1.   Barbera is an Italian varietal that for decades was a workhouse blending grape in California.

2.   Blending grapes is common practice all over the world, of course.

3.   Blending different grapes lowers production costs, by giving the company a choice among a much bigger group of grape suppliers.

4.   Could that be why the Bordeaux people have been blending these grapes for a couple of centuries?

5.   In most years, the Lake Vineyard grapes are blended into Gravelly Meadow.

6.   The grape is often blended with the red tempranillo to produce a softer red wine, but mostly it is distilled into brandy.

7.   The Lake Vineyard covers less than an acre, and its grapes are usually blended into his Gravelly Meadow bottling.

8.   They blend native grapes with international favorites like cabernet sauvignon and merlot.