vuh-RI-ih-tuhl] A term describing wines made chiefly from one variety of grape. Such wines portray the dominant characteristics of the primary grape used.

Wines which are made mainly from one variety of grape, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, etc.

A wine produced primarily from a single grape variety and labeled accordingly.

Any wine that is made with (usually, at least in the U.S.) 75% of any particular grape variety (don't be dorky and say "varietal" when you mean "variety," as in a type of grape). In most of the new world, including the U.S., wine is named for the grape variety that's in the bottle, i.e., cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot. In Europe, wine is usually named for the place it comes from, i.e., Burgundy, Bordeaux, Chablis, etc. Many people find this confusing. Not Winegeeks.

Wine produced primarily from a single grape variety and is so labeled.

A wine made of and named for predominantly one grape variety, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Varietal labeling is far more common for new world wines than those of old world, which are traditionally named for a place like Bordeaux. Varietal regulations vary from country to country. In America, the minimum required to name the wine for a variety is 75%.

Wine that is labeled with a predominant grape, in Oregon must consist of 90% of that grape.

Wines obtained from a single grape variety, also known as single varietal wines.