A coworker and I were recently having a discussion about the most disliked grape varietals. There’s no right or wrong answer here, it’s all a matter of personal taste!
At our wine bar, we have found the most common answers are:
Red: Merlot (Thanks, Sideways😵💫)
White: Pinot Grigio (but no one’s ever said Pinot Gris… 🧐)
I’d love to know what you dislike and why?
by foreverfabfour
24 Comments
I’ll start!
Red wine grape you dislike: For me, it’s Malbec!
White wine grape you dislike: Quite controversially, for me it’s Sauvignon Blanc.
Why you dislike them: I find Malbec to be one of the most unentertaining grapes. When it’s bad, it’s really bad. For my personal taste, the boot polish flavor is hard to overlook on poorly made Malbec. But even the good Malbecs never impress me.
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular white wine varieties in the world. There are some I don’t mind, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, but most aren’t for me. I absolutely adore New Zealand and I think New Zealand makes some exceptional wine, but I particularly dislike New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It’s too grapefruit and grassy for me, but then again I also don’t like grapefruit.
Pinotage should not exist.
Muscadine. I’ve had some that tastes like grape juice mixed with whiskey
Viognier. I’ve tried it a few times and just don’t like it. It’s been so long ago that I really can’t remember any specifics.
on its own (fine as a blend, which is where it should be): Cab Franc. too vegetal.
Muscat, moscatel, etc..
Thompson Seedless
Sauvignon Blanc because it has built- in ladybug taint.
Pineau d’Aunis because every one I’ve ever had has been awful in a new and horrifying way.
Pinot Grigio. No, thank you. Please stop. No more. Just. No.
I don’t currently have a least favorite red wine. I think New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is someone’s idea of a prank. It’s cat pee.
Petit syrah. It’s just nasty
I think you can still find a significant amount of affordable wines in just about any varietal, except Pinot Noir. Cheap Pinot Noir is shit, and not cheap Pinot Noir is very not cheap, even with industry discounts or favors.
Tannat. Tastes like you hit the brakes too hard on your bike.
Edit: I read this incorrectly!
Definitely Cabernet Sauvignon. Unless it’s mountain fruit I can appreciate it, but it is by far my least favorite grape.
To those who are saying Merlot, try Merlot from Friuli or Slovenia and get back to me on that!
I hate seeing downvotes on here, this is all personal. OP asked for personal answers, there is no right or wrong.
Raisin.
Malbec
Steen. Look how they massacred my boy chenin blanc.
Trebbiano. I know there are many Trebbiano strains, but almost anything I’ve had varietally labeled as Trebbiano has been insipid if not offensive.
Can’t think of a red grape I can’t stand, but I am entirely put off by the qpr of Pinot Noir.
For a long time I would have said Pinotage. Better examples are getting closer to Beaujolais than being a worse version of Tannat and I really have found the ability to adore the wines. David & Nadia, Beeslar, Beaumont all do examples that I think are great.
Torrontes is a grape I struggle with, I like it sometimes in Spain field blends but as a varietal wine it’s usually terrible to me.
Tannat is another one that even in examples that are ‘good’ I think it tastes pretty bad.
Not quite ‘least favorite’ but I find the Aussie Semillions that tend to be sommelier darling wines (like Tyrrells Vat 1) to not be very good.
ETA: I do tend to love Bordeaux varietal Semillions, like Chateau Le Puy, so it’s not hating the grape per se.
Carmenere. The green pepper is so loud.
Whoever thinks Merlot is the worst has never had good or very good pomerol. I favor Merlot heavy Bordeaux over Cabernet heavy.
Primitivo / Zinfandel. 99% of the time it is undeniable, overtly boozy, no acid, jammy fruit.
That grape is a mistake.
Obvious answer is Muscat, while I love an aged Muscat Moscato is the devil’s juice.
Unpopular opinion…. Pinot Noir. Never has a grape led to so much disappoint, despair and sorrow spending obscene amounts of money and getting wine that’s still “mmm, yeah, it’s alright, I guess”.