A blend is a mixture of wines from the same geographical origin, selected for their complementary qualities. The idea is to bring together vintages vinified separately by grape variety, parcel, terroir or vintage, in an attempt to obtain the best possible wine. The winemaker blends these different elements to find the best complementarity: the freshness of one grape variety will lighten the power of another, the lightness of one cuvée will attenuate the concentration of another.

Depending on the legislation governing each appellation, varietal blends may or may not be permitted, and vintage blends may or may not be authorized, but all allow the blending of terroirs or parcels.

Varietal blending

The blending of grape varieties is an ancient technique that can be traced back to the traditional practice of planting several grape varieties in the same plot (complantation). As the different grape varieties each have their own characteristics, including maturity, they help to achieve balance and contribute to the complexity of the wine. Today, varietal blends no longer depend on this planting technique; they are planted on different plots. I

hey can take place from the beginning (during alcoholic fermentation) to the end of the winemaking process (during ageing), depending on the type ofaromatic exchange the winemaker is looking for and his ability to 'imagine' the future cuvée. Bordeaux, Languedoc and Roussillon are some of the regions that impose blending.

Blending terroirs/plots

Some regions, such as Burgundy or the Loire, which produce wines from a single grape variety, nevertheless practice blending in a variety of ways. The winemaker can, for example, play with different varieties of the same grape variety.
In fact, each grape variety has several different clones. For example, there are 45 approved clones of Pinot Noir, and nearly 800 different clones in several conservatory vineyard collections. He can also use different terroirs or plots depending on soil type, orientation, age of vines, etc. He can also use different types of ageing, such as barrel (with different ages), concrete or stainless steel.

The aim of these blends remains the same: to obtain wines that are richer, more balanced and more complex than if they were bottled separately.

Vintage blending

Vintage blending is forbidden in France, except for sparkling wines such as champagne, and is known as vin de réserve.
Thanks to this blending technique, champagne brands can maintain constant quality and taste characteristics over time. For this reason, champagne labels do not indicate the vintage year, as it is made from grapes from different vintages. Vintage champagne is the only type of champagne that indicates the vintage year, as it corresponds to a wine made from the grapes of a single, usually exceptional, year.