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Colombard has long been what is termed a "workhorse" grape - grapes that are used as blenders to bulk up other wines, to mellow out grapes which may otherwise have too much character and verve or to lend acidity to wines that lack it.

It is a high yield grape that produces light wines with abundant acidity and little other notable attributes apart from a pleasant floral aroma. It is for this very reason that the Colombard grape has traditionally been distille...

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The Chenin Blanc grape which originates from Anjou, in the Loire Valley of France, is a greatly underrated grape and is so versatile, it's almost schizophrenic. It can produce both honeyed dessert wines like Vouvray (though usually sweet, Vouvray also comes in dry versions) or dry wines like Saumur. Both these wines come in still or sparkling variants. And you thought it was only good for the inexpensive, undemanding, quaffers lining supermarket shelves?

If ...

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The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is distinctively small and strikingly dark, in fact,  an inky almost bluish purple, with a skin thicker than that found on most other grape varieties. Hence, there is a high ratio of skin to flesh so this grape is never short on tannin - the reason it so capably produces long lived wines.These wines are in fact downright undrinkable in their youth, because of abundant tannin and many require longer than usual aging before they are even ap...

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Cabernet Franc is believed to be the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon but is in fact, rather like a watered down version of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a thinner skinned and earlier ripening grape with less acidity but more cold weather resistance than Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is one of the most planted vines in France, especially in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. 

It's main role is that of a blending grape, lending it's fruitiness and softness to the  many austere ...