varietal

1 of 2

adjective

va·​ri·​e·​tal və-ˈrī-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce varietal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characterizing a variety
varietal names
also : being a variety in distinction from an individual or species
varietal corn
2
: of a varietal wine (see varietal entry 2 sense 1)
varietal grapes
varietal blends

varietal

2 of 2

noun

plural varietals
1
or varietal wine : a wine (such as merlot) bearing the name of the principal grape variety from which it is produced
Brothers Ross and Bill Spence established Matua in 1973 and were the first to bottle Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. Today, the winery produces a range of varietals at varying price points.Alison Napjus
Zinfandel works as a stand-alone, 100-percent varietal wine and also lends itself to blending.James Laube
2
: a grape variety that is used to produce a varietal wine
The grape, which produces lush fruit flavors of boysenberry and blackberry, along with vibrant acidity, it is without question Argentina's lead varietal.James Molesworth

Examples of varietal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Made entirely from Barbera, Nizza has a relatively brief history, but one that has brought forth a highly distinctive red wine that offers both excellent varietal purity, significant complexity and perhaps most importantly, notable aging potential. Tom Hyland, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 Their vine nursery was crucial to many growers’ efforts to gain access to high-quality Rhone varietal vines, which helped launch the Rhone movement in the US. Colleen C. Myles, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
Vines in Hvar date back to 384 B.C., and local varietals include the peppery red plavac mali, golden prč, and herbaceous bogdanuša. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025 For example, the source and varietals of barley invariably change as decades pass. Chris Perugini, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for varietal 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

variety + -al entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of varietal was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near varietal

Cite this Entry

“Varietal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/varietal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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