Wine produced from a specific type of grape is referred to as varietal wine. A multitude of different grapes exist around the world. Every one in theory is capable of making wine, but some are more prized for the wine they produce and have become the common grapes used in many wine producing regions around the world. The principal wine grape species is known as Vitis vinifera. All of the traditional grapes used are this same species and the differences between say Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are due to genetic mutations within the species. The differences displayed within the plant species produce the specific plants called varieties, which is where the term varietal wine comes from. Varieties are furthur subdivided into clones.

In addition to vinifera vines, a subgenus of the Vitis family known as Muscadinia rotundifolia is used to produce the Muscadine and Scuppernong wines in the southeast United States. The species Vitis labrusca is native to North America and is used in the colder regions of the U.S. and Canada along with several Vitis hybrid varieties. Different species of vines native to America possess resistance to phylloxera and nematodes and are used as the rootstocks for vinifera vines as well.