The Merlot wine is first class.

Not only does it command the highest respect in the world of wine, Merlot also tastes great with food.

Merlot a dark blue wine grape variety, used as a blending grape and for a variety of wines. The name Merlot is believed to be the French name for the blackbird.

Merlot grapes are identified by their loose clusters of large blue berries. The color has a less blue/black hue than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and with a thinner skin. It typically ripens up to two weeks earlier than other grapes. Merlot grapes tend to have a higher sugar content and lower acidity. The wine seems to claim some of its best characteristics from its parent varieties: its fertility and its ability to ripen easily.

Merlot thrives in cool soils, particularly iron clay. The vine tends to bud early, giving it some risk of cold frosts, and its thinner skin increases its susceptibility to the danger of bunch rot. If bad weather occurs during flowering, the Merlot vine is prone to developing coulure. The vine may also be susceptible to powdery mildew (although it has better resistance to powdery mildew than other Bordeaux varieties) and to infection by leafhopper varieties.

Red fruits, easy tannins and a smooth finish are the characteristics of Merlot wmerlotine. But there is more to Merlot than being smooth. It’s actually a bit of a chameleon, partly because of where it grows.

This flexibility has helped make it one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world.

France is home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s total Merlot plantations, but it is grown in regions around the world.

Cool-climate Merlot wine carries flavors like tobacco and tar.

Warm climate Merlot wine is more fruity. Producers use an oak treatment of up to 24 months to give their Merlot wine more structure.

A classic example of a warm climate Merlot is California Merlots such as Paso Robles and Napa Valley.

Merlot is essential to the most famous wine region in the world: Bordeaux.

Pairing with Merlot:

Merlots go well with grilled and charred meats. Fruitier Merlots go well with dishes like salmon, mushroom-based dishes, and vegetables like chard and radicchio. Light-bodied merlots can go well with shellfish like shrimp or scallops. Merlot tends not to go well with strong, blue-veined cheeses that can overwhelm the fruity flavors of the wine.