What is a blended wine? 

A blended wine is one that contains more than one grape variety, has been specified by the winery as a blend, and has a name on the wine label unique to the specific blend.  From a shopper's point of view, the quickest way to identify a blended wine on the shelf is to look at its name.  If it is NOT a varietal grape name, you are likely looking at a blended wine.  When new wine drinkers come across the concept of blended and varietal wines, two questions that spring to mind are, “what does it mean?” and “does it matter?”

At the basic level, the difference is quite simple. Varietal wines are made from a single grape variety while blended wines are made using two or more.

The most obvious example is the difference between the two great red wine styles of France. Burgundy red wine is composed of the single variety Pinot noir. Bordeaux red wines are most often blends of up to five varieties, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit verdot. There are a few Bordeaux wines made from a single variety, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.

So much for theory. The distinction between varietal and blended wines is less clear in practice. Many varietal wines are made from blends of wine grown in several regions. Australia’s iconic Grange is such an example. Each year hundreds of samples from many vineyards are tasted and evaluated before the final blend is decided upon. The result is a blend of regions, rather than varieties.

Many more modest Australian wines with lesser claims to fame are also regional blends. The process of selecting the blend is similar but much more simplified. The clue on the label is often the words “wine of South Eastern Australia”. This is almost as general a statement that you can get about the origins of an Australian wine.

Some wines made from a single variety are blends of several different vintages, but this is quite rare for table wines.
While on the topic of labels, you should be aware that many wines bearing a single varietal name can legally contain up to fifteen percent of other varieties. If the wine is labelled as a blend, then the variety with the largest percentage composition should be named first, for example wine labelled Cabernet Merlot, should contain a greater percentage of Cabernet than of Merlot.

Our second question is “does it matter?” Well, if you find a wine that you enjoy and it is a blend, then you should continue to drink it. Blended wines are not "second class" wines. The finest champagnes are made from several varieties of grapes!

A skilled winemaker can bring together the elements of multiple varietal wines to make a blended wine that is greater than its individual parts alone. And some of the world's most famous wines are blends of different grapes.  While it can be hard to discern the different grapes in a well-made blended wine, each brings something to the mix.
Benefits of Blending In a classic Bordeaux red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon contributes body and tannin, Merlot roundness and Cabernet Franc color and aroma.  But certain varieties, such as Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer, are rarely blended with others.

Blends Many wines are actually blends, even though their labels may carry a single grape name. That's permitted if the grape makes up at least 75 percent of the blend for America, 85 percent for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile and any country in the E.U. that mentions a grape variety on the label must also contain at least 85%.
 
Top bottles

2007 Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet - Pernod Ricard Malaysia This is an original Australian blended wine as you would probably never ever see this blend in Europe and many other countries.Made by a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet, this is Jacob’s Creek’s flagship core label. Though rich and juicy, it's still marked by a lively and refreshing acidity.

2006 Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc -(Caldbeck MacGregor ) This Rhone Valley white is a gorgeous blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne and Rousanne with a touch of Viognier. The Grenache Blanc adds roundness, the Marsanne a musky melon note and the Viognier a bit of white floral character.
2006 Fox Creek Duet Cabernet Merlot –(Mui Hua) From doctors to I.T. consultants, this boutique winery has created a cult following for some of its reds. This is a deep-colored, dry Cabernet and Merlot blend  that's fleshy and ripe, it's a highly versatile food wine.

2002 Sideral, Altair vineyard -(Milawa)  A Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc  blend from one of Chile's best-known producers, Vina San Pedro’s joint venture with Chateau Dassault of Bordeaux fame.  This elegant red is a perfect example of the marriage of savoir faire from Bordeaux and Chilean terrior.

2005 Perpetual Salmos, Torres -(Bacardi Martini) From the giants of Spain comes this new high end winery and wine. Located in the heart of Priorat, this ultra modern winery which aims to combine this wonderful terrior with the best in technology. It was created in homage to the old “Vinos de guarda” or “wines of the guard” , wines capable of defeating time. Blended from Garnacha and Carinena, a wine that aims to defeat time might sound harsh but the result is an astonishingly harmonious and balanced wine.

2004 Château Montrose Bordeaux from 2004 have a reputation for being delicious in their youth, and this grand cru from St-Julien—marked by mouthwatering flavours of spicy black plums—is no exception.

2000 Bodega Etchart Arnaldo B -( Pernod Ricard ) This two grape Argentinian blend comes from one of cafayate’s most traditional producers. It's a well aged, fruit-forward red but with all the zest and piquancy of a young wine.

2006 d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie- (Mui Hua) Shiraz blended with Viognier, red and white (yes, that's legal), this is one of the most polished Australian Shirazes from an outstanding winery.

2005 Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone Rouge- (Caldbeck MacGregor)  This classic Rhone Valley blend of Grenache, Mouverde and Syrah is made by the winery that brought you the world famous Chateau de Beaucastel.  Though burly and fairly high in alcohol, it's incredibly silky and luscious.

2007 Hardys Stamp Semillon Sauvignon Blanc –(Cave & Cellar) This Australian staple of a white blend actually has its roots in Bordeaux. The classic blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux generally produces classic dry, minerally flavours. But this lovely fresh, crisp wine is full of lemons, limes and pineapple with a herbaceous character that is both light and refereshing.