Varietal Meaning
/vəˈɹaɪətəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPertaining to a distinct variety of organism.
adjMade from a single specific variety (especially of grapes in wine).
Sentence Examples
The varietal Merlot has rich red color and a robust fruity taste. Cabernet Sauvignon is a varietal that descended from Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
The winery offers a wide range of premium varietal wines.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The winemaker produced a single ____ wine from only one type of grape.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wine expert talked about the ____ characteristics of the grapes and how they affect the final flavor profile today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English variety Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English varietal From variety + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An assessment of a selection of regional, varietal, and slang dictionaries also found that little lexicographical effort has been extended to these terms."
— 2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 2:
"“This debut rosé marks the beginning of As Ever’s thoughtful expansion into wine, with a Méthode Champenoise Napa Valley sparkling wine planned for the near future and additional varietals to follow,” it said."
— 2025 July 1, Edward Helmore, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, launches ‘thoughtful’ collection of wines”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The winemaker produced a single ____ wine from only one type of grape.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The wine expert talked about the ____ characteristics of the grapes and how they affect the final flavor profile today.