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?

Leo,
I agree with what's already been said here. To me, "varietal"
stands in opposition to "geographical" as a labeling strategy for wine.
I think that many people use "varietal" indiscriminantly to describe
grape varieties, but that's just sloppy usage to me.

Mark Lipton