Yes, summer is coming to an end, but thankfully the September sun is causing an explosion of aromas - of amber grapes, fragrant quince and ripe apples. Turquoise summer hues and golden autumn reflections magically intertwine in September days.

The ten wines we have chosen for September are classic blends that have proven themselves over the years.

Blending wine is an old method of winemaking that has been practiced for hundreds of years.

Some blends go through more than 50 iterations before the perfect "recipe" is discovered. Blending is the way winemakers combine different types of wine to create a complete, complex wine. Winemakers look for wines with different qualities and determine what ratio should be used to produce the best wine. The use of several grape varieties allows to refine the characteristics and create complex symphonies of flavours, with each grape offering its own distinctive qualities. Some wine blends are produced using traditional techniques handed down from generation to generation.

Hundreds of years ago, vineyards were planted with numerous grape varieties to protect against the inherent variability of each season. European wine-growing regions in particular have been plagued by unexpected weather conditions. Each season the harvest is vulnerable to climatic events such as early autumn rainfall or late spring frosts. The planting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the Bordeaux region is an insurance policy against adverse weather conditions. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon will struggle to ripen in a cold year, although Merlot and Cabernet Franc can reach ideal sugar levels in less heat. Many other European wine regions, including Chianti, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rioja, have developed distinctive blends to ensure quality and consistency from vintage to vintage.