What is a Rhone Blend and a Bordeaux Blend? What makes them the type of blends that they are?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
These are blends of grapes that are associated with the two regions, Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley, and these terms are now used widely around the world.
A red Bordeaux blend consists of some combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The blend depends upon the district and property. On the Left Bank (Medoc, Graves), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot comprise the largest portion of most red wines, while on the Right Bank (Pomerol, St Emilion, etc.) Merlot is usually the primary component along with, mainly, Cabernet Franc. A white Bordeaux blend consists of variable proportions of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and, sometimes, Muscadelle.
A red Rhone blend is made up of varying proportions of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and numerous other grapes. Since the Northern Rhone reds such as Hermitate and Cote Rotie are based solely on Syrah (enhanced on occasion by white grapes), a Rhone blend usually refers to the many varieties grown in the Southern Rhone that go into Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and other appellations.
There is a white Rhone blend which, depending on the wine, could be based on Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc and other grapes.
