Some of the world’s greatest wines are made from more than one kind of grape
By Shelley Boettcher
A little of this, a little of that. Winemakers often make their jobs seem easy, but there’s more to making wine than simply dumping a bunch of good stuff in a barrel and stirring.
Winemaking laws, history, tradition and terroir all influence what grows where — and what wines blend well with others.
With that in mind, here’s a quick look at five of the world’s most famous blends.
Amarone — One of Italy’s best-known wines, Amarone is a big, rich, red made in Italy’s Valpolicella region from partly-dried grapes including Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara and occasionally other indigenous grapes such as Negrara and Croatina.
Bordeaux — Red wines are typically Bordeaux’s most famous and most common red wines, although the sweet white wines (blends of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes) from Sauternes get rave reviews from critics.
But back to the reds. Grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Left Bank wines are mostly Merlot; Right Bank wines (Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, for instance) are mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bordeaux wines can only be made in France, but the grapes behind them grow around the world. When a Bordeaux-style blend is made in North America, we call it a Meritage. California and Canada’s own Okanagan Valley have many excellent examples.
And in Italy, Super-Tuscans are a variation on the Bordeaux blend. They often contain Sangiovese (an indigenous Italian grape) as well as the noble French varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Champagne — Most Champagne is made from three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Typically a rosé, or pink Champagne, is primarily Pinot Noir. A blanc de blancs, however, is made from 100 per cent Chardonnay. And Champagne can only be made in France’s Champagne region. No one else can claim the name.
Chateauneuf du Pape — The most famous appellation in France’s Southern Rhone Valley, Chateauneuf du Pape has an ancient history, although Chateauneuf du Pape only became the official name in 1893.
Since it was made law in 1936, only 13 different grapes can be used to make red or white Chateauneuf du Pape. Those grapes including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Clairette, Vaccarèse, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Counoise, Muscardin, Picpoul, Picardan and Terret Noir. I dare you to say all of those out loud really fast.
Shiraz-Viognier — Wine made from Shiraz, a red grape, and Viognier, a white grape, originated in the Northern Rhone Valley (you knew I’d bring the conversation back to France somehow.) Now, however, this blend is now commonly found in Australia, where it does extremely well. Viognier gives a pretty floral note to the Shiraz, and, some say, helps to break up the meaty, savoury notes that are common in Shiraz. Some say you’ll get notes of bacon and peaches, all in the same wine.