Blending grapes has been a tradition in the wine industry essentially since we started farming and cultivating grapes. In the past, a blend was less about achieving a the perfect ideal of a certain wine, and far more about practicality. The most well known red blends are the great red blends from Bordeaux. Predominately made up of five different varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec), the more common approach was to have specifically cultivated rows of grapes that would be used in specific weather events. The best example of this would be if there was a particularly cold, wet season the Cabernet Sauvignon would never fully ripen, leaving an acidic, overly tannic wine. However, Cabernet Franc and Merlot will ripen much earlier, allowing the vineyard to blend together the fruit to their liking and still turn out a delicious wine every year. In Italy, we find the idea of the mixed field approach, where different varieties and vines were all grown in one vineyard, resulting in a "field blend," a great example of this would be Nebbiolo planted with Arneis in Piedemonte, this same practice was used in America to and other places to create "mixed blacks." Without a doubt, blending grapes and grape varieties turns out unique, thought provoking and delicious wines. We hope you find a few here.
