Varietal
General · Intermediate · 3 min read
Varietal is a term with two related meanings. In one sense, it refers to a wine made primarily or entirely from a single named grape variety, such as a varietal Chardonnay or a varietal Pinot Noir. In the other sense, it is used as a synonym for grape variety, particularly in the New World. In the UK, both uses are common, with the first sense more frequent in trade writing.
Varietal as a wine style
A varietal wine is one whose character is shaped by a single named grape variety. In the EU and the UK, a wine labelled as a single varietal must contain at least 85 percent of that variety, with the remaining 15 percent allowed for blending without naming on the label. In the New World, particularly the US, the threshold is higher, typically 75 to 95 percent depending on the country and the variety.
English varietal wines include varietal Chardonnay, varietal Pinot Noir, varietal Bacchus, varietal Pinot Gris, varietal Seyval Blanc, varietal Ortega and varietal Regent. Most UK producers make at least one varietal wine, often the flagship. The varietal label tells the consumer what to expect in terms of style, although the terroir and the winemaking choices will also shape the final wine.
Varietal as a synonym for variety
In much of the world, the word varietal is used interchangeably with grape variety. A varietal is a distinct type of grapevine, propagated by cuttings, that produces a wine with a recognisable character. The most widely planted varietal in the world is Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot and Chardonnay. The most widely planted white varietal is Chardonnay.
In the UK, this usage is less common than in the New World, but it does appear, particularly in trade writing and in technical literature. The trade body WineGB uses "grape variety" in its consumer-facing material but "varietal" in some of its technical publications.
Varietal vs blend
The varietal-blend distinction is one of the most useful in wine. A varietal wine celebrates the character of a single grape, often expressing the terroir of a specific site. A blend, by contrast, is the winemaker's canvas, with different varieties contributing different elements to the whole. Traditional method sparkling wine is almost always a blend, even if it is dominated by a single variety. Top Bordeaux is a blend, by definition. Many of the great wines of the world are blends.
Varietals and PDO rules
The English Sparkling PDO requires that wines labelled with a single variety contain at least 85 percent of that variety. This is the same standard as the EU. The English Wine PDO and the regional PGIs have similar rules. A wine labelled "Sussex Bacchus" must contain at least 85 percent Bacchus from the Sussex PDO area.
The PDO rules are designed to protect both the regional name and the variety name. A consumer buying a "Kentish Chardonnay" should know that the wine is at least 85 percent Chardonnay and that the grapes come from Kent.