Blends
July, 2014 Filed in: Wine varieties
From time to time we see particular wine varieties surge in popularity, like Malbec and Moscato in recent times. However, blended wines continue to offer some of the most popular wines commercially as well as with wine kits. Blended wines are wines that contain 2 or more different wine varieties. So blended wines can be something as simple as a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot to a French Chateauneuf-du-pape which can have up to 13 different grape varieties. Undoubtedly some of the world’s best wines are made from a blend of grapes, rather than a single varietal.
Why do commercial winemakers blend wine varietals? Well, blended wines tend to have more complexity than single varietal wines. By blending different varietals, winemakers can change the qualities of the wine and therefore the taste of the wine. A winemaker may have a grape not having a strong aroma or scent, but have outstanding flavour. But by adding a grape variety with a powerful aroma the winemaker can make a more complex wine.
Blending can also be from different vintages, which is common in Europe. So, if 2011 produced inferior juice it can be blended with a better 2012 vintage. However, under these circumstances the bottled wine is not labeled with a year.
White wine varieties can also be blended with red varieties, of course the percentage of white wine in the blend is less than 10%. Viognier, a white wine with wonderful fruitiness and flowery aromas maybe blended with Shiraz/Syrah in both Europe and Australia.
Some common commercial blended wines include, Italian wines like Chianti, Amarone, Super-Tuscan, and Soave, French wines like Chateauneuf-du-pape, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cotes-du-Rhones, Australian Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre, even Port is a blend. The #1 selling Canadian wine sold, Apothic Red is a blend.
And you may be thinking you are buying a single grape wine, and you are in fact purchasing a blend. In Canada, commercial wines follow the 85% rule, which means that for example if it is a Riesling, then it must contain a minimum of 85% Riesling. In other words it could have up to 15% of another grape variety or varieties in it. In the United States the minimum is 75%, and in Europe it is 80%. Argentina also has a minimum of 85%. Merlot is often blended with Argentina Malbecs to give better aroma and a smoother finish. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are often used in Argentina Malbecs to give more structure and tannins.
Why do commercial winemakers blend wine varietals? Well, blended wines tend to have more complexity than single varietal wines. By blending different varietals, winemakers can change the qualities of the wine and therefore the taste of the wine. A winemaker may have a grape not having a strong aroma or scent, but have outstanding flavour. But by adding a grape variety with a powerful aroma the winemaker can make a more complex wine.
Blending can also be from different vintages, which is common in Europe. So, if 2011 produced inferior juice it can be blended with a better 2012 vintage. However, under these circumstances the bottled wine is not labeled with a year.
White wine varieties can also be blended with red varieties, of course the percentage of white wine in the blend is less than 10%. Viognier, a white wine with wonderful fruitiness and flowery aromas maybe blended with Shiraz/Syrah in both Europe and Australia.
Some common commercial blended wines include, Italian wines like Chianti, Amarone, Super-Tuscan, and Soave, French wines like Chateauneuf-du-pape, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cotes-du-Rhones, Australian Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre, even Port is a blend. The #1 selling Canadian wine sold, Apothic Red is a blend.
And you may be thinking you are buying a single grape wine, and you are in fact purchasing a blend. In Canada, commercial wines follow the 85% rule, which means that for example if it is a Riesling, then it must contain a minimum of 85% Riesling. In other words it could have up to 15% of another grape variety or varieties in it. In the United States the minimum is 75%, and in Europe it is 80%. Argentina also has a minimum of 85%. Merlot is often blended with Argentina Malbecs to give better aroma and a smoother finish. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are often used in Argentina Malbecs to give more structure and tannins.