One of the first things you learn when you start studying wine is that some of the most famous wines in the world are named after regions not the grapes they are made from. You will also learn that these wines are often blends rather than made from a single varietal. For example wines like Chianti Bordeaux and Rioja are named after the region they come from and can be made from a mix of different grape varieties.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
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 Saratoga Wine | 2022-08-17 15:32:44 |  3,926 Views |
4 Great Wines Under $30 | Episode 1
You’ll also learn why winemakers choose to make blended wines in the first place. Historically wines were blended to increase yields or provide insurance against issues that could harm production such as drought frost disease and other weather-related threats to grape yield. Each grape variety has its own unique set of characteristics from how it grows and ripens to how it tolerates certain elements to flavor and texture components like acid and tannin levels color and aromas. Today winemakers often approach blending with an artist’s attention where the whole wine is much greater—and more delicious—than the sum of its parts.
Red blends in particular have become a popular choice among wine lovers. These wines tend to be easy-drinking and balanced with each grape contributing important elements to the final wine such as color acidity tannin aroma and alcohol. In this roundup we explore some of our favorites. The best part? They’re all $30 and under.
Tenuta Luce began as a joint venture in Montalcino Italy between California wine icon Robert Mondavi and Italian wine icon Vittorio Frescobaldi and would go on to become a symbol of modern Tuscan winemaking. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Sangiovese Lucente represents what has become known as a “Super Tuscan” style of wine — typically (though not necessarily) a Sangiovese-based blend made in a more modern international style than the traditional Sangiovese-based wines of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Lucente is the estate’s entry-level selection and the more value-driven sibling to the winery’s acclaimed flagship Luce.
