Merlot Wine

Written by Brooke Tolman (last updated August 24, 2020)

Merlot wine is made from merlot grapes. They were first grown in France, however in the mid 19th century they were brought over and started growing in California. Merlot wine is a popular red wine, used for many different purposes.

Merlot is not well suited for long aging, so until recently the wine made from merlot grapes was used solely as a blending wine. Because it is so soft and compliant, it's used often to mix with Cabernet. It helps bring a more mellow aspect to the harsher wines. Lately however, Merlot has been discovered as a delicious wine on its own. It is being grown now for that primary purpose in places such as California and Chile.

Merlot grapes are more tolerant of soil conditions than Cabernet grapes are. Merlot grapes also bud earlier, and therefore can be harvested earlier. Merlot is able to mature in regions that are cooler than those required for Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is more susceptible to fungus and mold diseases and therefore a bit harder to grow. Merlot varies widely in quality around the world depending on location and producer.

The flavor of merlot is similar to cabernet but is a little less distinctive and slightly more herbaceous in both aroma and taste. Both under ripe and overripe grapes lean away from the fruit, so ripeness in critical when picking grapes for merlot wine. At its best, Merlot makes a wine that is dry, rich in flavor and smooth as it finishes in your throat. At its worst, Merlot makes wine that is dry but thin in taste and texture, and not very pleasant to consume. Most of what you will come across are likely to be of pretty good quality. Merlot has a slightly lower natural acidity than cabernet; therefore it usually has a lusher feel in your mouth.

Some health officials have said that red wine, which includes merlot wine, would be beneficial to your health. It helps to increase your "healthy" cholesterol, HDL's, which help prevent blood clotting, lowers blood pressure, and protects your arteries from damage. Doctors recommend only one glass a day though, and don't recommend it at all if you already consume a large amount of alcohol each day.

Author Bio

Brooke Tolman

Brooke is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Science. She currently resides in Seattle where she works as a freelance data analyst and personal trainer. She hopes to spend her life camping and traveling the world. ...

MORE FROM BROOKE

Types of Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are the perfect solution to help prevent erosion and hold soil in place. Learn about the many different ...

Discover More

Properly Caring for your Houseplants

Gardens don't have to belong only outside. With some water and a little care, houseplants can beautify any spot in your ...

Discover More

Choosing a Lawn Mower

Choosing the right lawn mower can simplify lawn mowing and keep your grass looking healthy. No matter what your yard size ...

Discover More
More Cooking Tips

What is Chardonnay Wine?

Looking for the perfect white wine to go with that special dinner? Use chardonnay. It's not called "the world's favorite ...

Discover More

Wine Auctions

Wine auctions can be the premier location to find great wines at a relatively inexpensive price. However, if you don't ...

Discover More

Zinfandel Wine

Most wine enthusiasts think of Zinfandel as either an appetizer wine, or a wine to compliment a main course. Yet ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 8?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)