The Art of Blending Wine: Why Two Grapes Can Be Better Than One

Discover how winemakers combine different cultivars to create wine Blends with balance, complexity and character.

When browsing the wine aisle, you've probably noticed that some bottles are labelled with a single grape variety, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay or Pinotage, while others feature two or more names.

But why do winemakers blend different grapes? And does blending mean the wine is somehow less special than one made from a single cultivar?

Quite the opposite!

Wine blending is one of the most fascinating parts of winemaking. It combines technical knowledge, creativity and a finely tuned palate to bring different characteristics together in a single bottle.

Let's explore the art behind wine blending, why it's done and how it contributes to some of the wines we enjoy today.

What Exactly Is a Wine Blend?

Put simply, a wine blend is made by combining wines from different grape varieties, vineyard blocks or batches to create a particular style or flavour profile.

While we often think of blending as mixing two different cultivars, the process can be much more detailed than that.

A winemaker might combine:

• Different grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

• Wines made from the same cultivar but grown in different vineyard blocks.

• Batches that have undergone different fermentation or maturation processes.

• Wines matured in different types of barrels or vessels.

Each component contributes something to the finished wine, whether that's aroma, flavour, colour, body, acidity or tannin structure.

The aim isn't simply to mix wines together. It's to create something harmonious, where the individual elements complement one another.

Why Do Winemakers Blend Wine?

Think about preparing a meal.

One ingredient might provide richness, another freshness and a third a little spice. Each ingredient has its own character, but when combined thoughtfully, they create something more balanced and interesting.

Wine blending works in a similar way.

Different grape varieties naturally have different characteristics. Some produce wines with firm tannins and bold flavours, while others are softer, fruitier or more aromatic.

By blending them, winemakers can bring these qualities together.

1. Creating Balance

Balance is one of the most important considerations in winemaking.

A wine might have beautiful fruit flavours but need a little more structure. Another might have plenty of body and tannin but benefit from a softer, rounder component.

Combining the two can create a more balanced drinking experience.

2. Adding Complexity

Different cultivars contribute different aromas and flavours.

One might bring dark berries, another red fruit, and another subtle herbal or spicy notes.

When carefully combined, these characteristics can create a wine with greater depth and complexity than its individual components.

3. Achieving a Particular Style

Winemakers often have a particular style in mind when creating a wine.

Blending allows them to work towards that vision, adjusting the proportions of different components until the wine has the desired character.

This can be especially important when producing wines intended to maintain a recognisable style from one vintage to the next.

4. Working with Nature

No two growing seasons are exactly alike.

Rainfall, temperature, sunshine and other environmental factors influence how grapes develop, meaning that the same cultivar can produce noticeably different wines from one vintage to another.

Blending gives winemakers another tool to work with the characteristics of each harvest, making the most of the grapes available in a particular year.

Meet the Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

One of the most familiar combinations in red wine blending is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

These two cultivars are often blended because their characteristics can complement each other beautifully.

Cabernet Sauvignon is generally known for its structure, firm tannins and dark-fruit flavours. Depending on where and how it's grown, it may also display herbal, spicy or cedar-like notes.

Merlot, on the other hand, is often associated with softer tannins, a rounder mouthfeel and approachable plum and berry flavours.

When blended, Cabernet Sauvignon can contribute structure and depth, while Merlot can bring softness and fruit-forward character.

The result can be a wine that offers both richness and approachability.

Of course, the final style depends on the quality of the individual components, their proportions and the winemaker's decisions.

A Closer Look at BC Ruby Cabernet Merlot

At BC Wines, one example of a blended wine in our range is BC's Ruby Cabernet Merlot.

This blend brings together two red grape cultivars with different characteristics.

Ruby Cabernet is itself a grape variety created by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Carignan. It is known for producing deeply coloured wines with fruit-driven characteristics.

Merlot contributes its own qualities, often associated with softer tannins and rounded fruit flavours.

Together, these cultivars offer an opportunity to create a red wine that balances colour, fruit character and drinkability.

It's a wonderful example of how blending can bring different grape varieties together to create a distinctive wine.

And with BC's Ruby Cabernet Merlot receiving Double Gold at the 2026 Vitis Vinifera Awards, it's certainly a blend worth celebrating!

How Do Winemakers Decide What to Blend?

Blending isn't simply a matter of pouring two finished wines into a tank and hoping for the best.

It's a process that involves careful tasting, evaluation and experimentation.

Step 1: Tasting the Individual Components

Before creating a blend, the winemaker evaluates the available wines.

Each batch is assessed for characteristics such as aroma, acidity, tannin, body, flavour and overall quality.

This helps identify what each component might contribute to a finished blend.

Step 2: Experimenting with Different Proportions

Once the winemaker has identified promising components, small trial blends can be prepared.

For example, a blend containing 70% of one cultivar and 30% of another may taste noticeably different from a 50/50 combination.

Even relatively small adjustments can influence the finished wine's balance and character.

Step 3: Finding the Right Balance

The trial blends are tasted and compared.

Does one component overpower the other? Is the wine too firm or too soft? Does it have the desired aroma, structure and finish?

The winemaker continues refining the proportions until the blend achieves the intended result.

Step 4: Preparing the Final Blend

Once the preferred combination has been selected, the wines can be blended on a larger scale.

Depending on the wine and the winemaking approach, the finished blend may undergo further maturation, stabilisation and preparation before bottling.

The entire process requires both technical precision and sensory judgement.

Are Blended Wines Better Than Single-Cultivar Wines?

Not necessarily, and that's part of what makes wine so interesting.

Single-cultivar wines allow a particular grape variety to take centre stage. They can highlight the distinctive characteristics of that cultivar and how it expresses itself in a particular region or vintage.

Blended wines offer a different opportunity: bringing complementary characteristics together to create a particular style.

Neither approach is inherently superior.

A beautifully made Cabernet Sauvignon can be just as impressive as a carefully crafted red blend. It simply depends on the grapes, the winemaking and what you enjoy drinking.

Ultimately, the best wine is the one that appeals to your palate.

Blending Isn't Just for Red Wine

Although red blends are particularly well known, blending plays an important role across many styles of wine.

White wines can also be blended to balance acidity, fruit character, aroma and texture.

Sparkling wines may combine different grape varieties, vineyard parcels or batches to achieve a desired style.

Even wines labelled with a single cultivar can sometimes include a small proportion of another variety, depending on the applicable wine labelling regulations.

The possibilities are remarkably varied, which is one of the reasons blending remains such an important part of winemaking.

The Art Behind Every Bottle

One of the things that makes wine so fascinating is that there are countless decisions involved in creating the finished product.

From choosing when to harvest the grapes to managing fermentation and maturation, every stage influences what eventually reaches your glass.

Blending adds another layer to that process.

It gives winemakers the opportunity to work with the individual strengths of different wines, bringing them together in a way that creates balance, complexity and character. And while the science behind blending is important, there's also an unmistakable creative element.

Knowing which components work well together, understanding how they might develop and recognising when a blend has reached the right balance all require experience and a well-trained palate.

It's a little bit of science, a little bit of creativity and a great deal of careful consideration.

Discover the Beauty of a Blend

The next time you reach for a bottle of blended wine, take a moment to consider what went into creating it.

Behind that label is a series of decisions about flavour, structure, balance and how different components can work together.

Whether you prefer the distinctive character of a single-cultivar wine or the complexity of a carefully crafted blend, there's always something new to discover.

And if you're curious to explore the world of blended wines, BC's Ruby Cabernet Merlot is a lovely place to start.

Explore the BC Wines range at www.bcwines.co.za and discover your next favourite bottle.