I know that this term has been discussed here before, but I am still confused on what it means and how to use it properly.
The other day, I was reading my "Page-a-Day" wine calender and there is a definition for variety and varietal. This is what it says:
Variety, Varietal:
These two words are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things. Variety refers to a type of grape. The variety planted in a certain vineyard, for example, may be zinfandel. A varietal is a type of wine. Different varietals (zinfandel, syrah, merlot, and so on) appear on market shelves.
Next I looked up the definition of varietal in dictionary.com...here is the what it says:
va·ri·e·tal
–adjective 1. of, pertaining to, designating, or characteristic of a variety.
2. constituting a variety.
3. (in U.S. winemaking) designating a wine made entirely or chiefly from one variety of grape.
–noun 4. a varietal wine named for such a grape (distinguished from generic).
Then, last night, I was watching a show called "In Wine Country". At one point the host makes the following statement
. Was the word varietal used properly here?...and started making wine from European varietal grapes.
I am really confused now, and honestly don't know when I should use the word varietal. If I used it to describe a wine...I guess that wine would be made only from one grape? If this is the case do I say, "I like this varietal" (speaking about a bottle of wine) or do I say, "I like this varietal wine" (is that redundant?). Can someone give me a sentence where the word varietal is used properly? TIA everyone!