Like mixing paint, but without the aftertaste...

When you browse your local wine shop, you might notice a few things. First, the same wines over and over; Cabernet Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay and White Zin. Second, lots of 'jug' wines, wines that call themselves 'Table Wines'. Third, if you're lucky, you'll find some wines in regionally labeled sections, called Burgundy, Chianti, or Rioja.

I want to talk about the last two.

Ever have a Burgundy Grape? Go to your local garden center and say you want to grow Chianti grapes. Yes, they'll laugh at you. These wines are blends, mixtures of local grapes that carry a regional name. That Burgundy could be a mix of Cabernet, Foch and Merlot. That Chianti; Sangiovese, maybe some Trebbiano for color. Those table wines? Same thing.

Vintners blend their wines to achieve a particular result. It's like mixing paint to get just the right color. Maybe the Shiraz just wasn't up to snuff this year, so they add some Cabernet for body. Maybe that Chardonnay is a little too powerful, and they add Pinot Gris to mellow it out.

Some of my favorite wines are blends. Banty Red, Coho Red, Tears of Gettysburg, the list goes on, more than you'd want to read here. Chances are that jet fuel your grandfather brought out around the holidays was a blend. A 'table wine' is just a blend of other wines, each bringing something to the mix that the others are lacking.

The good news is that you don't need to be a professional, and you CAN try this at home. The Zin we bottled 2 weeks ago; I mixed it half and half with a sweet white made from Thompson grapes. The result? Not half bad, more than half good. I've got a dry chardonnay in the cellar I can't wait to blend. Wonder how it would go with the Zin?

Yeah, I'm blending across color lines! You don't have to mix reds with reds and whites with whites. This isn't Communist Russia, you can do whatever you want! the best part is you can drink your mistakes, and your successes!

Go buy some cheap wines and have a blending party. Lay out a few shot glasses to measure, some large glasses in case you make a lot of one, and have a fun night with friends. Do your best to note how much of what wines you mixed, in the event you get a really good one. Just make sure you have designated drivers, or plenty of space for guests to sleep.

Now I'm thirsty....