Interesting Merlot Wine Facts

Thanks to improvements in technology and transportation industry, wine lovers can find great Merlot and Merlot blends from all over the world. The classic Merlot grape produces a soft and medium bodied red wine with fruit juicy flavours. Flavours such as plums, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, cocoa and black pepper tones often dominate the popular Merlot wine. Because the levels of tannin are generally lower than in other red wines, the Merlot wine is ideal for those who are just getting into wines. Merlot wine is commonly mixed with other wines such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon to create even more delicious wines. Another reason the Merlot wine is popular is its versatility when it comes to food as it can match almost any dish. Here are few more interesting Merlot wine facts.

• Did you know that the word ‘Merlot’ comes from French language and means ‘young blackbird’? It is believed that French winemakers either gave the Merlot wine its name because of the beautiful blue-black colour of the Merlot grape or because the blackbird likes grapes.
• The flavour palette of the Merlot wine varies within the sweetness spectrum, depending on the region and climate. Merlot wine produced in cooler climates features hints of plum, berries and tobacco, while the one produced in hotter climate highlights flavours like chocolate or fruitcake.
• Merlot wine is very popular because of the ability of the grape to please all palates. It can vary from a very simple fruity to more oak barrel-aged wine.
• Because of its low acidity and high sugar content, Merlot wine is one of the most food-friendly wines produced.
• Merlot is part of the Bordeaux family. In fact, there are researches believe that Merlot wine is the sister of both Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon.
• The oldest know mention about Merlot wine dates back to 1784 in the region of Bordeaux, France.
• Today Merlot is the most planted grape in Bordeaux region and all over the world. It is an essential grape in Italy, Australia, United States, Long Island, Bulgaria, Canada, Turkey, Romania, Argentina, Chile, Switzerland, South Africa, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary and Slovenia.
• Merlot wine was the center of the mistaken identity case. In 1990s, the Chilean wine industry sold a large amount of wine made from Carmenere grape as Merlot.