Red Wine Cuvées – an Elegant Red Wine “Mix”
of a red wine cuvée
Red wine cuvées are widespread in our southern wine-producing neighbours France, Italy and Spain, whereas in Germany red wines are often produced as single-varietal wines.
What is a red wine cuvée?
A cuvée (or blend) is a wine composed of several grape varieties or of separately vinified wine lots. The goal is not arbitrariness, but a clearly defined style: harmonious, structured and true to the character of the vintage.
Red wine cuvées can be composed of two, three or more grape varieties. Under German wine law, only red wines may be blended in a red wine cuvée; the addition of white wine is not permitted.
Important: a cuvée is not a matter of chance. Each individual wine is first vinified and matured separately. Only afterwards does tasting determine which components are combined to achieve the best result. A red wine cuvée is the result of deliberate composition, bringing fruit, tannins and acidity into a coherent and balanced whole. Especially with dry red wines, a cuvée often provides greater depth, balance and recognisability.
Red Wine Cuvées: Sensible or Nonsense?
Once again, a topic in winemaking that experts enjoy debating at length.
While wine purists may condemn the very idea of “mixing” grape varieties as almost sacrilegious, lovers of finely tuned, harmonious red wines often find exactly these qualities in red wine cuvées. When composed well, their components complement and support each other in the best possible way.
A fruity red wine, for example, may gain a finishing touch from a small proportion of a more tannin-driven variety, or the fruit profiles of two grape varieties may merge into a harmonious fullness that neither wine could achieve on its own.
Red Wine Cuvées – A Matter for the Winemaker at Weingut Fuchs
Hans-Jakob Fuchs, head of our winery, is a true “enthusiast” when it comes to dry red wines and enjoys the challenge of composing cuvées according to his own taste and vision.
How is a red wine cuvée created?
Everything begins with an idea – a sensory vision of how the finished wine should taste. Should it be light or full-bodied, delicate or intensely fruity? How much tannin should it have?
This idea often develops while tasting young wines during fermentation and ageing on the lees. At this stage, Hans-Jakob Fuchs already forms a mental picture of which wines might complement each other and how.
Craftsmanship: Creating a Red Wine Cuvée
Composing a cuvée requires numerous trial blends on a laboratory scale, using samples from different red grape varieties. The process is somewhat reminiscent of seasoning food while cooking, where even the smallest change can have a significant – sometimes excessive – effect.
Through successive blending trials and tastings, the cuvée gradually approaches its final character. Each step is carefully documented, recording which wines are used and in what proportions.
Only when the cuvée tastes “round” and fully matches Hans-Jakob Fuchs’ vision is it bottled.
Good Reasons for Red Wine Cuvées
- Balance: One variety contributes fruit, another adds tannin or spice – together the wine becomes more harmonious.
- Structure: Tannins and acidity can be used deliberately to give the wine backbone.
- Complexity: Several grape varieties can broaden the aromatic spectrum.
- Consistent style: Cuvées allow for a recognisable house style without losing the individuality of the vintage.
The Roles of Grape Varieties in a Red Wine Cuvée
In a successful cuvée, each component has a specific role. Which grape variety fulfils which function depends on origin, yield, ripeness and winemaking style. Typical roles include the following:
Tannins as Structural Backbone
These cuvée components provide noticeable tannins, density and often ageing potential. They prevent the wine from appearing “broad” and instead create tension. The wines become more precise in flavour, linger longer on the palate and gain greater ageing potential.
As tannin-driven cuvée partners we use
- Cabernet Dorsa,
- Cabernet Mitos and
- an unnamed new crossing from Weinsberg (Cabernet Sauvignon × Lemberger).
Fruit and Aromatics
These red grape varieties contribute fruity notes – often berries, cherries or plums – and lend the cuvée a pleasant, harmonious aromatic profile.
- Dornfelder
- Merlot
- Portugieser
- Schwarzriesling
- Pinot Noir
Discover Our Red Wine Cuvées
Some of our red wines are created as carefully composed cuvées. A current overview can be found in the category dry red wines.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Red Wine Cuvées
What is a red wine cuvée?
A red wine cuvée is a red wine composed of several grape varieties. The goal is a harmonious, well-balanced style in which fruit, tannins, and acidity complement each other.
Is a red wine cuvée inferior in quality?
No – quite the opposite. In classic wine-producing countries such as France, many of the most renowned red wines are traditionally made as cuvées. What matters is not the number of grape varieties, but the quality of the grapes and the craftsmanship behind the composition.
Is a red wine cuvée a good wine?
A red wine cuvée can be an excellent wine when it is carefully composed. Well-balanced cuvées often offer greater depth, balance, and complexity than a single-varietal wine.