Varietal Wines: Single Varietal Red, White and Sparkling Wine Made from One Grape

What Does Varietal Mean on a Wine Label?

The short answer is 85 per cent. In Australia, a wine labelled with a single grape variety must contain at least 85 per cent of that grape, and the same minimum applies to the vintage and the region named on the label.

If the label names two or more grapes, they must appear in order of proportion and together make up at least 85 per cent. That is why a Cabernet Merlot always holds more Cabernet than Merlot.

Variety and varietal are often used as if they meant the same thing, but strictly the variety is the grape and the varietal is the wine made from it.

Red Wine Varietals

Shiraz is Australia's signature red, rich and spicy from the Barossa and McLaren Vale and more peppery from cooler regions. Pinot Noir is lighter and silky, with red cherry and earthy notes, while Cabernet Sauvignon brings blackcurrant, cedar and firm structure.

Grenache gives juicy, perfumed reds, often from old vines. Merlot is soft and plummy. Tempranillo and Sangiovese add a savoury European accent, and you can compare every style side by side among our red wine varietals.

White Wine Varietals

Chardonnay is the biggest white grape in our range, from crisp and mineral to rich and toasty. Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and aromatic, above all from Marlborough and the Adelaide Hills.

Riesling is crisp and citrussy, with the Clare and Eden Valleys as its Australian home. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape, textured and pear scented as Gris, lighter and crisper as Grigio. Find the full selection among our white wine varietals.

Varietal Sparkling and Rosé

Single varietal sparkling wine includes Blanc de Blancs, usually made only from Chardonnay, and Prosecco made from Glera. Varietal rosé is often made from Grenache, Pinot Noir or Sangiovese.

Varietal Wine: Your Questions, Answered

What is the difference between a varietal wine and a blend?

A varietal wine is named after one grape that makes up at least 85 per cent of it, while a blend combines several grapes, as in a GSM or a Bordeaux style red. Neither is better; our blends and cuvées simply show the other side of winemaking.

Is a single varietal wine 100 per cent one grape?

Not always. The named grape must make up at least 85 per cent, so up to 15 per cent can come from other varieties. Some producers use only one grape and say so on the back label.

What are the most popular wine varietals in Australia?

Shiraz is the most planted red grape and Chardonnay the most planted white. Our guide on why Shiraz is so popular in Australia tells the story of the country's favourite red.

Why Buy Varietal Wine at YourWines?

From an everyday Shiraz to a cellar worthy Riesling, you can buy varietal wine online at a fair price and compare the same grape across regions, producers and vintages.

Every wine is chosen by our team, available by the dozen or as a six-pack, and shipping is free Australia wide with a surcharge for WA, TAS and remote areas.