Red blends
Red blends at T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor in Brandon, Mississippi: what it is, how to choose it, and the brands on our shelf.
A red blend is not a lesser wine. Most of the famous reds in the world are blends: cabernet with merlot in Bordeaux, grenache with syrah and mourvèdre in the Rhône, tempranillo with garnacha in Rioja. Blending fills the gaps one grape leaves.
How to choose
Do you want fruit or structure? Many American red blends lean sweet-fruited, oaky and round, sometimes with a little residual sugar. They please a room and need no food. Bordeaux and Rhône-style blends are drier, more savoury and built for dinner.
Read the back label. If it lists percentages, you know what you are getting. If it names a region, the region implies the grapes. A wine can say cabernet sauvignon on the front and still be a blend, since only 75 percent of the named grape is required in the United States.
Buying for a party? Blends are the safest case buy. Nobody has to know grapes.
Food. Bordeaux style with steak and lamb, Rhône style with barbecue and sausage, softer American blends with burgers and ribs.
Brands on our shelf
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Common questions
- What is a red blend?
- A red blend is a wine made from more than one red grape variety. The blend may follow a regional tradition or a producer's own recipe, using each grape to adjust fruit, acidity, tannin, aroma and texture.
- How do I choose a red blend?
- Look for listed grapes, region, alcohol level and sweetness clues. A blend led by cabernet sauvignon will usually differ from one led by grenache or zinfandel, even when both labels simply say red blend.
- Are red blends always sweet?
- No. Red blends can be dry, off-dry or sweet. The term describes the use of multiple grape varieties, not sugar level, so use the label, region and producer information to identify the intended style.
- Does T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor carry red blends?
- Yes. T.J.'s Fine Wine and Liquor carries red blends at 237 Orleans Way, Suite B, Brandon, Mississippi. Browse the brand names on this page, then call (769) 348-0006 to confirm a specific bottle before you drive in.