In the world out there blended wines are becoming more fashionable than ever and in countries like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom these wines have become the top sellers. What is a blended wine? To answer this question one must understand and accept that wine is ulimatley there for enjoyment, whether it be as a companior , the fare at the table, or by itself. Therefore wine must be made, regardsess ot he colour, or of the style in such manner that every sip will be appreciated. In my opinion selecting a good bleded wine as a guarantee for enjoyment.
In South Africa blended wines are found everywhere, catering for all pocket and taste preferences. Make sure, though, that you make the right choice. Closer to home Orange Rive Wine Cellars have added to the previously available blended wines by launching a Chenin Blanc/ Chardonnay, Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon and a Rosé from Colombard en Pinotage, all under the River's Tale Label. These wines are my recommendations for a festive season.
The Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay is an elegant, light bodied wine, with grapefruit and creamy aromatics and a crisp and fruit-expressive taste. Serve below 12ºC and enjoy with poultry, fish and light pasta dishes.
The Rosé is a downright favourite. It is off-dry, deliciously fruity with strawberry aromas and taste flavous that dance like a feather on the tongue. Enjoy this wine at every outdoor occasion, with all light hearted cuisine and by itself. Serve ice cold.
The Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon is richly endowed with spicy aromas, has a core of red berry fruit that runs through the wine, from nose to palate, the tannins are soft and the wine finishes with a long aftertaste. Serve between 12-14ºC and make sure the wine is availabe every time when roasts are served.
Back to the question about blended wines. In reality all wines are blended. However, blending (also called cutting) is simply not similar to mixing wines. Essentially the process refers to adding a wine or wines in varying, carefully pre-determined quantities, to other wines to enhance them in so far as colour, aroma and taste are concerned. Successfull blending should result in creating a wine vastly superior to the sum of all the original part and components.
Wine reaches the apex of its potential when its benefits from a free hand in the blending of mutiple wine-grapes varietals. Since vintages change from year to year, blended wines allow for varying percentages of each varietal to compensate for impacts on vineyard sources. The blending proccess also provides for the creation of wines of a generally consistent style if so required.
Finally blending is and can be done between various vineyards'; between tanks of the same or different wines; or tanks of the same or different wines but from seperate cellars; tank and/or casks from wines of different vintages; and so forth, with almost endless permutations and possibilities.