Picture the witch’s cauldron…bubbling up with smoke, fire and brimstone. She tastes the brew…and discovers it needs something, perhaps a pinch of eye of newt. Or perhaps even a dash of Merlot. What might lurk underneath the smoky cauldron’s lid? Quite possibly the most delicious wine blend of the century.
All over the world, winemakers blend their wines much like a witch’s brew, with patience and endless taste tests. They perfect their craft during years of effort, nitpicking over the tinniest of tannins and the smallest sugar variations. The reasoning behind this age-old ritual is to get the flavor of the wine just right, like when you add extra basil, garlic or salt to a homemade batch of marinara sauce. And, like a cook, the winemaker strives to please his/her taste while creating something you will enjoy as well.
Why blend? Sometimes winemakers just like to have fun and concoct an entirely new wine flavor profile. These blends turn out to be the most enjoyable because the winemaker’s personality shines through. Australia’s Penfolds and California’s Bonny Doon, Ridge and Marietta Cellars are a few wineries that have introduced us to their unique style of wines. Most of the time, the percentages are listed on the label, so you can learn which different varietals strike your fancy.
But generally, blends are downright crucial. Sometimes a Cabernet, Malbec or Zinfandel alone is just too tannic to release on unsuspecting palates. The harshness of the wine can assault your mouth and send you running for the hills. To woo you, the winemaker might add a dollop of smoother, fruitier Merlot to even out (or “balance”) a harsh or young Cabernet. And a little dab’ll do ya; even a 25 percent addition of another grape’s juice can change the wine experience. (In California, if a bottle is labeled Merlot, the juice within must be at least 75 percent Merlot.)
France has been blending wine for centuries in Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley. The majority of wineries in Bordeaux produce blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot or Malbec. California makes their own French-style blend of at least three of these grapes, and call it Meritage [mare i TIDGE]. White Meritage is a blend of the two white grapes grown in Bordeaux: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. (There is a third, Muscadelle, but it doesn’t show up often.) The Rhone Valley boasts one of the most famous blends in the wine world: Chateauneuf du Pape [sha TOE nuf doo POP], named after an area in the Southern part of France. Winemakers can use up to 13 different grapes for a Chateauneuf du Pape blend with Grenache or Syrah grapes as a base. Because of the variety of grapes used, the style of this blend can range from smooth and fruity to heavy and tannic.
So next time you’re in the market for a Cabernet, don’t be surprised if there’s a little Merlot thrown in there. And be sure to watch for the eye of newt.THE WINE LIST
CAROLINA WINE CLUB Morning classes run from 10-11:30am. Evening classes run from 6:30-8pm. All classes are held at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. Upcoming: March 26 Red Wines of the Cote de Beaune. March classes will be taught by guest lecturer Fred Corriher. Cost is $100 for any four sessions or $30 per individual session. For more info or reservations call 704-344-8027.
SPRING WINE & JAZZ EVENT will be held at the McNinch House, 511 N. Church St., on April 7, 6pm. Chef Ellen Davis will pair an international selection of wines with some of her best known recipes. Jazz guitarist John Sharp will provide the music. Cost is $65/person. For more info or reservations, call 704-332-6159.
TONIC 1427 E. 4th St. has free wine tastings every Wednesday. The evening begins at 8:30pm and runs till 2am. Entry and tastes are free. For more information, call 704-347-2582 after 8pm or visit www.withtonic.com.
THE WINE GALLERY 8020 Providence Road, offers wine tastings every Thursday, 6:30-8:30pm. Cost is $5 per person. Call 704-544-2455.
WINE TASTING at Founders Hall on March 21 from 5:30-7pm. Three wines from Palmer Vineyards will be sampled. For more information call 704-632-4784.
WINE TASTINGS AT REID’S 7TH ST. WINE SHOP Every Wednesday night at the Wine Bar from 5:30-7:30pm, very informal. Three wines will be tasted each week. Cost is $10 per person. Call 704-513-7014.
WINE TASTING AT THE VILLA Something Classic offers monthly wine tastings with food pairings at the Myers Park location, 715 Providence Rd. Empire Distributing hosts March 20, 5:30-8pm, with wines by Chateau S. Jean, Casa La Postelle & Kenwood. Wine tasting is free. Call 704-347-3666.
Wine tastings, classes, or other wine-related events will be listed at the discretion of the editors. Send information to Creative Loafing one of three ways: Fax to 704-944-3605; email to molly.mckinney@cln.com; or by regular mail at 6112 Old Pineville Rd. Charlotte, NC 28217. All events must be received at least two weeks in advance. *
This article appears in Mar 13-19, 2002.
