The Grape Crusaders: Wine Century Club

Have you tried Persan, Susumaniello or Biancolella? If so, you might want to join the Wine Century Club, whose only entry criterion is that you’ve tried 100 different grape varieties. John Stimpfig (who is on 180) meets a few members...

De Long’s top weird & wonderful grapes

Blaufränkisch

Not as uncommon as some but, for me, one of the world’s great red grapes: great structure, capable of ageing and delicious.

Biancolella

The first time I tried this was on a trip to Campania. Although mostly used in blends, varietal Biancolella holds

its own against both Greco and Fiano d’Avellino.

Malagousia

An amazing white grape. Some of the best wines are made by Greece’s Vangelis Gerovassiliou, who saved the variety from extinction.

Pineau d’Aunis

The wine I first tried was made by Domaine de Bellivière. Peppery and elegant, I can see why this was Henry III’s favourite wine.

Timorasso

I tasted this amazing white variety at Vigneti Massa in Piedmont, Italy, where the great Walter Massa makes big, aromatic, refined wines.

And five more grapes he’d like to add to his tally… Koshu from Japan, Beichun, Long Yan (Dragon’s Eye) and Jufeng Noir from China and Malaga Blanc from Thailand.

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