Is "Varietal" simply a more pretentious way of saying "variety"?!

Is "Varietal" simply a more pretentious way of saying "variety"?

Then why do it?

Yes - and the reason it is misused? Ignorance , I reckon. People heard the word and though it sounded more professional l than variety.

Varietal is a really useful word, that unfortunately in the very short time that it has moved into the public sphere has been so misused to become almost useless.

Varietal was used to describe a wine made from a single variety and labelled under that variety name, rather than a blend or the geographical area it comes from as common in Europe.

So a 100% Pinot Noir wine from Oregon, with Pinot Noir written large on the front label was a varietal wine, whilst a 100% Pinot Noir wine from Burgundy was not.

All wines are made from grapes varieties, but not all wines are varietal.