Blending

Blending is the art of combining different wines to produce a new wine. Most finished wines are a combination of grape varietals. Different grapes possess different sensory and physical properties. Usually the combination of two or more grapes enhances characteristics of both grapes while diminishing unfavorable characteristics or traits they lack. Several varietals are commonly blended together as wine styles. The following are some of the reasons to blend wines:

• To create a uniform style and flavor such as solera Sherry wines.
• To correct deficiencies in a wine such as excessive alcohol or harsh tannins.
• Adding complexity to a wine.
• To meet a given specification such as target alcohol or acidity.
• To meet economic goals involved with wine stocks.

Blending can occur at any step in the production process, but is commonly performed near the end of ageing prior to bottling the wine. Small bench trial blends in ratios that equal the larger volumes are assembled and evaluated. Once a decided upon blend is chosen, the two wine volumes are mixed together and allowed to marry for a period of time before any further processing occurs.