| Merlots have soared in popularity in the last | | | | Sauvignon, to soften the Cabernet, and create |
| decade. Merlot is the most widely planted | | | | a more complex wine. |
| grape in the Bordeaux wine region in France, | | | | |
| and it is also quite widely planted in wine | | | | When serving Merlot, it should be slightly |
| regions in the United States, particularly in | | | | below room temperature. Place it in the |
| California. In California, there were only | | | | refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before |
| 2000 acres of Merlot in 1985, over the years, | | | | serving, to bring it to the correct serving |
| this has grown to 50,000 acres in 2003. | | | | temperature. Merlot pairs well with many |
| | | | foods, including red meat, pork, poultry, and |
| While Merlots are quite often softer and more | | | | pasta. |
| lush than Cabernet Sauvignon, they are still | | | | |
| often full-bodied, deep in color, and fairly | | | | Over the years, where Merlot used to be |
| high in alcohol with flavors of cherry, plum | | | | utilized in blending with other wines, more |
| and chocolate. Merlot matures in the bottle | | | | and more, it is beginning to be appreciated |
| earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, so Merlots | | | | on it's own. |
| are generally held in higher esteem by wine | | | | |
| drinkers than by wine collectors. Merlot is | | | | Learn more about wine and wine growing |
| also commonly blended with Cabernet | | | | regions at Wine Country Guide. |