varietal

1 of 2

adjective

va·​ri·​e·​tal və-ˈrī-ə-tᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or characterizing a variety

varietal names

also : being a variety in distinction from an individual or species

varietal corn

2

: of a varietal wine (see varietal entry 2 sense 1)

varietal grapes

varietal blends

varietal

2 of 2

noun

plural varietals

1

or varietal wine : a wine (such as merlot) bearing the name of the principal grape variety from which it is produced

… the winery produces a range of varietals at varying price points.

—Alison Napjus

Zinfandel works as a stand-alone, 100-percent varietal wine and also lends itself to blending.

—James Laube

2

: a grape variety that is used to produce a varietal wine

The grape, which produces lush fruit flavors of boysenberry and blackberry, along with vibrant acidity, it is without question Argentina's lead varietal.

—James Molesworth

Examples of varietal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Its credited with introducing wine varietal-specific stemware in the 1950s, putting forth the idea that the shape of the glass impacts the wine's taste—and your ability to enjoy it fully. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025

Enjoy varietal vinifera wines or blended wines using vinifera and French-American grapes from the winery’s Habersham and Creek labels, or taste the Southern Muscadine grape in wine from its Southern Harvest label. —Crystal Tate, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025

Noun

From American mills, Ford sourced flours stone-ground from varietals similar to those most commonly found in Afghanistan and began experimenting, vetting each iteration of the bread with Zaman, Ghiasi, and their families. —Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

The winery sustainably grows Mediterranean varietals in its El Dorado and Amador vineyards. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

variety + -al entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing varietal

• varietal wine

Rhymes for varietal

• centripetal
• acetyl
• bimetal
• decretal
• beetle
• fetal
• foetal