Why might a winemaker choose to blend wines?

A winemaker often chooses to blend wines primarily to achieve specific goals related to consistency and complexity. By blending different grape varieties, regions, or vintages, a winemaker can create a more balanced and harmonious final product. This allows the wine to exhibit desirable characteristics from multiple sources, enhancing its flavor profile, aroma, and overall complexity. For instance, one wine might provide structure and body, while another contributes fruity notes and acidity, resulting in a wine with greater depth and complexity.

Consistency is also a key factor; blending can help standardize the final product year after year, ensuring that the wine meets the expected style and quality, even in years when grape quality may vary due to weather conditions or other factors. As a result, blending is a crucial technique in winemaking that allows for the creation of wines that are both enjoyable to drink and reflective of the winemaker’s vision.