On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 18:02:54 GMT, Leo Bueno
> wrote:

>
>Are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, etc., grape
>"varieties" or "varietals"?
>
>My ear says "varieties" but many folk in the wine world say
>"varietals".
>
>What's the correct usage?

You will probably get many different opinions on this but here's mine:

Pinot Noir, etc. are "varieties" of grape. But many people use the
terms interchangeably and I don't make a big deal of it. There are
more important things in this world to worry about.

OTH, "varietal" can be used as an adjective, as in "varietal
characteristics" or "varietal labeling", whereas "variety" cannot.

Vino
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