The Dominant Note

I know it may seem trite or predictable, but my friends and I often do sit around and talk about wine-even when we’re not drinking it. The past weekend, one of my friends even got into an argument concerning wine that was based on the idea of wine blending. It seems that the person with whom my friend was having a disagreement was attempting to convince a group of people that the only good wines are ones that are made from a single grape. Hardly. This hit a sore spot with me as many of my favorite wines are actually blends.

Since almost all wines are blends, regardless of the grape that gets the credit on the label (by law the wine must only contain 75% of the varietal grape listed), the idea that wines made from one grape are superior seems odd. In fact, the majority of wines-fine or otherwise--will have either one or two other blending grapes used to create a single varietal. Some of the most used blending grapes include: Carignan, Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, Chenin Blanc, and Grenache.
The reason that wine makers use grapes outside of the predominant one listed to make a single varietal is either to maintain a region or varietal’s standards (as is Meritage or Chianti) or to add body, tannins, or some other nuance that they find lacking in dominant grape of the varietal.

Often, such enhancement even creates a blend that is considered superior and sought after by collectors and wine lovers alike. Some of these wines are: Joseph Phelp’s Insignia; Dalla Valle’s Maya; 2000 Pavie, St. Emilion; Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac; Penfold’s Grange Hermitage; as well as a number of other boutique wines. The point is that the majority of the wines we drink, unless specifically noted on the bottle, are the end result of some sort of blend.
And what should you look for when searching for a single grape varietal? On a wine label, there are a number of specific clues. Does the winery also specify a vineyard or estate? Does it state that it is a single-vineyard wine? And there is often a listing of the composition of the wine on the back label of the bottle (as regulated by the individual regulations of the country). This isn’t the only information available--there is actually a wealth of information on the label that may help you when ordering or buying wines which includes:

Name of Wine. This identifies the wine itself. In many cases the name of the wine can also be represented by the area or place in which it was produced or by the name of the grape, or grapes, used for the production.

Name of Producer. This information is usually clearly shown on the label and completes the identification of the product.

Category and Denomination. Information strictly connected to the quality system in force in the country where the wine was produced. Every country sets proper categories for their quality systems and they must be stated in labels.

Area of Origin. This information is part of a quality system enforced in every producing country. It generally includes the name of the town, and more specifically, the name of the area of origin as well as the name of cities, communes, villages, or smaller areas, as well as the name of vineyard in which grapes were harvested.

Vintage. Indicates the year of harvesting in which the wine was produced. Some wines, such as champagne, will not include a vintage.

Volume of Bottle. Indicates the quantity of wine contained in a bottle. The volume of a bottle is usually 750 milliliters.

Alcohol by Volume. Indicates the quantity of alcohol contained in a wine in relation to the total volume.

Other Indications. Quality systems adopted by many countries, can also give the consumer clearer information about the nature and quality of a wine. This information generally refers to the typicality of wines, such as the terms Classico, Riserva and Superiore for Italian wines, as well as indications about the sweetness of a wine, such as the terms Demi-Sec, Brut and Sweet.

And just what is the purpose of this information? Just like any other product that we ingest, wine is subject to federal and local regulations to protect the consumer. In other words, the label can save you from buying a wine that came from-a poor vintage or an area that isn’t known for producing great examples of a varietal-just don’t expect it to save you calories or tell you how may carbohydrates you’re ingesting (it hasn’t gotten that specific yet).

As always, enjoy and be safe.