2:18 PM
Saturday 11/01/08 - Wine Vin
Today's Wine Vin Article
Which is for You - Blended or Varietal Wines?Darby Higgs
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does it matter?
At the basic level, the difference is quite simple. Varietal wines are made from a single grape variety, while blended wines are made using two or more. The most obvious example is the difference between the two great red wine styles of France. Burgundy red wine is composed of the single variety Pinot noir. Bordeaux red wines are most often blends of up to five varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit verdot. There are a few Bordeaux wines made from a single variety, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
So much for theory. The distinction between varietal and blended wines is less clear in practice. Many varietal wines are made from blends of wine grown in several regions. Australias iconic Grange is such an example. Each year hundreds of samples from many vineyards are tasted and evaluated before the final blend is decided upon. The result is a blend of regions, rather than varieties.
Many more modest Australian wines with to fame are also regional blends. The process of selecting the blend is similar but much more simplified. The clue on the label is often the words wine of South Eastern Australia. This is almost as general a statement that you can get about the origins of an Australian wine.
Some wines made from a single variety are blends of several different vintages, but this is quite rare for table wines.
While on the topic of labels, you should be aware that many wines bearing a single varietal name can legally contain up to fifteen percent of other varieties. If the wine is labelled as a blend, then the variety with the largest percentage composition should be named first, for example wine labelled Cabernet Merlot, should contain a greater percentage of Cabernet than Merlot.
Our second question is does it matter? Well, if you find a wine that you enjoy and it is a blend, then you should continue to drink it. However if you wish to extend your wine knowledge and thus enhance your wine experience you should try varietal wines whenever possible. There are hundreds of varietal wines available, each with a special subtle difference waiting for you to discover.
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does it matter?
At the basic level, the difference is quite simple. Varietal wines are made from a single grape variety, while blended wines are made using two or more. The most obvious example is the difference between the two great red wine styles of France. Burgundy red wine is composed of the single variety Pinot noir. Bordeaux red wines are most often blends of up to five varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit verdot. There are a few Bordeaux wines made from a single variety, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
So much for theory. The distinction between varietal and blended wines is less clear in practice. Many varietal wines are made from blends of wine grown in several regions. Australias iconic Grange is such an example. Each year hundreds of samples from many vineyards are tasted and evaluated before the final blend is decided upon. The result is a blend of regions, rather than varieties.
Many more modest Australian wines with to fame are also regional blends. The process of selecting the blend is similar but much more simplified. The clue on the label is often the words wine of South Eastern Australia. This is almost as general a statement that you can get about the origins of an Australian wine.
Some wines made from a single variety are blends of several different vintages, but this is quite rare for table wines.
While on the topic of labels, you should be aware that many wines bearing a single varietal name can legally contain up to fifteen percent of other varieties. If the wine is labelled as a blend, then the variety with the largest percentage composition should be named first, for example wine labelled Cabernet Merlot, should contain a greater percentage of Cabernet than Merlot.
Our second question is does it matter? Well, if you find a wine that you enjoy and it is a blend, then you should continue to drink it. However if you wish to extend your wine knowledge and thus enhance your wine experience you should try varietal wines whenever possible. There are hundreds of varietal wines available, each with a special subtle difference waiting for you to discover.
A synopsis on Wine Vin.
Which is for You - Blended or Varietal Wines?Darby Higgs
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does ...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Recommended Wine Vin Items
The FTD Pink Opulence Rose Bouquet - Standard
An explosion of pink and white comes from the roses, asters, snapdragons and greens in this beautiful arrangement that arrives in a glass vase. Prices may vary in some areas. B20-3266S
Price: 69.99 USD
News about Wine Vin
Southern France stands out from Rhone Valley (The San Francisco Examiner)
Thu, 30 Oct 08 03:04:34 -0700
The south of France has long been considered the “bread basket” for the French when it comes to wine. No one has done more to introduce these wines to Americans than legendary Berkeley-based importer Kermit Lynch.
adventure - essex junction, Vermont, United States
Wed, 29 Oct 08 21:07:46 -0700
Jump to the full entry & travel map essex junction, Vermont, United States Here is the blog Hope you like it Monday Sept 8, The journey begins............ .A Carriage rally in Essex Junction Vt. About 2 and half hour ride straight up rte 89. Trouble begins right away ....... The cats begin their go and hide mode, one in the bedroom and the other we believed to be in parts unknown in the rubbish closet which has many openings where we can't see and can't get at. After hunting around
After Zin, Comes New Zealand Vin
Wed, 29 Oct 08 20:25:41 -0700
Unfortunately, my sweet suite at the Wine Bloggers Conference at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa was going to charge me to get on line so I poured myself a glass of Mauritson’s Rockpile 2006 Zin (which I liked even better than the reserve–not as “fruity” but more cherry and better structure and balance and depth), grabbed my MacBook Pro and some crackers, and wandered back into the lobby which had quieted down significantly save for the music blasting “Brick House” from the bar. I used the code
Wine, etc.: (The Capital)
Wed, 29 Oct 08 11:21:02 -0700
In a world wine market awash in inexpensive, well made, fruit forward, easy to drink wines, Burgundy can be a tough sell.
Food & Wine calendar (Contra Costa Times)
Wed, 29 Oct 08 09:44:39 -0700
Food and wine happenings in the East Bay and beyond.
Untitled
Tue, 28 Oct 08 16:23:58 -0700
The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related LinksLoumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8) Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8) Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8) Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8) Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8) Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8) Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8) Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8) After the Bawai lunch, the group wal
Wine Store
Wine Attributes
Wine Food | Wine Gift
Which is for You - Blended or Varietal Wines?Darby Higgs
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does it matter?
At the basic level, the difference is quite simple. Varietal wines are made from a single grape variety, while blended wines are made using two or more. The most obvious example is the difference between the two great red wine styles of France. Burgundy red wine is composed of the single variety Pinot noir. Bordeaux red wines are most often blends of up to five varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit verdot. There are a few Bordeaux wines made from a single variety, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
So much for theory. The distinction between varietal and blended wines is less clear in practice. Many varietal wines are made from blends of wine grown in several regions. Australias iconic Grange is such an example. Each year hundreds of samples from many vineyards are tasted and evaluated before the final blend is decided upon. The result is a blend of regions, rather than varieties.
Many more modest Australian wines with to fame are also regional blends. The process of selecting the blend is similar but much more simplified. The clue on the label is often the words wine of South Eastern Australia. This is almost as general a statement that you can get about the origins of an Australian wine.
Some wines made from a single variety are blends of several different vintages, but this is quite rare for table wines.
While on the topic of labels, you should be aware that many wines bearing a single varietal name can legally contain up to fifteen percent of other varieties. If the wine is labelled as a blend, then the variety with the largest percentage composition should be named first, for example wine labelled Cabernet Merlot, should contain a greater percentage of Cabernet than Merlot.
Our second question is does it matter? Well, if you find a wine that you enjoy and it is a blend, then you should continue to drink it. However if you wish to extend your wine knowledge and thus enhance your wine experience you should try varietal wines whenever possible. There are hundreds of varietal wines available, each with a special subtle difference waiting for you to discover.
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does it matter?
At the basic level, the difference is quite simple. Varietal wines are made from a single grape variety, while blended wines are made using two or more. The most obvious example is the difference between the two great red wine styles of France. Burgundy red wine is composed of the single variety Pinot noir. Bordeaux red wines are most often blends of up to five varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit verdot. There are a few Bordeaux wines made from a single variety, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
So much for theory. The distinction between varietal and blended wines is less clear in practice. Many varietal wines are made from blends of wine grown in several regions. Australias iconic Grange is such an example. Each year hundreds of samples from many vineyards are tasted and evaluated before the final blend is decided upon. The result is a blend of regions, rather than varieties.
Many more modest Australian wines with to fame are also regional blends. The process of selecting the blend is similar but much more simplified. The clue on the label is often the words wine of South Eastern Australia. This is almost as general a statement that you can get about the origins of an Australian wine.
Some wines made from a single variety are blends of several different vintages, but this is quite rare for table wines.
While on the topic of labels, you should be aware that many wines bearing a single varietal name can legally contain up to fifteen percent of other varieties. If the wine is labelled as a blend, then the variety with the largest percentage composition should be named first, for example wine labelled Cabernet Merlot, should contain a greater percentage of Cabernet than Merlot.
Our second question is does it matter? Well, if you find a wine that you enjoy and it is a blend, then you should continue to drink it. However if you wish to extend your wine knowledge and thus enhance your wine experience you should try varietal wines whenever possible. There are hundreds of varietal wines available, each with a special subtle difference waiting for you to discover.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darby Higgs is an expert on Australian wines made from unusual and rare grape varieties. He is the manager of the Vinodiversity website at http://www.vinodiversity.com
A synopsis on Wine Vin.
Which is for You - Blended or Varietal Wines?Darby Higgs
Novice wine lovers soon come across the concept of blended and varietal wines. The two questions that spring to mind are, what does it mean? and does ...
Click Here to Read More About Wine ...
Recommended Wine Vin Items
The FTD Pink Opulence Rose Bouquet - Standard
An explosion of pink and white comes from the roses, asters, snapdragons and greens in this beautiful arrangement that arrives in a glass vase. Prices may vary in some areas. B20-3266S
Price: 69.99 USD
News about Wine Vin
Southern France stands out from Rhone Valley (The San Francisco Examiner)
Thu, 30 Oct 08 03:04:34 -0700
The south of France has long been considered the “bread basket” for the French when it comes to wine. No one has done more to introduce these wines to Americans than legendary Berkeley-based importer Kermit Lynch.
adventure - essex junction, Vermont, United States
Wed, 29 Oct 08 21:07:46 -0700
Jump to the full entry & travel map essex junction, Vermont, United States Here is the blog Hope you like it Monday Sept 8, The journey begins............ .A Carriage rally in Essex Junction Vt. About 2 and half hour ride straight up rte 89. Trouble begins right away ....... The cats begin their go and hide mode, one in the bedroom and the other we believed to be in parts unknown in the rubbish closet which has many openings where we can't see and can't get at. After hunting around
After Zin, Comes New Zealand Vin
Wed, 29 Oct 08 20:25:41 -0700
Unfortunately, my sweet suite at the Wine Bloggers Conference at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa was going to charge me to get on line so I poured myself a glass of Mauritson’s Rockpile 2006 Zin (which I liked even better than the reserve–not as “fruity” but more cherry and better structure and balance and depth), grabbed my MacBook Pro and some crackers, and wandered back into the lobby which had quieted down significantly save for the music blasting “Brick House” from the bar. I used the code
Wine, etc.: (The Capital)
Wed, 29 Oct 08 11:21:02 -0700
In a world wine market awash in inexpensive, well made, fruit forward, easy to drink wines, Burgundy can be a tough sell.
Food & Wine calendar (Contra Costa Times)
Wed, 29 Oct 08 09:44:39 -0700
Food and wine happenings in the East Bay and beyond.
Untitled
Tue, 28 Oct 08 16:23:58 -0700
The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related LinksLoumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8) Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8) Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8) Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8) Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8) Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8) Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8) Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8) After the Bawai lunch, the group wal
Wine Store
Wine Attributes
Wine Food | Wine Gift
Labels: New Wine | Oak Barrels
