Blending Classes

In winemaking, blending simply means you are combining two or more wines to create a new one. If done well, the sum is greater than its parts. Think of blending as if you were conducting an orchestra, where each instrument and each musician creates a symphony. Or, think of yourself as a painter, using color, textures, and layers to create a masterpiece. After all, wine is often thought of as art in a glass.  

There are several reasons why winemakers blend wines. Blending can:  

  • enhance aroma 

  • improve the color 

  • add or minimize flavors 

  • change acidity 

  • change alcohol levels 

  • adjust the sweetness 

  • change tannin levels 

  • give a specific taste profile 

Winemaker Devyani Gupta says when she blends wine, she hopes to achieve the inverted funnel: This means building a wine that is delicate in the mouth at first but then opens up, just like a funnel, and stays in the mouth long after drinking it. Her first priority is balance, because she believes that once a wine reaches balance, it will be a great food wine and it will become better with age, gaining the complexity and nuances that make older wines so enjoyable. 

You will be blending a GSM – or Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. These three important grapes grow in the Côtes du Rhône region of France. Today, this blend is produced throughout the world and is loved for its complex, red fruit flavors and aging potential. 

Taste each of these three wines separately. Make a few notes regarding the taste profile (fruit, non-fruits), the structure, and anything that really stands out to you. Make notes on things you like or dislike. It’s possible that one aspect of a wine that you dislike can be mitigated by blending it with another. Likewise, sometimes an aspect that you really like can be hidden by blending another wine.  

Once you’ve had a chance to taste through the wines, it’ll be time to create your blend.  

  • You will use pipettes and 100mL graduated cylinders to create your blend. Since you’ll be filling the 100mL cylinder when making the blend, the volume in mL of each wine you add will equate to the percentage of the final blend.  

  • Begin by blending small quantities of wine until you create something you like.  

  • You have a cup to spit into and a bucket to empty your cups into.  

  • Keep good notes on your blending attempts so you can duplicate the blend in the future.  

  • Unless your intent is to drink all of your trial blends yourself, you may want to get input from others at your table. 

  • Once you’ve found a final blend that you love, write down the percentages on the detachable sheet of the booklet and return it to us, so we can create your bottle.   

Don’t hesitate to ask questions! You have about 30 minutes to create a blend you like and then draw a label for your bottle. Your label can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. If you’ve created the ultimate blend or you want to share it with friends at dinner, you have the option to purchase additional bottles to take with you, as well. Make sure to create enough labels for all of the bottles!  

After everyone has finished a blend, we invite you to discuss it with the group. Tell us why you chose the blend you did and what features really stand out to you.   

Don’t forgot to leave your final blend information on the table before you leave. We will need about 30 minutes to assemble all of the blends. If you’ve planned on joining us for a tasting and tapas, we will have your table ready for you.