What
Is a Wine Blend?
At our next tasting, we’re going to learn about blended wines. Wine blends
offer more complexity. In fact, some of the world's greatest wines are made
from a blend of grapes. By blending, winemakers can change a wine's qualities.
Dr. Gordon Gribble of Darmouth College is going to share his expertise on this
complex subject. Until the tasting, here
are a few quick facts.
All About Wine Blends
At its most basic, vintners blend wine made from different grapes in order
to add more complexity to the flavor and texture of a wine. The goal of
blending wine made in different vintages is more to balance out the flavor
characteristics. Some wine blends are made from classic recipes handed down
from generation to generation. Other vintners create brand new blends in an
attempt to produce a new and exciting wine that tastes like nothing else on the
market.
Different Types of Blending
Vintage Wine Blends
Vintage wine blends are different grapes grown in the same vintage, or
year. This may be something as simple as a vintage Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot
blend, or it may be something as complex as blending up to 13 different grapes
to create a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Non-vintage Blends
Some wines, like Port and Champagne, blend grapes grown in different
vintages in order to balance flavors, tannins, and other wine characteristics.
These wines are typically labeled NV or non-vintage, and there will be no year
listed on the label. While this practice is most common in sparkling wines and
ports, other winemakers may use the technique, too.
Super Tuscan Blends
Super Tuscans got their start in the 70s when Italian winemakers decided
to create a new and exciting red wine. Italy has strict wine blending laws
according to the Denominazione di Origine Controlla e Garantita or
DOCG. Producers of Super Tuscans decided to break the rules and make a new wine
blended from grapes of their choosing.
As a result of these vintners' rogue wine blends, the DOCG placed Super
Tuscans in the lower class "table wine" category because they did not
conform to DOCG regulations. Eventually, these wines got a designation all
their own, the Indicazione Geografica Tipica or IGT. Wines
in this classification fall between what may be considered (but not always the
case) higher quality DOCG classification and the lower quality "table
wine" classification.
Bordeaux Blends
In France, the only grapes allowed for use in a bottle labeled
"Bordeaux" are:
·
Cabernet Sauvignon
·
Merlot
·
Malbec
·
Petite Verdot
·
Carmenere
·
Cabernet Franc
If the vintner uses any other grapes, the wine cannot be labeled Bordeaux.
Winemakers generally choose two to three different grapes form the approved
Bordeaux list, but rarely, if ever, use all six grapes. Winemakers in other
parts of the world copy Bordeaux's blending style into Meritage.
Meritage
The word Meritage is a blend of the words merit and heritage.
Meritage wines began as a result of vintners producing a Bordeaux style blend
of wine, but neither the grapes nor the wine were from Bordeaux. (Only wine
made in Bordeaux can use the name.)
Rhône-Style Blends
France's Rhone region blends up to 15 different grapes to make red and
white wines. Primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and
Viognier. The Rhone is divided into sub-regions that all have their own blends.
Winemakers around the world are becoming very creative with their wine
blending techniques. New World winemakers often try blends from grapes not
traditionally combined, creating new and exciting flavor and aroma profiles. If
you're in the market for an exciting wine blend, come and learn about them at
our next tasting, “He Blended Me With Science”.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018
Evergreen Community Center
3430
Evergreen Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
7:00
PLEASE REMEMBER
TO BRING YOUR WINE GLASSES.
TO BRING YOUR WINE GLASSES.
The
cost for members or guests is $25.
Please reply before March 9,
2018 to:
Mail your check, payable to AWS
to:
Dr. Dennis Trumble
1302 Arch St
Pittsburgh PA 15212
Don’t forget to visit the website for
directions, useful tips, and recipes.
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