosing the grape variety is one of the first Choices made in the vineyard.
The Forces determine what the land can offer, but the grower decides which variety is best suited to express that place.
Did you know?
There are more than 10,000 known grape varieties in the world, but only a few hundred are widely used to make wine. Each one tells a different story, even when grown side by side in the same vineyard.