November 7th is International Merlot Day! How will you celebrate? Here is what we’re thinking about on this auspicious moment.
Merlot has been around for a long time, and while it isn’t a polarizing varietal, most wine lovers have a solid position on where it stands on their personal “favorites” list. Even without the movie Sideways, everyone has an opinion on Merlot, and in most cases is happy to share their thoughts. As far back as the late 1700’s, Merlot was a popular varietal in France. Modern DNA mapping tells us that Merlot is a descendant of Cabernet Franc, Carménère, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. A very fine parentage indeed!
Merlot grapes are relatively hardy, allowing them to flourish across a broad range of climates and soils. While there are many wine AVA’s that we have yet to explore, we have enjoyed Merlot wines in nearly every region we have visited. We enjoy Merlot when it is the predominant fruit in a wine, but also appreciate wines where Merlot is serving more of a supporting role. In fact, it is difficult to remember a situation where we issued the Sideways quote, “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving.” We are more in the “Is there any more Merlot?” camp.
Wishing you a very happy and healthy International Merlot Day. Cheers!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
