Varietal wine
/vəˈraɪətəl waɪn/
labeling, grapes, regulation, new-world, old-world, marketing, sensory, education, appellation•Last updated December 27, 2025
A varietal wine is a wine made primarily from a single named grape variety and labeled with that grape’s name, typically meeting a legally defined minimum percentage of that grape (about 75–85% or more, depending on the country or appellation). The term refers both to the wine’s composition (dominance of one grape) and to the labeling practice that highlights the grape variety rather than the region or a proprietary name.
Examples
- A California wine labeled "Cabernet Sauvignon" that contains 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot is a varietal wine under U.S. law, because it exceeds the 75% minimum for the named grape.
- An Australian bottle labeled "Shiraz" with 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is sold as a Shiraz varietal wine under the country’s common 85% varietal rule.
- A German Mosel wine labeled "Riesling" that is made entirely from Riesling grapes is a classic example of a varietal wine, since both its composition and its label focus on the grape variety.