In Champagne, probably the most famous of all wine blends, an assemblage of the white variety Chardonnay with the white flesh/juice from red-skinned grapes Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier, is used to make these delicious sparkling wines. The most well known, white-only grape blend uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon in both the dry and sweet wines from Bordeaux. In the neighbouring Monbazillac region, you'll find a blend of Semillon and Muscadelle for their sweet, dessert style. Also in France, in both the southern Rhone valley (including white Chateauneuf-du-Pape) and the Mediterranean, Languedoc-Roussillon appellations, the blended varieties change to various combinations of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Marsanne and Viognier. In Italy, particularly in Sicily, native white grapes are often blended with international varieties and can include Catarratto, Carricante, Garganega, Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Chardonnay. Moving outside of Europe, "New World" wines tend to be labelled as a single varietal, but the "85% rule" allows up to 15% of the wine to be made from other varieties which don't have to be included on the label, with just the main grape being named, so you might actually be drinking a blend without even realising it... and the wine's flavour will undoubtedly benefit from it!
