There are a lot of wines in the market today and they are mostly made from different varietals of grapes. There is great flexibility in wine because of the many varietals that are available. Since the ancient times, grapes have been widely used for wine making. And today, it is one of the biggest industries practiced all over the world by different cultures and countries. The many vintners and makers of wine create so many new bottles that it’s hard to just describe one bottle according to its grape varietal.
But apart from the standard varietals that are used widely in wine making, there are also some wines which come in several varietals, also known as blends. Blends have that extra complexity that a lot of wine lovers want because it makes the experience more sophisticated. However, many wine lovers and experts prefer the varietal wines because they say that these wines have more personality and body.
It’s hard to judge these two types of wine, but a lot of people ask: Are varietals always better than blends? Let us first understand what the difference between these two wine types is.
Varietals
Varietals are, in the simplest sense, wines made of a predominant wine. There are some wines which are made wholly of only one grape while there are also others which are made of 80% and above of one grape and a combination of other wine varietals in smaller rates such as 5%, 10%, etc. As long as there is one wine that is completely dominating the blend and overpowers the flavors of the other grapes, this is called a varietal.
Blends
Blends are made of two or more grapes which come in almost equal proportions. Some of the blends typically have 50-50 proportions while there are others which have 40-60 divisions. Some blends are made of more than two grape varietals. These types of wine are made by mashing different grapes, extracting them, and mixing them in equal proportions to get a unique blend that produces a completely new flavor and character.
Varietals vs. Blends: On the Varietal Side
The good thing about drinking varietals is that you experience the exactness of the flavors and the distinct characteristics of the wine. If it’s Cabernet, you really get the feel of drinking it because it’s pure cabernet in its fullest form. The body is rich and molded perfectly to match the grape that it was made from. It’s like you’re learning everything about one person, knowing his scent, discovering his flavors, and finding out his secret spices.
Varietals vs. Blends: On the Blend Side
Blends are made of two or more grapes, but when you drink the wine, you will no longer be able to distinguish which flavors are which anymore. This means that you’re experiencing this wine as a whole, as a group, and as an entirely new character. It’s like mashing up your two favorite songs and getting a completely new song out of it. There’s more sophistication and complexity because of the mixture of flavors and characters, and it’s definitely hard to describe this kind of wine in one or two words. There are a lot of other hints than just fruit and spice. There’s also the effect of stronger fruit because of the overpowering characteristics of two wines.
The Winner? You Decide
There’s no telling whether a varietal is better than a blend. In fact, with eyes blindfolded, it would be hard to tell which wine is a varietal and which one is a blend. What you need is to just follow your tongue and understand your tastes. If it tastes good and has that spice that you’re looking for, then go for it, regardless if it’s a varietal or a blend.