The short answer is no. Grape varieties are generally written without capital letters.
This isn’t really a matter of style or opinion, but one that comes from botanical naming conventions.
Where the rule comes from
In Latin taxonomy, capital letters are reserved for higher classifications such as families and genera.
For species and cultivars (grape varieties), lowercase is used.
For example:
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Vitaceae (family), Vitis (genus)
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vinifiera (species), pinot noir, chardonnay (grape varieties)
From a taxonomic point of view, grape varieties are not proper nouns, which is why they are written in lowercase.
The exception
A capital letter may be used when a grape variety is derived from a proper noun, such as a person or a place.
For example:
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Müller-Thurgau → named after Hermann Müller from the canton of Thurgau
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Durif → named after Dr François Durif
In these cases, the capitalisation follows standard rules for proper names rather than botanical hierarchy.
Why capital letters are still common in wine writing
Wine terminology hasn’t always followed a single, consistent rule. Dictionaries, publishers, and regions have taken different approaches over time, which explains why capital letters are still frequently seen.
This lack of consensus was already being discussed decades ago, notably in a New York Times article (1985) examining the broader confusion around wine capitalisation. The piece reflects the fact that wine terminology has never followed a single, agreed-upon set of rules.
In short
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Grape varieties are written in lowercase
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Capitals are more appropriately used for appellations.
