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08/24/08 - Wine Labels
Wine Labels For Your Reading Pleasure
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.
Wine Labels and More
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 ...
Wine Labels Items For Viewing
Michael Coutoux - Mersault -
"The 1999 Meursault Perrieres reveals excellent aromatic depth to its spise and earth-scented nose. Medium-bodied and dense, it offers stone, earth, and minerals in its deep, pure, and focused personality. Projected maturity: 2002-2007. Note: The following wine had been opened for one hour prior to my arrival at the estate." WA -89 (Subject to Availability) MCMP99 MCMP99
Price: 100.99 USD
Headlines on Wine Labels
Untitled
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:35:56 PDT
FAST EDDIE Dog Portrait Oil Painting by Laurie Justus Pace 24 x 36 inches SOLD Commission Painting Contact:Laurie Yes, I painted in New York. I painted Billie's Dog, Fast Eddie. My laptop has the pictures of Fast Eddie on it, but I have not in my bleary state of mind, transfered the pictures from the laptop to the Big Mac. These were still in the camera from our Wednesday Night Barbecue and Fire at Billie's home on Lake Juanita. Slightly tempered in paint choices, I used her oils and canvas
I cant stop
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:21:40 PDT
Control my mind went Sungei Buloh this morning.. walked to school with E. and its freaking dark!! cause going to rain already. another teacher came along with us. and he will be our tour guide. and guess what. he looks alot like mr tan thiam chye. just that, that teacher very talkative. anyway he only taught for one month only... played my PSP and listen music. reached Sungei Buloh. it rained!(: that "tour guide" told us about sungei buloh. E jasmine dilen and i were like boring.. slack aroun
Selcuk - Selcuk, Izmir, Turkey
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:42:26 PDT
Jump to the full entry & travel map Selcuk, Izmir, Turkey We decided to stay at Atilla's Resort about three k outside of town. Rachelle who we met in Olympos had stayed there and it also comes highly recommended by the guide books. The place was not unlike the spots in Olympos, $25 a night, breakfast and dinner included but this one was much nicer with a pool and an outdoor pool table, great tunes playing all day and a good vibe. Jakie and Sean spent just one
CARVING THE TURKEY - Istanbul, Turkey
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:41:23 PDT
Jump to the full entry & travel map Istanbul, Turkey Turkiye was a bit of an enigma for me. I thought I'd love it. I was supposed to love it. But I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and yeah there were some wonderful moments and a few highlights and it offered a great travel experience. I also met some great people, mostly other travelers but in some ways Turkey was a disappointment. Generally the Turks I encountered were a good natured lot.
Wine Labels as Marketing Tool?
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:49:33 PDT
“It’s an expensive investment,” Dayton said. “It’s best to shop around, but don’t go with the lowest price before checking with other clients of the designer to see if they were satisfied with the final product.”
Coffee, gelato & wine all in one eclectic West Valley cafe (ABC 15 Phoenix)
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:04:15 PDT
All of your favorite things in one place -- that is the idea behind Ground Control. It is a coffee, gelato and wine bar in the West Valley. Owner Tara Rassas said she wanted to bring the tastes she experienced in Europe home.
Georgian wine caught in diplomatic spat (Decanter.com)
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:43:28 PDT
Bottles of Georgian wine, served at a US-Polish dinner following the signing of a missle agreement between the two countries, have been caught up in the diplomatic fallout with Russia following the deal.
Wine Distributors
Dessert Wine
Wine Ratings | Wine Recipe
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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
Wine Labels and More
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 ...
Wine Labels Items For Viewing
Michael Coutoux - Mersault -
"The 1999 Meursault Perrieres reveals excellent aromatic depth to its spise and earth-scented nose. Medium-bodied and dense, it offers stone, earth, and minerals in its deep, pure, and focused personality. Projected maturity: 2002-2007. Note: The following wine had been opened for one hour prior to my arrival at the estate." WA -89 (Subject to Availability) MCMP99 MCMP99
Price: 100.99 USD
Headlines on Wine Labels
Untitled
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:35:56 PDT
FAST EDDIE Dog Portrait Oil Painting by Laurie Justus Pace 24 x 36 inches SOLD Commission Painting Contact:Laurie Yes, I painted in New York. I painted Billie's Dog, Fast Eddie. My laptop has the pictures of Fast Eddie on it, but I have not in my bleary state of mind, transfered the pictures from the laptop to the Big Mac. These were still in the camera from our Wednesday Night Barbecue and Fire at Billie's home on Lake Juanita. Slightly tempered in paint choices, I used her oils and canvas
I cant stop
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:21:40 PDT
Control my mind went Sungei Buloh this morning.. walked to school with E. and its freaking dark!! cause going to rain already. another teacher came along with us. and he will be our tour guide. and guess what. he looks alot like mr tan thiam chye. just that, that teacher very talkative. anyway he only taught for one month only... played my PSP and listen music. reached Sungei Buloh. it rained!(: that "tour guide" told us about sungei buloh. E jasmine dilen and i were like boring.. slack aroun
Selcuk - Selcuk, Izmir, Turkey
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:42:26 PDT
Jump to the full entry & travel map Selcuk, Izmir, Turkey We decided to stay at Atilla's Resort about three k outside of town. Rachelle who we met in Olympos had stayed there and it also comes highly recommended by the guide books. The place was not unlike the spots in Olympos, $25 a night, breakfast and dinner included but this one was much nicer with a pool and an outdoor pool table, great tunes playing all day and a good vibe. Jakie and Sean spent just one
CARVING THE TURKEY - Istanbul, Turkey
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:41:23 PDT
Jump to the full entry & travel map Istanbul, Turkey Turkiye was a bit of an enigma for me. I thought I'd love it. I was supposed to love it. But I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and yeah there were some wonderful moments and a few highlights and it offered a great travel experience. I also met some great people, mostly other travelers but in some ways Turkey was a disappointment. Generally the Turks I encountered were a good natured lot.
Wine Labels as Marketing Tool?
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:49:33 PDT
“It’s an expensive investment,” Dayton said. “It’s best to shop around, but don’t go with the lowest price before checking with other clients of the designer to see if they were satisfied with the final product.”
Coffee, gelato & wine all in one eclectic West Valley cafe (ABC 15 Phoenix)
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:04:15 PDT
All of your favorite things in one place -- that is the idea behind Ground Control. It is a coffee, gelato and wine bar in the West Valley. Owner Tara Rassas said she wanted to bring the tastes she experienced in Europe home.
Georgian wine caught in diplomatic spat (Decanter.com)
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:43:28 PDT
Bottles of Georgian wine, served at a US-Polish dinner following the signing of a missle agreement between the two countries, have been caught up in the diplomatic fallout with Russia following the deal.
Wine Distributors
Dessert Wine
Wine Ratings | Wine Recipe
Labels: Ice Wine
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