A blended red or white wine uses more than one varietal during the wine making process. One varietal will be the main anchor for the wine, and at least one other varietal will be added to tweak the ultimate outcome. By replacing up to 50% of a wine’s composition, it can make the resulting blended wine more complex and interesting as it pulls in characteristics from multiple varietals.
When we say “blended wine, ” we mean wine that is made from different types of grapes or varietals. Most white or red wine we buy is composed of one type of grape, such as a Merlot or Chardonnay. Remember that grapes add unique nuances and flavors to blended wine. By experimenting with multiple grapes, winemakers can construct blended red wine or white wine with tremendous complexity and incredibly satisfying characteristics.
Why blend wines?
The concept behind a blended wine is both scientific and aesthetic. For instance, if a certain red wine has one attribute, and another red wine has a complementary attribute, why not create a blend of the two?
This blended red wine would share characteristics of each red wine and also forms its own attributes as a standalone product. Great examples of semi - dry popular red wine blends are those that start with Malbec. Malbec blends very well with varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a wine in the Bordeaux style.
Facts about blended wines:
Blends are what their name suggests. They typically consist of at least 40 - 50 percent of one type of grape and a smaller mix of two or more other grapes.
Blending is used to maximize the expression of a wine. It can enhance aromas, color, texture, body and finish, making it a better - rounded and complex wine.
Winemakers mix blends in a steel tank. Lower cost blends are rarely aged in oak and higher cost blends are generally aged in oak
So, next time you decide to sip a glass full, you will know what exactly it is made of, be a curious wine sommelier and be ready to impress.
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