The variety of grape used to produce wine. There are 210 different ones in France but 10 of them represent 70% of French production. A wine can be made from a single grape variety called a monovarietal or from a mixture of several grape varieties, which is called an assembly .
Example: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the emblematic grape varieties of Bordeaux reds.
Pinot noir and Chardonnay are the emblematic grape varieties of Burgundy wines (reds and whites respectively).