Red wine cuvée from Istria - Dalmatia - Croatia

What is a red wine cuvée?

A cuvée is a wine that usually consists of several grape varieties and harmoniously combines their characteristics. The aim is to combine the best characteristics of the different grape varieties - such as alcohol content, aromas, acidity, structure and color - to create a balanced and complex wine. In German, this is often referred to as "blending", but a cuvée is a conscious, artistic composition, not a simple blend.

According to wine law, a cuvée does not necessarily have to consist of several grape varieties, but in practice this is almost always the case. Sometimes it is also a matter of making the taste of a wine consistent from year to year. Well-known examples of high-quality cuvées can be found in regions such as Bordeaux, the southern Rhône or Portugal.

In other countries, the term is used differently: in English-speaking regions, people often talk about a “blend”, in California the term “Meritage” is used, and in Spain, when wines from different vintages are combined, they talk about “CVC” (Conjunto de Varias Cosechas).

Cuvées usually consist of grape varieties of the same color, i.e. either as a red wine or white wine cuvée.