In today’s world, wine producers are constantly planting new grape varieties traditionally grown in other regions because they have become commercially popular.

So it is refreshing to find some indigenous varieties that remain fairly exclusive to their native country.

Ones that spring to mind are: Pinotage from South Africa, Nebbiolo from Piemonte, Gruner Veltliner from Austria, Torrontés from Argentina and Delicata’s own unique Girgentina and Ġellewża grown exclusively in Malta and Gozo.

These varieties offer the wine consumer something that’s a little bit different to the Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. A recent study in the UK aimed to discover consumer taste perceptions of one of these varieties.

Torrontés did so by pitching it against the UK’s best-selling white wine varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.

The respondents in the Wine Intelligence study blind-tasted six wines from two key price brackets and were asked to assess them each on criteria including overall likability of aroma and taste, likelihood to buy and recommend, and recognition of the grape variety itself.

Three Argentine Torrontés wines were tasted in each price bracket – two single varietal and one blend – along with a well-known branded New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Australian Chardonnay and Italian Pinot Grigio.

The results concluded that both single varietal Torrontés and Torrontés blends scored highly, indicating the potential for both styles in the marketplace and the Torrontés competed very favour-ably against its rivals on all measures including taste, aroma and likelihood to buy and recommend.

Within the lower price bracket, two Torrontés – a single varietal and Torrontés/Chardonnay blend – ranked highest, above all competing classic varieties including New Zealand Sauvig-non Blanc, Australian Chardonnay and Italian Pinot Grigio.

Within the higher price bracket, a Torrontés achieved second overall favourite, only beaten by a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.