In rudimentary terms, the best white wines often come from cooler climates, White Burgundy being a prime example, and the best reds from hotter climates such as Rutherford in the Napa Valley. The intriguing aspect of wine is that sometimes there are exceptions, like the dry white wine Viognier, whose grapes love the warmth of an expanding number of vineyards in France, Australia and California. But have no reservations that the finest sparkling wines come from cooler climates, as in the Champagne region of France or the Anderson Valley in California. The Chardonnay vines planted in a vineyard in the highly acclaimed appellation of Corton Charlemagne in the Burgundy region of France will vary in character from Chardonnay vines in Oregon or Western Australia. The reason is that, over the years, different clones have been developed and growers need to find the most suitable clone for their soil and micro-climate.
Some grapes are workhorses, generally used for blending.
In South Africa the white Colombard blends well with Chardonnay, whilst in France it is often only considered fit for distilling into brandy. The reason for the difference is simply the warmer climatic conditions in the Western Cape . Try to make a sparkling wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and you will have a dull, boring disaster. Winemakers Winemakers from different educations and backgrounds have different philosophies and practices. But even winemakers sometimes have to give way, at least partially, to marketing managers and owners, who believe they know which wines will sell best, or which suit the image and position of the property or label concerned.