Reviewed November 2, 2026
By the DutiDeals team. Grape profiles describe each grape's typical style, and the counts come from the wines we list at each airport.
Wine grape types: a guide to red and white grapes
Wine grape types fall into two groups, red and white, and into three bodies, from light to full. Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc sit at the light end; Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are fuller. Pick the grape, not the label, and you can predict how a bottle will taste.
Below are 35 grapes sold in airport duty free, each with its taste, home regions and food pairings, plus how to spot the grape when a label only names a place.
Red grapes and white grapes: what is the difference?
Red grapes have dark skins. To make red wine, the juice ferments together with those skins, which gives the wine its colour and its tannin, the drying, grippy feel you notice on your gums. Reds tend to taste of dark fruit, spice and earth, and are usually served cellar-cool to room temperature.
White grapes have green or yellow skins. White wine is usually made from the juice alone, with the skins removed early, so there is little tannin. That leaves acidity, the mouth-watering freshness, as the main structure. Whites tend to taste of citrus, orchard and tropical fruit, and are served chilled.
Colour comes from the skins, not the juice. Almost all grape juice is clear, so a dark-skinned grape pressed gently and kept away from its skins can make white or pale sparkling wine. Blanc de noirs Champagne is made this way from Pinot Noir.
What does body mean in wine?
Body is how heavy and full a wine feels in your mouth. A simple comparison is milk: light-bodied wine feels like skimmed milk, medium like semi-skimmed, full like whole milk. It is a feel, not a flavour.
- Light: delicate and fresh, usually lower in alcohol (around 12.5% or less). Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc are typical.
- Medium: balanced and easy to drink, in the middle on alcohol and weight. Merlot and Riesling are typical.
- Full: rich and weighty, usually higher in alcohol (around 13.5% or more) and, in reds, firmer in tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are typical.
Body comes from alcohol, tannin, ripeness and how the wine was made, mainly oak ageing. Warm regions ripen grapes more, so the same grape is often fuller from a hot climate than a cool one. The bodies in this guide are the usual style of each grape, not a rule for every bottle. Check the alcohol percentage on the label: it is the quickest hint. Light wines suit lighter food such as salads and seafood; full wines can stand up to steak and barbecue.
Source: these descriptions follow the standard profiles in the Wine Folly grape directory. The alcohol ranges are rules of thumb, not fixed limits, and body varies by producer and vintage.
How to choose a grape: colour first, then body
Two questions narrow the choice fast. Do you want red or white? Then, how heavy should it feel? Body goes from light (think lean and fresh) to full (rich and weighty). Click a grape to jump to its profile.
Red grapes by body
| Body | Red grapes |
|---|---|
| Light | Pinot Noir, Gamay |
| Medium | Barbera, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Grenache, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Carménère, Pinotage |
| Full | Touriga Nacional, Malbec, Shiraz / Syrah, Mourvèdre, Zinfandel / Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Nebbiolo |
White grapes by body
| Body | White grapes |
|---|---|
| Light | Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Vermentino, Glera, Moscato |
| Medium | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Torrontés |
| Full | Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Chardonnay |
The grapes airport wine shops list most
Of the 2,727 wines on DutiDeals, 1,097 name a grape in the product title. These are the ten named most often.
| Grape | Wines listed |
|---|---|
| Shiraz / Syrah | 178 |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 154 |
| Pinot Noir | 139 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | 132 |
| Chardonnay | 130 |
| Riesling | 76 |
| Merlot | 72 |
| Pinot Grigio | 59 |
| Malbec | 43 |
| Moscato | 21 |
Red wine grapes
Red grapes get their colour and tannin from the skins. More tannin feels drier and grippier in the mouth, so it suits fatty food such as steak.
Light-bodied red grapes
Pinot Noir
Red cherry, strawberry and earth. Silky, low in tannin, fairly high in acidity.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand, Germany
- Pairs with: Roast chicken, duck, salmon, mushrooms
- Try next: Gamay, Sangiovese
Gamay
Fresh red berries and a floral note. Light, juicy and low in tannin, often served slightly chilled.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Beaujolais (France)
- Pairs with: Charcuterie, roast chicken, picnic food
- Try next: Pinot Noir
Medium-bodied red grapes
Barbera
Sour cherry and plum. High acidity and soft tannin, so it stays lively with food.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Piedmont (Italy), plus California and Argentina
- Pairs with: Tomato pasta, pizza, cured meats
- Try next: Sangiovese, Montepulciano
Sangiovese
Sour cherry, tomato leaf and dried herbs. Firm tannin and high acidity.
Merlot
Plum, black cherry and chocolate. Soft tannin and a round, easy finish.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Bordeaux, California, Chile, Italy
- Pairs with: Roast pork, burgers, mild cheese
- Try next: Cabernet Franc, Malbec
Cabernet Franc
Red berries, pencil shavings and a green, herbal edge. Medium body with fine tannin.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Loire Valley (Chinon), Bordeaux (Right Bank), Tuscany
- Pairs with: Roast lamb, grilled vegetables, goat cheese
- Try next: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Tempranillo
Cherry, leather, tobacco and vanilla from oak ageing. Medium to full, with grippy tannin.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Rioja and Ribera del Duero (Spain), Portugal
- Pairs with: Grilled lamb, chorizo, aged hard cheese
- Try next: Sangiovese, Grenache
Grenache
Strawberry, raspberry and spice. Warm and fruity, usually low in tannin and high in alcohol.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Southern Rhône, Spain (as Garnacha), Australia
- Pairs with: Grilled meats, stews, spiced dishes
- Try next: Tempranillo, Shiraz / Syrah
Montepulciano
Dark cherry, plum and a touch of spice. Soft and fruity, with moderate tannin. Not the same as the Tuscan town of Montepulciano, which is a Sangiovese wine.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Abruzzo (Italy)
- Pairs with: Pasta with meat sauce, pizza, grilled sausages
- Try next: Barbera, Nero d'Avola
Nero d'Avola
Black cherry, plum and pepper. Sunny and rich, with medium tannin.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Sicily (Italy)
- Pairs with: Aubergine dishes, grilled meat, tomato sauces
- Try next: Montepulciano, Zinfandel / Primitivo
Carménère
Dark fruit, green pepper, spice and cocoa. Smooth tannin, medium to full body.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Chile
- Pairs with: Barbecue, empanadas, roast vegetables
- Try next: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Pinotage
Dark plum, smoke and sometimes a burnt-rubber or banana note. South Africa’s own cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: South Africa
- Pairs with: Barbecue, spiced sausages, braised beef
- Try next: Shiraz / Syrah, Grenache
Full-bodied red grapes
Touriga Nacional
Blackberry, violet and dark chocolate. Dense, with firm tannin and good structure.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Douro and Dão (Portugal)
- Pairs with: Roast lamb, game, strong cheese
- Try next: Tempranillo, Malbec
Malbec
Blackberry, plum and violet, with a velvety texture and medium to high tannin.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Mendoza (Argentina), Cahors (France)
- Pairs with: Steak, barbecue, empanadas
- Try next: Merlot, Shiraz / Syrah
Shiraz / Syrah
Blackberry, black pepper and smoke. Full and rich in Australia (called Shiraz), more peppery and savoury in the northern Rhône (Syrah).
Mourvèdre
Dark berries, game, earth and black pepper. Powerful tannin, often blended with Grenache and Syrah.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Bandol and the Rhône (France), Spain (as Monastrell)
- Pairs with: Stews, roast game, slow-cooked lamb
- Try next: Shiraz / Syrah, Tempranillo
Zinfandel / Primitivo
Jammy blackberry, dried fig and spice. Ripe and high in alcohol. Zinfandel is California's name for the grape; Primitivo is Puglia's.
- Body: full
- Grows in: California, Puglia (Italy)
- Pairs with: Barbecue, pizza with spicy toppings, burgers
- Try next: Nero d'Avola, Shiraz / Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Blackcurrant, cedar and green pepper. Full body with firm tannin and long ageing potential.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Bordeaux (Médoc), Napa Valley, Coonawarra, Chile
- Pairs with: Steak, roast beef, hard cheese
- Try next: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Deep colour, violet, blackberry and strong tannin. Mostly used in small amounts to add structure to Bordeaux-style blends.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Bordeaux, Australia, California
- Pairs with: Roast beef, lamb, strong cheese
- Try next: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Nebbiolo
Rose, tar, cherry and dried herbs. Pale in the glass, yet high in both tannin and acidity. Needs years to soften.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Barolo and Barbaresco (Piedmont, Italy)
- Pairs with: Truffle dishes, braised beef, aged cheese
- Try next: Sangiovese, Pinot Noir
White wine grapes
White wines show acidity more than tannin. Higher acidity tastes crisp and fresh; lower acidity tastes rounder and richer.
Light-bodied white grapes
Pinot Grigio
Pear, apple and lemon. Light, dry and crisp. The same grape as Pinot Gris, which is usually richer.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Northern Italy, Alsace (as Pinot Gris), Oregon
- Pairs with: Seafood, salads, light pasta
- Try next: Pinot Blanc, Vermentino
Pinot Blanc
Apple, pear and a hint of almond. Soft, with moderate acidity and a clean finish.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Alsace, Germany, Italy (Alto Adige)
- Pairs with: Shellfish, quiche, white fish
- Try next: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Grapefruit, lime, cut grass and passion fruit. Dry and zesty, with high acidity.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Marlborough (New Zealand), Loire (Sancerre), Bordeaux, Chile
- Pairs with: Goat cheese, salads, oysters, Thai food
- Try next: Albariño, Vermentino
Albariño
Peach, citrus and sea-spray salinity. Bright acidity and a light body.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Rías Baixas (Spain), Vinho Verde (Portugal, as Alvarinho)
- Pairs with: Grilled fish, shellfish, ceviche
- Try next: Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino
Vermentino
Lime, green apple and a salty, herbal finish. Dry and refreshing.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany (Italy), Corsica
- Pairs with: Grilled seafood, pesto pasta, salads
- Try next: Albariño, Pinot Grigio
Glera
Green apple, pear and white flowers. The grape behind Prosecco, usually light and sparkling.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Veneto and Friuli (Italy)
- Pairs with: Aperitif, light appetizers, fried snacks
- Try next: Moscato, Pinot Grigio
Moscato
Orange blossom, peach and grape. Aromatic, often sweet and low in alcohol. Also sold as Muscat.
- Body: light
- Grows in: Piedmont (Asti), Spain, Australia, Alsace
- Pairs with: Fruit desserts, blue cheese, brunch
- Try next: Riesling, Gewürztraminer
Medium-bodied white grapes
Grüner Veltliner
Green apple, white pepper and citrus. Dry, with brisk acidity and a peppery finish.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Austria
- Pairs with: Schnitzel, asparagus, Asian dishes
- Try next: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling
Lime, green apple, peach and a petrol note with age. High acidity; styles run from bone dry to very sweet.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Mosel and Rheingau (Germany), Alsace, Clare Valley (Australia)
- Pairs with: Spicy Asian dishes, pork, smoked fish
- Try next: Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer
Chenin Blanc
Quince, apple and honey. High acidity, and styles from dry to sweet and sparkling.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Loire Valley (Vouvray, Savennières), South Africa
- Pairs with: Pork, creamy sauces, spicy food
- Try next: Riesling, Chardonnay
Sémillon
Lemon, waxy texture and honey with age. Dry in Australia's Hunter Valley, sweet in Sauternes.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Bordeaux, Hunter Valley (Australia)
- Pairs with: Seafood, roast chicken, foie gras (sweet styles)
- Try next: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
Torrontés
Rose, peach and citrus peel. Very aromatic but dry, with a slightly bitter finish.
- Body: medium
- Grows in: Salta (Argentina)
- Pairs with: Spicy food, empanadas, ceviche
- Try next: Gewürztraminer, Viognier
Full-bodied white grapes
Gewürztraminer
Lychee, rose and ginger. Aromatic and full, low in acidity.
Viognier
Peach, apricot and honeysuckle. Rich and perfumed, with low acidity.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Condrieu (northern Rhône), Languedoc, Australia, California
- Pairs with: Roast chicken, pork, Moroccan dishes
- Try next: Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer
Chardonnay
Green apple and lemon when unoaked (Chablis); butter, vanilla and toast when aged in oak. Medium to full body.
- Body: full
- Grows in: Burgundy (Chablis, Meursault), Champagne, California, Australia
- Pairs with: Roast chicken, lobster, creamy pasta
- Try next: Viognier, Pinot Blanc
When the label names a place, not a grape
Many old-world bottles skip the grape. If you see these names, you can read the grape from the place:
| On the label | Grape inside |
|---|---|
| Chablis | Chardonnay |
| Sancerre | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Chianti | Sangiovese |
| Barolo | Nebbiolo |
| Beaujolais | Gamay |
| Rioja | Mostly Tempranillo |
| Prosecco | Glera |
| Red Bordeaux | Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend |
Our Grape filter reads the product title only, so a bottle titled just "Chablis" will not appear under Chardonnay. When you want one of these wines, search the place name or filter by producer and style.
Find a grape at the airport
Open the airport wine collection, pick a Grape chip, then compare the same bottle across the airports on your route. The route planner shows which airport on your trip sells it cheapest.
Common questions
How many types of wine grapes are there?
Thousands of grape varieties exist, but a few dozen make most of the wine you will meet in a shop. This guide covers 35 that airport duty-free shops sell, split into 20 reds and 15 whites, each with its taste, body, home regions and food pairings.
What is the difference between red and white wine grapes?
Red wine is made from dark-skinned grapes fermented with their skins, which adds colour and tannin. White wine is usually fermented without the skins, so it is lighter in colour and has little tannin. A few red grapes, like Pinot Noir, also go into white sparkling wine.
Which grape should a beginner start with?
Start with the style you already like. If you prefer soft, fruity reds, try Merlot or Pinot Noir. For crisp, dry whites, try Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. For a richer white, pick an oaked Chardonnay. Once you know which style you like, the body tables above show the next grape to try.
What does body mean in wine?
Body is how heavy the wine feels in your mouth: light like skimmed milk, full like whole milk. Alcohol, tannin and ripeness raise it. Light wines pair with lighter food such as salads and fish; full wines can stand up to steak and barbecue.
Why do some bottles not name the grape?
Many European wines are labelled by place, not grape. Chablis is Chardonnay, Chianti is mostly Sangiovese and Rioja is mostly Tempranillo. Look up the region, or use the wine style and producer filters when the grape is not on the label.
Is Syrah the same as Shiraz?
Yes, it is one grape with two names. Syrah is the French name, common in the Rhône Valley, and Shiraz is the name Australia and South Africa use. Shiraz wines are often riper and fuller, while Syrah is usually more peppery.
Beyond these 35 grapes
Thousands of grape varieties exist. For ones not covered here, browse the Wine Folly grape directory or Wikipedia's list of grape varieties, which give synonyms and origins.
Taste descriptions are typical profiles. Climate, winemaker and age change any single bottle, so treat them as a guide, not a promise. Counts reflect the wines on DutiDeals when this page was last built.