Varietal Wines Versus Blended Wines

2009 February 4
by winetaster


Before long, if you have been taking an interest in wine, you’ll find that you start to notice that some wines are listed as blended wines, while others are listed as varietal wines. You’ll find that learning about blended wines can help you fully appreciate the experience a little more, if you are curious about what goes into a fine glass of wine, or if you are simply interested in knowing a little bit more about the vintage that you are drinking.

Blended wines are composed of a variety of grape types, while varietal wine is created from a single type. These two types of wines have been around for hundreds of years, and with the improvement in both storage and transportation, there has been a sharp increase in the kinds of contemporary blended wines.

When selecting a wine, pay attention to whether it is considered varietal versus blended. For instance, when you look at a label, you’ll find that a wine that is listed as a varietal can consist of fifteen percent of other grape varieties. On the other hand, you’ll find that a wine that has been labeled as being a blend will have the variety that is the most predominant listed first. This can help you decide on new blended wines that you might not be sure of; for instance, if you know that you enjoy Cabernet, take a look around for something like a Cabernet Merlot. You may discover that your favorite wines are actually blends of more than one variety. For instance, you’ll find that if you enjoy red wines that you are most likely familiar with the Bordeaux red wines, which are often blends of as many as five varieties of grape.

Whether a wine is varietal or blended is insignificant as long as it is pleasing to your palate. Blending wines does not produce a sub-par product, many of the most outstanding vintages in wine history have, in fact, been blends. Some of the most popular red wines are blends. If you would like to learn more about grape varieties, but not interested without more information, try blended wines.

Take some time to think about wine blends and find a vintage that really suits you! Another great way to try various blends is to join a monthly wine club. There are many types of online monthly wine clubs to choose from that offer very fine wines including some exceptional blended wines delivered right to your home.


Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • TwitThis

Comments are closed for this entry.