Wine_regions Merlot

1 wine regions

1.1 france
1.2 italy
1.3 spain , portugal
1.4 central europe
1.5 rest of europe
1.6 united states

1.6.1 california
1.6.2 washington state


1.7 canada
1.8 mexico
1.9 south america
1.10 oceania, south africa , asia

wine regions

merlot 1 of world s planted grape variety plantings of vine outpacing more well-known cabernet sauvignon in many regions, including grape s homeland of france. here, france home 2 thirds of world s total plantings of merlot. beyond france grown in italy (where country s 5th planted grape), algeria,california, romania, australia, argentina, bulgaria, canada, chile, greece, new zealand, south africa, switzerland, croatia, hungary, montenegro, slovenia, mexico , other parts of united states such washington, virginia , long island. grows in many regions grow cabernet sauvignon tends cultivated in cooler portions of areas. in areas warm, merlot ripen early.

in places israel, merlot second planted grape variety after cabernet sauvignon 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) in cultivation, making new world-style wines. grape can found in turkey 429 hectares (1,060 acres) in 2010 malta , cyprus.

france

vineyards , winery exterior of château pétrus

merlot commonly grown grape variety in france. in 2004, total french plantations stood @ 115,000 hectares (280,000 acres). 2009, number had risen 115,746 hectares (286,010 acres). prominent in southwest france in regions bordeaux, bergerac , cahors blended malbec. largest recent increase in merlot plantations has occurred in south of france, such languedoc-roussillon, made under designation of vin de pays wine. here, merlot accounted 29,914 hectares (73,920 acres), more doubling 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) devoted cabernet sauvignon in languedoc.

berries of merlot being sorted @ chateau kirwan in process removes shot berries , mog.

in traditional bordeaux blend, merlot s role add body , softness. despite accounting 50-60% of overall plantings in bordeaux, grape tends account average of 25% of blends — in bordeaux wine regions of graves , médoc. of these left bank regions, commune of st-estephe uses highest percentage of merlot in blends. however, merlot more prominent on right bank of gironde in regions of pomerol , saint-Émilion, commonly comprise majority of blend. 1 of famous , rare wines in world, château pétrus, merlot. in pomerol, merlot accounts around 80% of blend, iron-clay soils of region give merlot more of tannic backbone found in other bordeaux regions. in pomerol garagistes movement began small-scale production of highly sought after merlot-based wines. in sandy, clay-limestone-based soils of saint-Émilion, merlot accounts around 60% of blend , blended cabernet franc. in limestone, merlot tends develop more perfume notes while in sandy soils wines softer merlot grown in clay dominant soils.

merlot can found in significant quantities in provence, loire valley, savoie, ardèche, charente, corrèze, drôme, isère , vienne.

italy

in italy, there 25,614 hectares (63,290 acres) of grape planted in 2000 more two-thirds of italian merlot being used in indicazione geografica tipica (igt) blends (such so-called super tuscans ) versus being used in classified denominazione di origine controllata (doc) or denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (docg) wines. large portion of merlot planted in friuli wine region made varietal or blended cabernet sauvignon or cabernet franc. in other parts of italy, such maremma coast in tuscany, blended sangiovese give wine similar softening effect bordeaux blends.

italian merlots characterized light bodies , herbal notes. merlot s low acidity serves balance higher acidity in many italian wine grapes grape being used in blends in veneto, alto adige , umbria. global warming potentially having influence on italian merlot more cooler-climate regions in northern italy being able ripen grape while other regions planted encountering issues over-ripeness.

according master of wine jancis robinson, of higher quality italian merlots vineyards planted cuttings sourced france. robinson describes style of fruili merlots regarded estates having potentially pomerol-quality them while merlots warm plains of veneto can over-ripe high yields giving them sweet , sour quality. robinson notes merlots trentino-alto-adige can fall somewhere between of friuli , veneto.

the strada del merlot popular tourist route through italian merlot regions along isonzo river.

spain , portugal

in hot continental climate of many of spain s major wine region, merlot less valued in damp maritime climate of bordeaux or warm mediterranean climate of tuscan coast. popularity of international varieties continue grow on world wine market, spanish wine producers have been experimenting variety winemakers in rioja petitioning authorities allow merlot permitted grape blended tempranillo in red wines of region.

in 2008, there 13,325 hectares (32,930 acres) of merlot, significant increase 8,700 hectares (21,000 acres) being cultivated in country 4 years earlier. largest concentration of grape in mediterranean climate of catalunya 3,360 hectares (8,300 acres) in 2008 grape showing potential in cooler-climate wine region of conca de barberà in tarragona.

in costers del segre, grape used in bordeaux-style blend while in aragon (with 2,218 hectares (5,480 acres) in 2008), navarra (2,450 hectares (6,100 acres) in 2008) , castilla-la mancha (2,894 hectares (7,150 acres)) blending tempranillo , other local spanish wine grape varieties. spain s neighbor on iberian peninsula, portugal, has limited amount of merlot compared abundance of native portuguese grape varieties 556 hectares (1,370 acres) planted in 2010, in portuguese wine regions along tagus river.

central europe

in germany, there 450 hectares (1,100 acres) of merlot growing in 2008 grape planted in warmer german wine regions of palatinate , rheinhessen.

in switzerland, merlot accounts 85% of wine production in ticino made in pale white merlot style. in 2009, there 1,028 hectares (2,540 acres) plantings of swiss merlot.

plantings of merlot have increased in recent years in austrian wine region of burgenland vineyards growing welschriesling being uprooted make room more plantings. grape still lags behind parent variety, cabernet franc, 112 hectares (280 acres) in cultivation in 2008. outside of burgenland, half of austrian merlot plantings found in lower austria.

rest of europe

in eastern european countries of bulgaria, moldova, croatia , romania, merlot produced full bodied wine can similar cabernet sauvignon. in bulgaria, plantings of merlot lag behind cabernet sauvignon 15,202 hectares (37,560 acres) in 2009 while croatia had 1,105 hectares (2,730 acres). in czech republic, of country s 87 hectares (210 acres) found in moravia while moldova had 8,123 hectares (20,070 acres) in 2009.

in slovenia, merlot planted grape variety of color in vipava valley in slovene littoral , second planted variety in gorizia hills located across italian border friuli. in slovene littoral, collectively, merlot accounts around 15% of total vineyard plantings 1,019 hectares (2,520 acres) of merlot in cultivation across slovenia in 2009.

in hungary, merlot complements kékfrankos, kékoportó , kadarka component in bull s blood. made varietal wine known egri médoc noir noted balanced acid levels , sweet taste. in 2009, there 1,791 hectares (4,430 acres) of merlot planted across hungary. of these hectares can found in wine regions of szekszárd , villány on warm pannonian basin significant plantings found in kunság, eger , balaton.

in romania, merlot exported red wine grape variety 10,782 hectares (26,640 acres) in cultivation in 2008. of these plantings found along black sea in dobruja, further inland in muntenia region of dealu mare , in western romanian wine region of drăgășani. here grape made varietal blended other international varieties such cabernet sauvignon , local grape varieties such fetească neagră.

in 2009, ukraine had 2,820 hectares (7,000 acres) of merlot in cultivation.

russia had 1,588 hectares (3,920 acres).

in greece, merlot 1 of top 6 grape varieties planted in eastern wine regions of macedonia (86 hectares (210 acres))and western thrace (243 hectares (600 acres)). in central greece, there 74 hectares (180 acres) of merlot in cultivation of 2012.

united states

merlot grown across united states california , washington growing most. other regions producing significant quantities of merlot include new york state 365 hectares (900 acres) in 2006 of in maritime climate of long island ava , multiple regions in ohio. in texas, merlot second planted red wine grape after cabernet sauvignon 117 hectares (290 acres). in virginia, grape widely planted red variety 136 hectares (340 acres) in 2010, of in monticello ava , shenandoah valley ava, while oregon had 206 hectares (510 acres) in 2008 planted in rogue valley ava.

california

the style of merlot in california can vary grape being found across state in both warmer , cooler climate regions. while regional examples of california merlot exist places napa valley , sonoma, many bottles labeled california merlot.

in history of california wine, merlot used 100% varietal wine until winemaker warren winiarski encouraged taking grape blending roots bordeaux style blends. following merlot wine craze of 1990s sparked 60 minutes french paradox report, sales of merlot spiked grape hitting peak plantings of on 20,640 hectares (51,000 acres) in 2004. 2004 movie sideways, lead character pinot noir fan expresses disdain of merlot, has been connected declining merlot sales in after release (and larger spike of interest in pinot noir). 2010, plantings of california merlot had dropped 18,924 hectares (46,760 acres).

in california, merlot can range fruity simple wines (sometimes referred critics red chardonnay ) more serious, barrel aged examples. can used primary component in meritage blends.

while merlot grown throughout state, particularly prominent in napa, monterey , sonoma county. in napa, examples los carneros, mount veeder, oakville , rutherford tend show ripe blackberry , black raspberry notes. sonoma merlots alexander valley, carneros , dry creek valley tend show plum, tea leaf , black cherry notes.

washington state

in 1980s, merlot helped put washington wine industry on world s wine map. prior period there general perception climate of washington state cold produce red wine varietals. merlots leonetti cellar, andrew will, columbia crest , chateau ste. michelle demonstrated areas of eastern washington warm enough red wine production. today second grown red wine grape in state (after cabernet sauvignon), following many years of being planted variety, , accounts 1 fifth of state s entire production. in 2011, there 3,334 hectares (8,240 acres) of washington merlot in cultivation.

washington merlots columbia valley noted deep color.

it planted throughout columbia valley ava has earned particular notice plantings grown in walla walla, red mountain , horse heaven hills. washington merlots noted deep color , balanced acidity. state s climate lends towards long days , hours of sunshine cool nights contributes significant diurnal temperature variation , produces wines new world fruitiness , old world structure.

canada

in canada, merlot can found across country ontario, there 498 hectares (1,230 acres) of grape in 2008, british columbia, grape planted wine grape variety of either color @ 641 hectares (1,580 acres). here merlot accounts third of red wine grape plantings , used both varietal , bordeaux-style blends.

mexico

in mexico, merlot cultivated in valle de guadalupe of baja california, country s main wine-producing area. plantings have increased substantially since 1980s, , cultivation has spread nearby areas of ojos negros , santo tomás. grape can found in north eastern mexican wine region of coahuila, across border texas.

south america

in chile, merlot thrives in apalta region of colchagua province. grown in significant quantities in curicó, casablanca , maipo valley. until 1990s, chilean wine industry mistakenly sold large quantity of wine made carménère grape merlot. following discovery many chilean vineyards thought planted sauvignon blanc sauvignonasse, owners of chilean winery domaine paul bruno (who worked château margaux , château cos d estournel) invited ampelographers comb through vineyards make sure wines identified. genetic studies discovered of had been grown merlot carménère, old french variety had gone largely extinct in france due poor resistance phylloxera. while vines, leaves , grapes similar, both grapes produce wines distinct characteristics — carménère being more flavored green pepper notes , merlot having softer fruit chocolate notes.

today, true merlot third planted grape variety in chile after cabernet sauvignon , listán prieto 13,280 hectares (32,800 acres) in 2009. of these planting in central valley colchagua leading way 3,359 hectares (8,300 acres) followed maule valley 3,019 hectares (7,460 acres) , curicó 2,911 hectares (7,190 acres).

in argentina, merlot plantings have been increasing in mendoza region grape showing affinity tupungato region of uco valley. argentine merlots grown in higher elevations of tunpungato have shown balance of ripe fruit, tannic structure , acidity. grape not planted here due natural fruity , fleshiness of popular malbec , douce noir/bonarda grapes don t need mellowed merlot cabernet sauvignon , cabernet franc may benefit from. in 2008, there 7,142 hectares (17,650 acres) of merlot growing in argentina, of in mendoza region , in san juan province.

in uruguay, merlot blended tannat , 2nd planted red grape variety, representing around 10% of total vineyard plantings. more planted cabernet sauvignon, there 853 hectares (2,110 acres) of grape in cultivation in 2009. brazil home 1,089 hectares (2,690 acres) of merlot (as of 2007) of them in rio grande sul region across border uruguay. other south american wine regions growing merlot include bolivia 30 hectares (74 acres) of 2012 , peru.

oceania, south africa , asia

in new zealand, plantings of merlot have increased in hawke s bay region, particularly in gimblett gravels grape has shown ability produce bordeaux-style wine. grape has been growing in favor among new zealand producers due ability ripen better, less green flavors, cabernet sauvignon. other regions significant plantings include auckland, marlborough , martinborough. in 2008, merlot second red grape variety (after pinot noir) in new zealand , accounted 5% of country s plantings 1,363 hectares (3,370 acres) in cultivation.

in australia, vineyards labeled merlot discovered cabernet franc. merlot vines can found growing in barossa valley, mclaren vale , wrattonbully in south australia. in 2008, third planted red grape variety after syrah , cabernet sauvignon 10,537 hectares (26,040 acres). in california, global merlot craze spurred increase of plantings, of in warm, irrigated regions of murray darling, riverina , riverland grape variety mass-produced. recent plantings, such in margaret river area of western australia have been focusing on making more bordeaux-style blends.

in south africa, plantings of merlot have focused on cooler sites within paarl , stellenbosch regions. here grape third planted red grape variety, accounting 15% of red wine grape plantings, 6,614 hectares (16,340 acres) of merlot in cultivation in 2008. majority of these plantings found in stellenbosch region 2,105 hectares (5,200 acres) , paarl 1,289 hectares (3,190 acres). according wine expert jancis robinson, south african merlot tend made varietal in chocolately, glossy california style .

in asia, merlot planted in emerging wine regions in india. can found in japan 816 hectares (2,020 acres) in 2009 , in china 3,204 hectares (7,920 acres).