A
varietal wine is a
wine made primarily from a single named
grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the
wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay and
Merlot. Wines that display the name of two or more varieties on their label, such as a Chardonnay-
Viognier, are blends and not varietal wines. The term is frequently misused in place of
vine variety; the term variety refers to the vine or grape while varietal refers to the wine produced by a variety.
