So what if these days dedicated to grape varieties were the opportunity to discover new wines and wine-growing regions ... in short, to deepen our wine culture? Here is the 2021 calendar of these International Days ... useful if you lack are lacking inspiration for your wine tastings! Go to your local wine shop where you will very probably find a wine made from these grape varieties. Note that the list is not exhaustive, since there are around 10,000 grape varieties in the world. By the way, you will notice that the spelling convention wants us to write the names of grape varieties with a capital letter.

 

• February 1st 2026: Furmint. This grape variety is not very well-known outside of Hungary, where it is used to make Tokaji. A wine that you will surely find in all good wine stores.

• February 16th 2026: Syrah. A grape variety originating from the Rhône Valley, it is the star of this region, with mythical AOCs such as Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Croze-Hermitage, Cornas, in the north ... Châteauneuf du Pape (where Syrah is used in blends with Grenache and Mourvèdre) in the south.

• March 13th 2026: Riesling. Originally coming from Germany, this grape variety is nowadays one of the top three white grape varities grown in the world. Alsace in France, the Finger Lakes in the USA, Clare Valley and Eden Valley in Australia are also regions that are famous for Riesling.

• April 17th 2026: Malbec. Also called Côt, this grape variety originates from the South-West of France (the town of Cahors in particular), where it is still grown, but it is also found in the Loire Valley and all of southern France. Argentina also produces large quantities of Malbec.

• May 1st 2026: Sauvignon Blanc. Originally from the Loire Valley, this grape gives lively and very aromatic wines. It is one of the three most widely planted white grape varieties in the world, along with Chardonnay and Riesling.

• May 9th 2026: Muscat. Which Muscat? There are actually several varieties of Muscat, among which the best known are Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel and Muscat d'Alexandrie. It is found in Alsace but also in the south of France, where it allows the production of fortified wines such as Muscat de Rivesaltes, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, MUscat de Lunel, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat du Cap Corse.

• May 21st 2026: Chardonnay. Of French origin, Chardonnay is another of the most widely planted white grape varieties in the world. In France, Champagne and Burgundy are its favorite regions.

• June 13th 2026: Chenin. One of the king grape varieties of the Loire Valley, its original cradle. The Loire Valley produces 90% of French Chenin Blanc, which is also cultivated in the Bergerac region (south-west) and in Limoux (Languedoc). The world's largest producer is South Africa.

• August 1st 2026: Albariño. A white grape cultivated in north-western Spain (DO Ras Baixas) and in Portugal to produce famous Vinho Verde.
  

• August 18th 2026: Pinot Noir. It gives more qualitative wines when grown in cool climates. It is therefore grown in Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne, but in many other places arounf the world (it is one of the top 3 red grape varities planted in the world).

• September 3rd 2026: Cabernet Sauvignon. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, this red  grape is originally from Bordeaux. It prefers warm soils (such as gravel) and requires a long growing season to ripen. In which case it gives very colorful and very tannic wines.

• September 18th 2026: Grenache. White, black or pink ... 3 versions for this variety of Spanish origin (Garnacha is its original name) which loves heat and is therefore planted in Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and in the south of the Vallée du Rhône.

• October 10th 2026: Pinotage. A grape variety resulting from the crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, developed in South Africa. It is actually rarely cultivated outside this country, so that it is little.

• October 30th 2026: Carignan. Another Spanish grape variety (Cariñena), planted in the wine-growing regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Languedoc-Roussillon, southern Rhône, Provence and Corsica).

• November 1st 2026: Xinomavro. Not very well known either! It is not grown in France. It is a Greek grape variety, found in the north of the country (Macedonia). It is at the origin of red wines with little color but tannic, with strong ageing potential.

• November 7th 2026: Merlot. Originally from Bordeaux, it is today the most planted grape variety in this vineyard. It is also one of the most planted black grape varieties in the world.

• November 12th 2026: Tempranillo. Another Spanish grape variety, planted in Languedoc-Roussillon for IGP red wines.

• November 24th 2026: Carménère. A grape variety originating in Bordeaux, abandoned at the end of the 19th century, because it is sensitive to 'coulure' (non-pollination of flowers due to bad weather conditions) and prefers warm soils. Global warming acts in its favor, and some Bordeaux winegrowers are starting to plant  it again. It is very popular in Chile. It is characterized by aromas of Indian spices.

• December 4th 2026: Cabernet Franc. An old grape variety, originally from the Spanish Basque Country, found today in the Bordeaux region and the South-West, but also in the Loire Valley, where it is the most widely planted red grape. It is one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon.

• December 16th 2026: Pinot Meunier. This cousin of Pinot Noir is not so well-known because it is less widely planted. But if you are a Champagne enthusiast, you are certainly familiar with it, as it is one of the three main grape varieties grown in this wine-making region. It is also planted in the Loire Valley, particularly in the region of Orléans.