| A good Merlot warms the heart, the ambiance | | | | wines tend to have a reputation as being inferior |
| and the cheeks. Merlot is extremely popular | | | | to those from the A.O.C. or regulated wine |
| amongst red wines. It is an easy wine to drink | | | | regions. Pays d'Oc wines come from the |
| and marries well with hearty dishes, especially so | | | | Languedoc-Roussillon area in the south of France. |
| in winter. A wine that originated in France, like so | | | | This area specializes in varietal wines, or wines |
| many, now Merlot is produced with great success | | | | produced from only one specific grape, of which |
| in other parts of the world as well, such as the | | | | there has been an increasing demand. One |
| United States, Chile and Australia. My personal goal | | | | surprisingly good Merlot from this area, considering |
| is finding great Merlots from a variety of | | | | it comes in a completely recyclable, |
| countries, at a great price. | | | | environmentally friendly box, is called French |
| The United States | | | | Rabbit and retails for about $10. Its packaging is |
| Merlots from the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley | | | | either a love-it or hate-it type of thing. I haven't |
| in the wine region of California tend to be | | | | decided where I stand on it yet, but I definitely |
| especially good choices amongst American | | | | like what is inside it. |
| Merlots. Merlot is a warm-weather grape, and a | | | | Australia |
| specialty of these regions. A recent discovery I | | | | Australia's Little Penguin Merlot is another of those |
| made amongst Sonoma Valley Merlots is Angeline | | | | under $10 choices that is surprisingly good. The |
| 2002 for under $15. Two sure bets in Napa Valley | | | | entire Little Penguin line has gotten good ratings |
| Merlots are Sterling Vintner's Collection, which | | | | for such a new line of products. It certainly will |
| range in price from $15 to $30 and Edgewood, | | | | not hold up favorably in comparison to the |
| which is usually under $20. | | | | Sterling Vintner's Collection or Edgewood from |
| Chile | | | | Napa Valley, however as an everyday Merlot to |
| Chile also produces some wonderful Merlots. My | | | | enjoy, this one is pretty good. |
| personal great price for a great bottle from this | | | | The key to enjoying different types of Merlot is |
| country is Casillero del Diablo, which is usually | | | | doing some research, asking questions, reading |
| found easily for under $10. This wine comes with | | | | ratings, doing a little taste testing before buying |
| a great story. In order to dissuade workers from | | | | and being open to new experiences. Even if you |
| partaking of the wines produced by his vineyard, | | | | have always enjoyed a wine from a certain |
| one owner dubbed his cellar "Casillero del Diablo" | | | | region and tend to always buy wines from there, |
| or Cellar of the Devil. Amazingly, it kept the | | | | an occasional foray into another part of the same |
| workers from going there and helping themselves. | | | | country or even into another country altogether |
| France | | | | will liven up your Merlot drinking. So go for it next |
| My French Merlot favorites tend to come from | | | | time you are looking for a new wine and see how |
| Pays d'Oc, even though, the "pays" or country | | | | many continents you can enjoy. |