Wine Blends: In Praise of Mongrels

Are you a pedigree devotee? There’s an obvious, purist appeal to refining a breed’s characteristics in dogged pursuit of a perfect example. You see it in wine too: those producers who have dedicated generations of sweat and experience to creating the finest expression of a single grape from a single parcel of vines. Burgundy, the Mosel and Piedmont are prime examples of this approach, their disciples delighting in the ability of Pinot Noir, Riesling or Nebbiolo to transmit the character of a specific site. Unique and by necessity limited in volume, these are wines that attract high prices driven by their obsessive followers.