Decanter China staff

Dolcetto (red)

[Grape Variety] Not sweet despite the sweet-sounding nomenclature, this is an everyday north-west Italian variety whose low acidity and tannins make it perfect for lapping up risotto and pasta in the Beaujolais mould.

Melon de Bourgogne/ Muscadet (white)

[Grape Variety] Known better as Muscadet, its region of production in the western Loire close to Nantes, Melon is synonymous with the rather neutral, acidic dry white Loire Valley wine which reached its zenith in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Nebbiolo (red)

[Grape Variety] Arguably Italy's greatest red grape variety, responsible in north-west Italy for the great reds of barolo and barbaresco, whose range of fabulous violet and rose-like perfumes and flavours of truffle, fennel, liquorice and tar, make it one

Aglianico (red)

[Grape Variety] Robust, quality southern Italian red grape variety found mainly on the volcanic slopes of Campania and Basilicata in Italy's south.

Airen (white)

[Grape Variety] Neutral, drought-resistant Spanish variety grown mainly around the La Mancha region.

Albana (white)

Albana is a white grape variety growing in Albana di Romagna in Italy.

Albariño (white)

Albariño is a high quality variety growing in Galicia's Rías Baixas region, where it produces aromatic, full-bodied, peachy and grapefruity whites.

Aleatico (red)

Aleatico is an Italian red variety with Muscat-like fragrance, growing in Italy's south, on Elba and Corsica.

Alicante Bouschet (red)

The French fell for the deep colour and high yields of Alicante Bouschet in the late 19th century when they were replanting their vineyards after phylloxera hit.

Aligoté (white)

Aligoté produces crisp, sharp, if neutral dry whites, with a lemony tang of acidity.