What are the most planted grapes in the world?
Grapes are, in fact, the most planted fruit crop in the world, but not as many as you’d think go into wine. In California, for example, only 47% of the grapes grown are wine grapes; the majority is for table grapes or raisins. The three most planted white wine grapes are surprising: Airén (756,300 acres), Chardonnay (432,900 acres), and Ugni Blanc (338,400 acres). Chardonnay, sure; there’s some much Chardonnay out there that its detractors have formed groups dedicated to drinking ABC – Anything But Chardonnay. But what are Airén and Ugni Blanc? Airén is Spain’s most planted grape, and given that country’s vast vineyards, it grabs the #1 spot for acreage; however, it is not widely sold in the United States. Ugni Blanc is grown in Italy, Argentina, and France. The former two make it into generally simple white, crisp wines, but in France it is distilled together with a few other grapes to make Cognac. It is very prolific, and despite the smaller acreage, probably produces more wine than
