Variety adds flavor to life, and even a beloved drink like wine can apply a little variety from time to time. This is where wine blends come in handy. Think of wine blends like a cocktail – but in this case, instead of different ingredients coming together to form a concoction, two similar ingredients (grape varieties) combine to create a luscious libation.
Whenever you see a wine and the label indicates its style, such as Bordeaux, Rhône or Soave, rather than the type of grape, such as Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc, there is a good chance that it is a blend of wines. The most popular are red and white blends, but they can also be found in pink, orange and sparkling varieties. So why do wine blends exist? What makes them special and what do they taste like?
Cody Hurd, winemaker at The priest’s ranch breaks down wine blends in layman’s terms. “A blended wine is any wine that has more than one individually fermented ingredient,” he says. Hurd notes that wine blends come in many varieties. “Inter-species mixing is very common. Mixing different vintages is less common, but it sometimes happens. Inter-appellation mixing is very common. For example, a wine labeled “California” may include fruit from across the state in the blend. However, a wine labeled “Napa Valley” must come from Napa Valley.”
When winemakers go through a painstaking process to ensure each year that each variety they produce is of the highest quality and has distinct flavors, why would they mess around with perfection and create blends? “The simplest reason winemakers make blends is to improve the taste of the wine,” Hurd explains. “Each vineyard and each variety has its own unique characteristics. Blending helps maintain balance in the final wine.”
Hurd points out that there is a history of which grapes are best for which blends, and most blends still follow these historical trends. “Trends exist for a reason. They usually make great wines. This is a good starting point, but each vintage, appellation, estate, and even individual location within an estate produces different characteristics. The decision about what grapes to pair together can change every year.”
Amy Racine, Beverage Director at JF Restaurants, sheds more featherlight on how and why certain blends are created. “Winemakers look for characteristics they like in different varieties. One may have the desired floral notes, one may have acidity, and yet another may have the desired texture or texture,” she shares. Racine compares the final product of a wine blend to a composed sauce or dish whose many ingredients create a harmonious delicacy.
Blending wines is also a way for winemakers and vineyards to produce distinctive wines, which benefits entrepreneurs and wine drinkers. “In many cases, the blend reflects the style of the winemaker or house rather than a single variety expressing terroir.” He continues, “For wine lovers, the world of blends can create a fun and endless opportunity to taste through producers and find their favorite style, because no two wines are the same.”
Andrea Felluga, owner and winemaker in Livius Fellugaexplains Racine’s opinion, adding that blends are particularly exhilarating for oenophiles “well versed in the profile of a particular grape who want to try something novel” or “someone who wants to experience the character of a terroir or region, and its expression through the eyes of a talented winemaker.”
Whether the blend is red, white or rosé, Racine explains that all wine blends are prepared in one of two ways. “Mixed fermenters are grapes that are separately fermented (processed into wine on their own) and blended,” he says. “The second is co-fermentation, where different varieties are fermented together.”
Hurd points out that while these techniques are used to blend wines around the world, blends vary depending on where they are produced. “The rules for blending wine vary from region to region, but most regions blend wines in one way or another. Many popular blends come from specific regions of the world. For example, a Left Bank Bordeaux-style blend will typically be dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Another classic example is the blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, which is a Rhône blend.
Rules of thumb for wine blends
Navigating the wine aisle can be intimidating enough for novices trying to choose well-known varietals like Chardonnay or Merlot, so our experts have some tips to aid demystify the mysterious world of blending. Hurd’s first tip is to do your homework.
“I always recommend that people double-check how to read wine labels,” he says. “It may seem plain, but the United States and individual AVAs have many complicated rules about how wine should be labeled. Knowing labels really helps wine drinkers understand exactly what they are drinking.”
Finally, Hurd suggests that a good starting point when choosing a wine blend is to research another wine blend you already like that contains these varietals. “Someone may find that while they love Petite Sirah, it may be a little too tannic for them as an everyday drinker. Well, let’s find a Petite Sirah/Zinfandel/Syrah blend,” he advises.
Here we have expert-approved picks that celebrate the art of mixing and deliver unique taste experiences for wine lovers and casual drinkers alike.
