The Grapes of Red Blends

Vintners all over the world blend certain types of red grapes to produce superb wines. Each grape used has its own distinctive qualities that create some of the best-loved red blends. Among the grapes used for these wines are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and shiraz. Viognier, while a white variety, is also mentioned here as it is now used to blend with shiraz.

Cabernet sauvignon has the flavors of black currants, blackberries, cherries, bell peppers, and olives. It also gives off aromas and tastes of ginger and anise. As it's processed in oak, it also comes with characteristics of vanilla, coconut, smoke, musk, and leather.

This grape variety favors warmer regions and takes anywhere from 5 to 10 years for it to mature. With its defined structure, it is often blended with the softer merlot for a perfect wine blend.

Merlot has flavors and aromas similar to cabernet sauvignon, but is less distinctive. However, producing wine from this grape variety is quite tricky, because it has to be at its optimum ripeness when it's made into wine. Merlot that's not yet ripe for the picking produces a more herbal taste than fruity. An overripe grape of this variety will also give off herbal flavors.

With its lower acidity and astringency level, it comes out lush and is ideal for blending with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

Shiraz is for Australia and South Africa as syrah is for France and the rest of the winemakers in the world. Like merlot, its ripeness is also very critical in producing good wines. It needs warm climate to ripen and loses a lot of its qualities when it's overripe even slightly.

Aside from its spicy and intense flavor and aromas, its rich purple color that's almost black makes it a popular choice for blending, even if it makes a luscious varietal. Its seductive color and richness provides the edge in Rhone-styled red blends that also include grenache and mourvedre.

Viognier is white grape variety that produces wines with deep golden color. It has a complex taste that reminds you of apricots, orange blossoms, and honey mixed with toast, smoke, mint, and even tobacco flavors. It has a low acidity level, but it has an aroma that still comes out even when it's blended with a substantial portion of other grape varieties. This is why it is mostly used in blends. Traditionally, especially in California wineries, it is mixed with chardonnay, chenin blanc, and colombard. But in Australia, it is becoming famous as a blending ingredient with shiraz. Shiraz viognier uses only about 2 to 7 percent of the white grape.


These are just some of the more popular and simpler red blends you'll see out there. Some combinations even carry 4 types of grape varieties. It would be good to keep in mind when buying combination wines in stores that the first variety mentioned in the label should make up the largest portion of the blend.

Red blends like cabernet merlot, cabernet shiraz, and shiraz viognier from Penfolds, Grant Burge, Hardys, and other famous Australian vineyards are all available at discounted prices on WineMarket. Visit their website today.

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