It took great skill and will power to complete this article on Wine Journal. We also request you to use your skill and will power to understand this matter.
A Wine Journal Artilce for Your Viewing
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.
Short Review on Wine Journal
Screwcaps For Wine ? Is It Bye-Bye To The Romance?
Maybe you?ve noticed screwcaps on more of the higher priced wines lately. The trend is continuing to grow and so is the debate of whether a screwcap o...
Morrell Wine
Featured Wine Journal Items
Metrokane Rabbit 6-Piece Wine-Tool Kit, Black
Product Description
The ultimate all-in-one wine corkscrew set for all your wine service needs. You get everything you need for wine bottle opening and service in this convenient and affordable Rabbit Corkscrew set from Metrokane. The 6-piece corkscrew kit includes the world-famous Rabbit Corkscrew, foil cutter, drip-stop drip ring, worm, wine/champagne sealer, and wax remover. The Rabbit Corkscrew was redesigned with an all new precision metal gear mechanism for even smoother and more reliable wine bottle opening. This corkscrew is synthetic cork friendly.
List Price: $64.95
Click image to see best discounted price.
Riedel Wine Series Cabernet/Merlot Glass, Set of 4
Product Description
Amazon.com Review
The Wine Series offers the legendary wine-enhancing qualities of Riedel glassware in an affordable yet attractive package. Bowl shapes are modeled after Riedel's popular Vinum series, but because they're machine-made from high-quality non-leaded glass, they're ideal for the novice oenophile or for everyday use. As with the Vinum series, each type of glass is carefully formed to bring out the best in a specific varietal. Here, the shape of bowl and mouth are specifically designed to enhance the flavor, bouquet and texture of full-bodied reds like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Machine-made in Europe by master glassmakers, each glass stands 9-1/4 inches tall and holds 21-1/2 ounces at full capacity. --Mary Park
List Price: $49.60
Click image to see best discounted price.
Electric Wine Opener
Product Description
MODEL- 4208 VENDOR- OSTER FEATURES- Electric Wine Opener Cordless operation with recharging base for convenience and mobility. Opens a bottle in seconds with no effort allowing you to spend more time with your guests. Includes a foil cutter to remove seals with more ease Ergonomically designed soft grip handle to fit the palm of your hand for a firm grip. Thermal stainless steel wine chiller to keep wine cold for hours MANUFACTURER WARRANTY: 1 YEAR
List Price: $55.40
Click image to see best discounted price.
Sommelier's Wine Chiller
Product Description
It?s like having a Sommelier tend to your valued wines. Our Sommelier's Wine Chiller cools or warms your wine to the proper temperature using advanced Peltier thermoelectric technology. Your wine is always served at the recommended temperature for optimum flavor and bouquet. Internal database of 26 types of red, white, and champagne wines. Simply select your wine from the large, backlit LCD screen and the chilling or warming begins. Alarm sounds when the wine has reached its optimum serving temperature. Aluminum reservoir holds most wine and champagne bottles.
List Price: $100.00
Click image to see best discounted price.
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2007 Edition (Windows on the World Complete Wine Course) (Hardcover)
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2007 Edition (Windows on the World Complete Wine Course) (Hardcover)
by Kevin Zraly (Author). Here Editorial Reviews of the book
The Windows on the World Complete Wine Course is simply the bestselling wine book in the United States�it�s a classic. And this new edition contains an additional 16 wonderful pages, including a featured supplement about the olfactory system and how it deepens our enjoyment of wine. Written in a question-and-answer format, the section is coauthored with Wendy Dubit, an expert on the subject. Plus, this unequaled volume retains all the invaluable information, fabulous illustrations, and gorgeous styling of the 20th anniversary edition. Wine lovers will still thrill to Zraly�s inimitable, irreverent style. As always, he answers every question about wine; offers the most up-to-date recommendations; provides advice on buying wine in stores and on the Internet; takes you on a country-by-country, region-by-region ratings tour of the latest vintages; and starts you on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur. Abundant full-color labels and maps complete the enticing picture. More current, more informative, more concise and precise than ever, this remains the wine guide against which all others are judged.
List Price: $24.95
Click on image to update on prices and availablility.
News about Wine Journal
Napa Cabernet Star Merus Sold
Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
William Foley expands his portfolio with celebrated Napa Cab label
Best of Unfiltered 2007
Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
A look at the most popular--and our favorite--Unfiltered items of the year
Tasting Highlights: Australia
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
The Land Down Under offers more than just big Shiraz, and these 15 outstanding selections prove it
Cognac Hits New High Mark
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Younger and older consumers alike are fueling Cognac's growth in the U.S. market
Spanish Winemakers Successfully Petition Against Ribera del Duero Highway Expansion
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Wine producers claimed that widening the road would increase pollution, while a wall to be built along it would have hurt business
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
Short Review on Wine Journal
Screwcaps For Wine ? Is It Bye-Bye To The Romance?
Maybe you?ve noticed screwcaps on more of the higher priced wines lately. The trend is continuing to grow and so is the debate of whether a screwcap o...
Morrell Wine
Featured Wine Journal Items
Metrokane Rabbit 6-Piece Wine-Tool Kit, Black
Product DescriptionThe ultimate all-in-one wine corkscrew set for all your wine service needs. You get everything you need for wine bottle opening and service in this convenient and affordable Rabbit Corkscrew set from Metrokane. The 6-piece corkscrew kit includes the world-famous Rabbit Corkscrew, foil cutter, drip-stop drip ring, worm, wine/champagne sealer, and wax remover. The Rabbit Corkscrew was redesigned with an all new precision metal gear mechanism for even smoother and more reliable wine bottle opening. This corkscrew is synthetic cork friendly.
List Price: $64.95
Click image to see best discounted price.
Riedel Wine Series Cabernet/Merlot Glass, Set of 4
Product DescriptionAmazon.com Review
The Wine Series offers the legendary wine-enhancing qualities of Riedel glassware in an affordable yet attractive package. Bowl shapes are modeled after Riedel's popular Vinum series, but because they're machine-made from high-quality non-leaded glass, they're ideal for the novice oenophile or for everyday use. As with the Vinum series, each type of glass is carefully formed to bring out the best in a specific varietal. Here, the shape of bowl and mouth are specifically designed to enhance the flavor, bouquet and texture of full-bodied reds like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Machine-made in Europe by master glassmakers, each glass stands 9-1/4 inches tall and holds 21-1/2 ounces at full capacity. --Mary Park
List Price: $49.60
Click image to see best discounted price.
Electric Wine Opener
Product DescriptionMODEL- 4208 VENDOR- OSTER FEATURES- Electric Wine Opener Cordless operation with recharging base for convenience and mobility. Opens a bottle in seconds with no effort allowing you to spend more time with your guests. Includes a foil cutter to remove seals with more ease Ergonomically designed soft grip handle to fit the palm of your hand for a firm grip. Thermal stainless steel wine chiller to keep wine cold for hours MANUFACTURER WARRANTY: 1 YEAR
List Price: $55.40
Click image to see best discounted price.
Sommelier's Wine Chiller
Product DescriptionIt?s like having a Sommelier tend to your valued wines. Our Sommelier's Wine Chiller cools or warms your wine to the proper temperature using advanced Peltier thermoelectric technology. Your wine is always served at the recommended temperature for optimum flavor and bouquet. Internal database of 26 types of red, white, and champagne wines. Simply select your wine from the large, backlit LCD screen and the chilling or warming begins. Alarm sounds when the wine has reached its optimum serving temperature. Aluminum reservoir holds most wine and champagne bottles.
List Price: $100.00
Click image to see best discounted price.
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2007 Edition (Windows on the World Complete Wine Course) (Hardcover)
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2007 Edition (Windows on the World Complete Wine Course) (Hardcover)by Kevin Zraly (Author). Here Editorial Reviews of the book
The Windows on the World Complete Wine Course is simply the bestselling wine book in the United States�it�s a classic. And this new edition contains an additional 16 wonderful pages, including a featured supplement about the olfactory system and how it deepens our enjoyment of wine. Written in a question-and-answer format, the section is coauthored with Wendy Dubit, an expert on the subject. Plus, this unequaled volume retains all the invaluable information, fabulous illustrations, and gorgeous styling of the 20th anniversary edition. Wine lovers will still thrill to Zraly�s inimitable, irreverent style. As always, he answers every question about wine; offers the most up-to-date recommendations; provides advice on buying wine in stores and on the Internet; takes you on a country-by-country, region-by-region ratings tour of the latest vintages; and starts you on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur. Abundant full-color labels and maps complete the enticing picture. More current, more informative, more concise and precise than ever, this remains the wine guide against which all others are judged.
List Price: $24.95
Click on image to update on prices and availablility.
News about Wine Journal
Napa Cabernet Star Merus Sold
Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
William Foley expands his portfolio with celebrated Napa Cab label
Best of Unfiltered 2007
Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
A look at the most popular--and our favorite--Unfiltered items of the year
Tasting Highlights: Australia
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
The Land Down Under offers more than just big Shiraz, and these 15 outstanding selections prove it
Cognac Hits New High Mark
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Younger and older consumers alike are fueling Cognac's growth in the U.S. market
Spanish Winemakers Successfully Petition Against Ribera del Duero Highway Expansion
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EDT
Wine producers claimed that widening the road would increase pollution, while a wall to be built along it would have hurt business
posted by John Ramsey @ 9:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home