Classic wine blends
From Bordeaux to Chianti to Burgundy to Champagne to Rioja to Rhone to Port and much more, one thing is certain: there are wine blends for every taste around the world. Many of the most popular and celebrated wines enjoyed today are, in fact, made from a blend of several types of grapes.
Blending grape varieties is more of a tradition in Old World countries given the immense diversity of grapes. Countries of the Old World, like France, Italy and Spain have long mastered the art of wine blending. This is because of the amazing diversity of unique wine grapes found in Europe. Of course, many New World producers also blend different grapes — even famously rethinking “European” grapes but they are not really as traditionally institutionalized as the Old World’s.
Here are the world’s most famous classical blends.
Bordeaux
The world’s most famous red blend has Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot as the dominant grape variety, depending on where the producer and its terroir come from: Left or Right bank. Less used in each blend, and in different volumes, are Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and (sometimes) Carmenere.
These extraordinary red grape varieties had found their home also in the village of Mogilovo in Bulgaria and are a part of the most beloved red blends of Midalidare:
Midalidare Merlot & Cabernet Franc
Midalidare Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot
Mogilovo Village Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot & Petit Verdot
Rock’NRolla Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc & Merlot
Grande Cuvee Merlot & Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon
Midalidare Reserve Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec & Petit Verdot
As for white Bordeaux, most assemblages are based on Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, with many also having a bit Muscadelle and sometimes lesser known white grapes. Dry, sweeter, or even dessert ones usually reach quite different results mixing proportions.
Midalidare Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon is the white blend by Midalidare, honoring the famous white Bordeaux.
Burgundy
Red Burgundy is famously known for being Pinot Noir-dominant. Many of these light-bodied beauties, however, usually carry Gamay, and sometimes even whites Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay!
Champagne
Apart of Blanc de Blancs, a Champagne is often a blend of Chardonnay with the red grape varieties Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Following the traditional sparkling winemaking and having a unique terroir of Mogilovo, Midalidare has made first press of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in 2020 and look forward to supplementing the highly awarded Midalidare Sparkling Wines rage with classical Champagne blends.
Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape
This Southern France top quality region relies its medium to full-bodied reds to the blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, but there is also the assemblage of other regional grapes. Its strong whites, instead, mix a big bunch of great grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Viognier.
Chianti and Super Tuscany
One of Italy’s classic blends is Chianti from Tuscany. Medium-bodied Chianti is mostly made of Sangiovese but can also have up to 15% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and other local varieties. Nobile di Montepulciano is a great example.
Super Tuscans, the full-bodied powerhouses, can mix between Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc… leading to different, but always interesting results.
Veneto
Staying in Italy, Soave is one of the famous classic white blends from the Veneto region made from the indigenous grape variety Garganega along with Trebbiano and Chardonnay. And, of course, great Amarone from Valpolicella, made by unique grape varieties Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella.
Rioja
Another popular wine that is widely enjoyed across the world comes from the Rioja region in Spain. The dominant component in this red blend is the Tempranillo grape, which has been cultivated in Spain for over 2,000 years. In world-famous Rioja, its wines can be up to 100% Tempranillo, but blends can include locals Mazuelo, Graciano, Viura and Maturana Tinta.
Priorat
Priorato in northern Spain is famous for producing full bodied reds with red fruits, pepper and mineral flavours. Here again this wine is a blend of several grapes, notably Garnacha, Shiraz and Carinena.
Cava
Sparkling Cava is made in the same way as Champagne the grapes used are different; Macabeo, Chardonnay, Xarel-lo, Parellada.
Douro & Port
Portuguese wines are a wonder to be explored. Notorious for having hundreds of different indigenous or imported grape varieties, always providing great surprises. World-class dry Douro and the exquisite, fortified Port are a perfect example. A single dry Douro can have even dozens of varieties! A classic dessert wine, Port consists of a blend of several grapes chosen among Portuguese indigenous varieties. The most popular of these include Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cao.
29.01.2021
Other articles on “Wine Guide” section:
Blend & Trend: Popular wine blends by Midalidare
Sparkling Wine Guide - Traditional sparkling winemaking
Midalidare’s grape varieties: Merlot in a nutshell
Sources: Markoneill.es, Learn.winecoolerdirect.com, Altiwineexchange.com, Winefolly.com
