varietaladj.n.
/vəˈrʌɪᵻtl/, U.S. /vəˈraɪəd(ə)l/ A. adj.
1. Biology, Botany, and Mineralogy. Of or pertaining to, connected with, indicating, etc., a distinct variety of animal, plant, or mineral. Opposed to specific or generic.
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the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [adjective] > variety
varietal1866
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > [adjective] > variety
varietal1933
1866 C. Darwin Origin of Species (ed. 4) ii. 59 He is at first much perplexed in determining what differences to consider as specific, and what as varietal.
1873 J. W. Dawson Story Earth & Man xiv. 319 The careful study of varietal forms.
1881 Lees in Jrnl. Bot., Brit. & Foreign 19 25 Quite sufficiently distinct to merit a varietal if not a specific name.
1902 Jrnl. Royal Instit. Cornwall 15 123 No one can deny that it merits varietal rank.
1933 Amer. Mineralogist 18 30 A massive pink mineral with obscure cleavage..appeared under the microscope to have a micaceous texture and had about the optical characters of muscovite... The varietal name oellacherite is given by Dana to this barium-muscovite.
1966 Amer. Min. LI. 1120 The name caswellite has since been applied more specifically..to the garnet pseudomorphs themselves... The name caswellite lacks species or varietal significance and should be abandoned.
2. Of wine: made predominantly from a single variety of grape; also, of or pertaining to the vine or grape of a particular variety. Originally U.S.
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the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > qualities or characteristics of wine > [adjective] > made from one grape variety
varietal1941
1941 F. Schoonmaker & T. Marvel Amer. Wines xi. 260 The expense of..certification could be borne by a small per-gallon tax levied upon varietal wine.
1941 F. Schoonmaker & T. Marvel Amer. Wines xi. 260 Until it [sc. identification of the grape varieties grown in America] has been accomplished, a system of honest varietal labeling is virtually unattainable.
1955 J. Storm Invitation to Wines 72 The success of varietal wines in California has influenced some Eastern vintners.
1968 Amer. Speech 1967 42 80 Varietal types of wines.
1973 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Aug. 7/2 (advt.) An aromatic wine..with varietal flavour.
1979 A. Hailey Overload (new ed.) iii. v. 214 Among other things, Nim Goldman was a wine buff. He had a keen nose and palate and especially liked varietal wines from the Napa Valley.
1981 Times 2 Mar. 12/6 Limousin oak casks..contributed another complex dimension to its distinct varietal personality.
B. n.
A wine made from a single variety of grape. Originally U.S.
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the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > wine from single variety of grape
varietal1955
1955 J. Storm Invitation to Wines 72 The wines labeled according to the name of the chief informing grape are called varietals.
1977 H. Fast Immigrants iv. 254 There is no need for you to try to produce a varietal, which simply means a wine produced out of a single variety of grape.
1977 Times 15 Nov. (Italian Wine Suppl.) p. iii/3 Lambrusco, the famous wine of Modena..is a varietal, the Lambrusco being the grape from which it is vinified.
1979 Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 28 Apr. (Weekender Mag.) 7/2 A 1977 Emerald Riesling..displayed a high acidity that may be typical of the varietal.
Derivatives
vaˈrietally adv. in respect of varietal qualities; as a distinct variety.
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the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [adverb] > variety
varietally1873
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > qualities or characteristics of wine > [adverb] > from one grape variety
varietally1873
1873 J. W. Dawson Story Earth & Man xii. 290 Not only did man exist at this time, but man not even varietally distinct from modern European races.
1879 Encycl. Brit. IX. 386/2 Foraminifera..which can be identified—not only generically and specifically, but even varietally.
1942 M. F. Mabon ABC of America's Wines ii. 13 The majority of varietally named wines happen to be blends.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.1866