Berry & fruity Merlot from Italy

The Merlot grape variety owes its name to the French word "merle " (meaning blackbird). Blackbirds apparently have a particular fondness for the red grapes. This grape variety is early ripening, easy to grow, and relatively high-yielding, which is likely the reason for its international success and widespread cultivation.

Merlot from Italy

Merlot is a red wine grape variety that originated in the Bordeaux region of France. Primarily in Bordeaux, Merlot is one of six grape varieties permitted for red wine production. The other two are Cabernet Sauvignon , Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Malbec, and Petit Verdot . Merlot vineyards cover approximately 110,000 hectares in France, representing nearly 40% of the total Merlot-growing area in France.

Merlot is a component of many DOC wines in Italy. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, in particular, have seen a dramatic increase in acreage over the last few decades. There are now approximately 25,000 hectares of vineyards in Italy.

Merlot plays a significant role in the vast majority of the world's wine-growing regions. However, in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the Merlot grape is not yet of major importance. In Europe, only Spain, Romania, and Bulgaria are noteworthy in terms of acreage. Only Cabernet Sauvignon surpasses Merlot in global cultivation area.

Raspberry, plum or cherry flavors

The Merlot grape prefers loose soils and a moderately warm climate. This grape variety is relatively undemanding and therefore grows and thrives almost anywhere. Its alcohol content tends to be on the higher end, and the red wines should ideally have a rich, dark red color. Merlot red wines typically boast fruity, velvety, and soft notes with delicate aromas of raspberry, plum, or cherry and a moderate tannin structure.

In contrast, Merlot Blanc is a French white wine grape variety grown in Bordeaux. This grape variety also produces soft, berry-like wines, but they are significantly lighter and drier.

As a food pairing, Merlot is ideally suited to fine poultry, hard cheeses, as well as hearty beef, game, and braised dishes. The popular Merlot red wines are served at a drinking temperature of 16-18 °C.

Long shelf life thanks to barrel aging

The Merlot grape variety produces full-bodied and rich wines that are ready to drink after just a few years of aging. Merlot red wines are often approachable even in their youth, yet still offer great potential for long-term cellaring. This explains their particular popularity. Even small proportions of Merlot have a positive effect in blends. The wines become more approachable earlier, but at the cost of some aging potential.

Over the years, Merlot softens with age, while fruit aromas diminish and spice and herbal nuances become more prominent, along with hints of tobacco, wood, and vanilla. Generally, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux, or Burgundy grapes, due to their higher tannin content, are better suited for decades of aging than Merlot. Unfortunately, Merlot has slightly fewer tannins and a lower acidity, which reduces the wines' aging potential. However, they are well-suited to aging in barriques, which in turn extends their shelf life.

Harmonious blend or single-varietal Merlot

No matter what you call it: cuvée, blend, or assemblage, all these terms mean the same thing: mixing wines from different origins, varieties, or vintages. The goal is to produce better wines or maintain a consistent flavor. Merlot is ideally suited for refining and harmonizing other grape varieties.

Especially in Italy, Merlot is often blended with the Sangiovese grape variety. Merlot is also frequently blended with international grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and aged in barriques, for example, Rigolcio Maremma Toscana Rosso Barrique DOC . This is because Merlot harmonizes well with oak, making it ideally suited for barrel aging in barriques. This is one of the key reasons why blended wines contain a more or less significant proportion of Merlot.

Single-varietal Merlot wines are among the best but also most expensive that the wine world has to offer, e.g. Rigoloccio Abundantia Maremma Toscana Merlot Barrique DOC .