Varietal wine is made mainly from a single grape variety and its label usually indicates this. It aims to showcase the unique characteristics of that specific grape.
On the other hand, many wines are blends for several reasons. Blending can add complexity by combining the attributes of different grape varieties. It also allows for more consistent quality across vintages, especially when weather conditions vary. In some regions, blending is part of the traditional winemaking process.
Additionally, marketing and legal factors come into play. For example, a wine might be labelled with a specific grape variety to attract consumers even if it’s actually a blend. Laws in some countries also allow wines to be labelled as a varietal as long as they contain a certain percentage of that grape, leaving room for other varieties.
