What is a Varietal Wine? (Types of Single Varietals & Blends, Best Wines)

What is varietal wine and which are the best wines you should buy?

A varietal wine is a wine made with a single variety of grape. 

A varietal blend refers to a wine made with several grape varieties.

Recognizing the different wine varietals will enable you to pinpoint their subtle nuances and appreciate the differences between each.Let’s explore all about the most popular red and white varietal wines, classic wine blends, and how they are labeled.

What is the Difference Between Varietal and Variety?

The terms varietal and variety are often used interchangeably. But, they have different meanings.

Variety is a noun that refers to a specific grape varietal (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and so on.) 

Varietal is an adjective used to describe a type of wine made with only one grape variety. 

What is Varietal Labeling? (Trends in the Old World vs. New World)

Many wines list the dominant grape used in the wine on the label. This is known as "varietal labeling."

Varietal labeling first emerged in the Old World, and it was quite popular among wine producers from Germany and Austria. 

Nowadays, most European wines from Spain, Italy, and France are labeled after the winemaking appellation instead of their varietal names. For example, many French wine bottles are simply labeled as Chablis, Champagne, Bordeaux, or Burgundy.

However, an increasing number of French wine producers have started adopting varietal labeling. The EU regulations require 85% of the wine to be produced from the type of grape specified on the label.

Meanwhile, adding the wine varietal to the labeling emerged as a trend in the New World (the US, Australia, Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand) in the first half of the 20th century.

Currently, the US varietal wine label regulations require each winemaker to have at least 75% of the dominant grape variety in the wine. 

Let’s look at some of the best red and white varietal wines, their characteristics, and the best wines to buy.

Red Varietal Wines (and Best Bottles to Buy)

These are the most popular varietal reds. 

1. Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned wine grape that produces light red wine with pleasant acidity, elegant expression of terroir, and subtle tasting notes of red fruit. 

2. Syrah

Syrah varietals are usually big and bold with high tannin levels and distinct smoke and spice flavors. In Australia, this grape variety is known as Shiraz. 

3. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular varietal wines. It usually has a black and red fruit flavor, herbal aromas, and a refined expression of terroir. 

4. Zinfandel

The thick-skinned Zinfandel grape variety produces full-bodied and rich single varietal wine. The wine has various tasting notes of spice, pepper, and blackberry. 

5. Barbera

Barbera is a traditional Italian wine with a sensual fruit flavor profile, mouth-drying tannins, and high acidity.

6. Merlot

Merlot is a varietal wine with herbal aromas, fruity flavors, balanced acidity, and tannin levels.

7. Petite Sirah

This highly tannic varietal wine has an opulent nose of black pepper and chocolate and robust black fruit, plum, and spice flavors. 

8. Sangiovese

Sangiovese is a red wine grape that produces amazing Italian wine varietals. These wines have great longevity, high acidity, structured tannins, and flavor notes of black currant, spice, and cinnamon.

9. Mourvedre

The Mourvedre red wine has a harsh tannic texture, smoky aromas, and dark fruit flavor notes.

10. Dolcetto

Dolcetto is a red wine grape native to Italy. It produces elegant wine with opulent cocoa and violet aromas. This varietal wine has a complex flavor profile with blackberry and black currant notes. 

10 Best Red Varietal Wines to Buy in 2023

1. 2015 Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru (Pinot Noir): $126,125
2. 1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage 'Cuvee Cathelin' (Syrah): $13,197
3. 1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet: $6,261
4. 1995 Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel: $343
5. 2004 Roberto Voerzio Riserva Pozzo dell'Annunziata Barbera d'Alba: $322
6. 2018 Petrus (Merlot): $5,085
7. 1999 Switchback Ridge Peterson Family Vineyard Petite Sirah: $172
8. 1990 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva (Sangiovese): $1,116
9. 2010 Alban Vineyards Forsythe Vineyard The Mason Mourvedre: $208
10. 2006 Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto d'Alba: $72

White Varietal Wine Types (and Best Bottles to buy)

If you’re one of the ardent white wine lovers, check out these delightful varietal wines.

1. Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc produces a wonderful dry white varietal wine. The wine has a distinct grassy aroma bouquet and citrusy flavors.

2. Riesling

Riesling produces both dry and dessert wines with good aging potential (15-30 years), delightful citrus and tropical fruit notes, and pleasant acidity.

3. Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris (also known as Pinot Grigio) is a light-bodied white wine with mild acidity, wonderful flowery aromas, sweet stone fruit flavors.

4. Gewurztraminer

The Gewurztraminer grape variety produces fragrant white varietal wines (offered as both dry or dessert wines) with rose petal aromas and tropical fruit flavors. 

5. Chardonnay

The Chardonnay grape is the most planted white grape varietal in the world. Chardonnay varietal wines vary from rich and creamy to light and crisp. 

6. Viognier

Viognier is a light, fruity, and acidic wine. It has subtle honeysuckle aromas and tangerine flavors. Some great Viognier wine pairing ideas are light salads and creamy cheese platters.

7. Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc produces varietal wines with pleasant acidity, dominant pear flavor notes, and nutty aftertaste.

7 Best White Varietal Wines to Buy in 2023

1. 2011 Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc: $8,565
2. 2003 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese: $24,840
3. 1983 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg Quintessence de Grains Nobles: $1,192
4. 2005 Domaine Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles: $602
5. 2014 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru (Chardonnay): $19,590
6. 1970 Chateau-Grillet (Viognier): $1,318
7. 1990 Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 'Goutte d'Or' (Chenin Blanc): $561

Varietal Blends (and Best Wine Bottles)

Here are some of the traditional blended wine styles:

1. Bordeaux Red Varietal Blends 

There are many variations of the Bordeaux red blend wine. It usually contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. 

Some New World wine makers (California wine producers like Joseph Phelps and Duckhorn) also make some of the best Bordeaux blend wines.

2. Bordeaux White Varietal Blends

The white Bordeaux blended wine combines the elegant Sauvignon Blanc with the opulent Semillon grape variety.

3. Cotes du Rhone Red Varietal Blends

The classic Cotes du Rhone red blend consists of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache.

4. Cotes du Rhone White Varietal Blends

These aromatic wine blends include the white grape varieties Marsanne, Rousanne, and Viognier. 

5. Super Tuscans

These are Italian red wines made with non-native grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah) and small percentages of indigenous grapes like Sangiovese.

6. Champagne and Sparkling Wine Blends

A traditional Champagne or sparkling wine blend contains Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. 

6 Best Varietal Blends to Buy in 2023

1. 2004 Liber Pater: $ 10,652
2. 2009 Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc: $ 1,312
3. 2010 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Inspiration: $ 1,131
4. 2001 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Blanc: $ 939
5. Masseto Toscana IGT 1985 (Super Tuscan): $ 2,745
6. 1990 Dom Perignon P3 Plenitude Brut: $ 4,022 

Invest in Fine Varietal and Blend Wines

The red and white single varietal and blend wines present unique characteristics and flavor profiles that can enrich your palate and are great for serving on different occasions. 

If you’re looking to build a fine wine collection of exquisite wines from all around the world, check out Vinovest. Vinovest offers you the easiest way to build a wine portfolio. Head to the website to learn more!