In 2004, the movie Sideways was released and Merlot was uprooted (literally) as Pinot Noir took the starring role.
Thankfully for wine drinkers everywhere, Merlot is once again becoming a popular and fashionable wine.
Merlot has thinner skins than Cabernet Sauvignon and is a bit larger, which means it holds more juice and has a smaller concentration of tannins and flavor. This advantage makes Merlot a smooth, enjoyable wine with balanced tannins. These qualities make Merlot an ideal blending grape. Winemakers that only view it in this light are denying the world of a wonderful single varietal starring role.
Merlot is the second most widely planted varietal globally. The grape is approximately 10% of total vineyards in the Napa Valley. Merlot is popular in France and is the main character in the right bank style Bordeaux wines. It is also grown in Washington state, Italy, and Australia.
