GRENACHE is the world's second most widely-planted black grape. The first is the relatively unknown Airen, which is only planted in La Mancha, Spain.

In Spain, the Grenache grape is known as Garnacha Tinta, which is blended with Tempranillo in Rioja. It responds well in a hot climate - reflected in a high alcohol content - and its key regions are the southern Rhone and Spain. In France, Grenache is a key component of Chateauneuf du Pape, and is also responsible for most of the ros wine that comes from there. Key flavours are red fruits and pepper and it is low in tannins.

Tempranillo is Spain's answer to Cabernet Sauvignon and is the backbone of all of Spain's red wines. The thick-skinned grapes produce deeply-coloured wines that have low tannins but some acidity. Tempranillo flourishes in the cooler parts of Spain and produces a wine with a mix of strawberry, black fruit and tobacco flavours. It can be heavily influenced by oak - the use of American oak adds a vanilla flavour to the wine.

Sangiovese is a grape that is rarely grown outside of Italy, and is Italy's most widely-planted grape. Like most Italian grapes, it produces a wine with a high acidity which goes well with tomato-based pasta dishes. Its key flavours include black cherry, raspberry, leather and herbs. Sangiovese is a key ingredient of Chianti, as well as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino.

Nebiollo has its home in Piedmont, Italy and isn't really found outside of this area. It a fussy grape to grow and needs planting in just the right location to get the best out of it. Because of this, it is very difficult to make a good wine with it. When successful, it produces big wines that are high in tannins and alcohol with key flavours including leather, stewed prunes, chocolate and liquorice.