Cépage

Cépage meaning in English

Cépage means grape variety in French. Put plainly, cépage is the French term for grape variety; in English wine writing, it describes the grape or grapes used to make a wine.

Cépage definition: a French term meaning grape variety

The simplest translation of cépage is grape variety. For example, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir are all cépages.

Cépage meaning on a wine label

When a French label or technical sheet lists the cépage, it is telling you the wine’s grape variety or blend. When assessing a cépage wine, check whether the label points to one grape variety or a blend of several cépages. In Alsace, the cépage often appears prominently on the label; in Bordeaux, the wine may be a blend even if the grape names are not front-and-center.

Cépage vs varietal

Cépage refers to the grape variety. Varietal is the more common English word, especially in New World wine regions. In casual use, both help answer the same question: what grape is this wine made from?