11:35 PM
Sunday January 25, 2009 - Marvel Wine
A Featured Marvel Wine 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 Marvel Wine.
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 Marvel Wine Items
2003 Finca Los Arroyos Malbec
This 2003 Finca Los Arroyos Malbec from Argentina is deep purplish red. It has well-defined aromatic descriptors such as sweet cherries, plums and strawberries with vanilla and caramel touches, given after aging in new barrels of French oak for twelve months. It is a dry wine of balanced acidity, which makes it very pleasant and persistent, the ideal one to be served with dishes with meat. The temperature of service is from 61 F to 64 F. 7680600020 7680600020
Price: 18.95 USD
Marvel Wine in the news
Bitter Cold Means Sweet Business For Ice Wine Makers (WGRZ-TV Buffalo)
Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:19:34 -0800
While many of us were wishing the bitter cold temperatures would go away, ice wine makers in Niagara County actually welcomed the frigid weather. At least for a few days.
Fruit Gift
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:44:16 -0800
Fruit Gift can be orders or arranged depending on your style. Others not just only include fruits but other assortments such as chocolates, and wine.
Greek Mythology in Wine
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:32:26 -0800
Medusa brings wine to the next level. It's creative name and awesome price at wineanthology.com really makes this a smart buy. In addition to this when you order a case we will ship it for free. (You can mix and match)
MERLOVE An indie film and lavish wine tasting
Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:17:08 -0800
Haskell's Fine Wine & Spirits and Sacre Bleu Wine presents the Minneapolis premier of the documentary film MERLOVE, Thursday, February 19th at the Ritz Theater Minneapolis.Tickets for the evening are only $20 per person and available exclusively at the Ritz Theater box office or online at http://www.communitytix.com/cgi-bin/order2
Welcome to Cookbooks.com with a database of over 1 million r
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:46:24 -0800
The largest recipe database, buy your personalized cookbooks, order community cookbooks, cookbooks fundraising, custom cookbooks, school stuff fundraising, ...The Cookbook Store 17 Dec 2008 ... A wide selection of food and wine books. Includes selected recipes, and a section of Canadian authors and foods.Book results for cook book
'Barack the Magic Negro' and the RNC
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:10:39 -0800
Mr. Saltsman is unrepentant - "Hey, it's just a joke. Lighten up". Now, this whole episode has caused some Republicans to question Chip Saltsman's "judgment". That seems like a little like weak tea here. It's not as if Mr. Saltsman ordered red wine with fish or didn't match his belt and shoes. He just insulted 85 million Americans...
Top 10 Improbable McDonald's Items from Around the World
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:26:26 -0800
Traveling Americans who worry that McDonalds' reputation precedes them: fear not! The truth is, McDonald's gets a warmer reception overseas than back home, partly because global outposts of the Golden Arches go out of their way to accommodate local tastes. At the branch near the Spanish Steps in Rome, you can order a glass of wine with your Big Mac
Wine Spectator
Rice Wine
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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 Marvel Wine.
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 Marvel Wine Items
2003 Finca Los Arroyos Malbec
This 2003 Finca Los Arroyos Malbec from Argentina is deep purplish red. It has well-defined aromatic descriptors such as sweet cherries, plums and strawberries with vanilla and caramel touches, given after aging in new barrels of French oak for twelve months. It is a dry wine of balanced acidity, which makes it very pleasant and persistent, the ideal one to be served with dishes with meat. The temperature of service is from 61 F to 64 F. 7680600020 7680600020
Price: 18.95 USD
Marvel Wine in the news
Bitter Cold Means Sweet Business For Ice Wine Makers (WGRZ-TV Buffalo)
Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:19:34 -0800
While many of us were wishing the bitter cold temperatures would go away, ice wine makers in Niagara County actually welcomed the frigid weather. At least for a few days.
Fruit Gift
Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:44:16 -0800
Fruit Gift can be orders or arranged depending on your style. Others not just only include fruits but other assortments such as chocolates, and wine.
Greek Mythology in Wine
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:32:26 -0800
Medusa brings wine to the next level. It's creative name and awesome price at wineanthology.com really makes this a smart buy. In addition to this when you order a case we will ship it for free. (You can mix and match)
MERLOVE An indie film and lavish wine tasting
Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:17:08 -0800
Haskell's Fine Wine & Spirits and Sacre Bleu Wine presents the Minneapolis premier of the documentary film MERLOVE, Thursday, February 19th at the Ritz Theater Minneapolis.Tickets for the evening are only $20 per person and available exclusively at the Ritz Theater box office or online at http://www.communitytix.com/cgi-bin/order2
Welcome to Cookbooks.com with a database of over 1 million r
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:46:24 -0800
The largest recipe database, buy your personalized cookbooks, order community cookbooks, cookbooks fundraising, custom cookbooks, school stuff fundraising, ...The Cookbook Store 17 Dec 2008 ... A wide selection of food and wine books. Includes selected recipes, and a section of Canadian authors and foods.Book results for cook book
'Barack the Magic Negro' and the RNC
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:10:39 -0800
Mr. Saltsman is unrepentant - "Hey, it's just a joke. Lighten up". Now, this whole episode has caused some Republicans to question Chip Saltsman's "judgment". That seems like a little like weak tea here. It's not as if Mr. Saltsman ordered red wine with fish or didn't match his belt and shoes. He just insulted 85 million Americans...
Top 10 Improbable McDonald's Items from Around the World
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:26:26 -0800
Traveling Americans who worry that McDonalds' reputation precedes them: fear not! The truth is, McDonald's gets a warmer reception overseas than back home, partly because global outposts of the Golden Arches go out of their way to accommodate local tastes. At the branch near the Spanish Steps in Rome, you can order a glass of wine with your Big Mac
Wine Spectator
Rice Wine
Labels: Wine Vintages | Wine Warehouse
