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

Brothers Ross and Bill Spence established Matua in 1973 and were the first to bottle Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. Today, 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

The decision of when to harvest is crucial for ensuring varietal and terroir expression while avoiding over-ripeness. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Espresso blends dominate their production, making up 60% of the total roasting volume, with the rest focused on varietal coffees. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 8 May 2025

Noun

True to boxed wine form, Juliet’s varietals—Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Orange, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon—come in the form of 1.5-liter magnums, which contain the same amount as two bottles of wine or roughly ten glasses. —Betty Gold Kider, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 May 2025

The Llano Estacado is actually capable of supporting a wide diversity of grape varietals: over 75 kinds of wine grapes are grown here, including tempranillo, sangiovese, mourvèdre, cabernet sauvignon, viognier, and pinot noir. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 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