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Celebrating Merlot Month on WPTV Channel 5
October 28, 2016 / Stephanie Miskew / 24 Comments
October is officially Merlot Month (aka #MerlotMe on Twitter) which celebrates the long awaited comeback of this most maligned grape variety. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk about this happy occasion recently with John Favole and the team at WPTV Channel 5.
While everyone likes to blame the 2004 movie Sideways for Merlot’s vinous demise, Miles’ rant was just the final nail in the grape’s coffin at the time. The truth is, its popularity had been declining for awhile. At the height of Merlot’s fame, demand was so great some growers were pulling up other, less-profitable vines in order to make room for more of it. This meant planting Merlot vines in less than optimal sites, resulting in the production of poor quality wine. Unfortunately, it became more about quantity than quality. Now, after almost a decade of vinous obscurity, it’s the quality vineyards tended by the true Merlot lovers that mostly remain.
But what’s so great about Merlot anyway and WHY are we celebrating it with Merlot Month? For those who are newbies or just need a reminder, on the likeability scale, Merlot rates pretty high! Known for its plush, lush notes of cherry, plum and chocolate and soft, supple tannins…frankly, what’s NOT to like? It’s inherent characteristics also make it approachable at a young age, unlike its vinous counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape known for aggressive tannins and bold flavors which often needs time in the bottle to soften. While both grapes make delicious varietal wines, the two also complement each other beautifully which is why they are often blended together.
While Merlot was officially “born” in France and is still the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux, wonderful examples of the wine can be found in many countries across the globe including Italy, Australia, Chile and the US. Each country imparts its own unique stamp on this grape which can be somewhat of a chameleon depending on where it’s grown. In cooler climates, Merlot is known for exhibiting notes of black and blue fruit, minerals, licorice and herbs. Warmer climates accentuate the grape’s fruitiness, highlighting cherry, candied berry, mocha, spice and soft, sweet tannins.
When it comes to food, due to its supple, fruity nature, Merlot pairs wonderfully with a variety of different dishes. Its hearty texture makes it perfect for serving with dishes such as hard cheeses, cheeseburgers, stews, roasted chicken and steak. Those with a sweet tooth also enjoy it with chocolate-based desserts which complement its lush, fruity tendencies.
I hope you enjoy Merlot Month and continue to enjoy this delicious grape all season long! Please check out our list below of our recommended wines at a variety of different price points. If you’d like to watch the entire WPTV segment, please scroll down to the video below or simply click here. Also, if there’s a particular brand of Merlot you enjoy I’d love to hear about it in the Comments section below. Be sure to share your vinous exploits on Twitter using the hashtag #MerlotMe and check out what other wine lovers are drinking as well.
1.) Falesco Merlot Tellus, Umbria, Italy, 2013 ($14)
2.) Mollydooker Merlot The Scooter, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2013 ($25)
3.) Peju Province Merlot, Napa Valley, CA, 2013 ($35)
4.) Duckhorn Merlot, Napa Valley, CA, 2013 ($50)
5.) Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, CA, 2013 ($75)
6.) La Jota Merlot Howell Mountain, Napa, CA, 2013 ($80)October 28, 2016 / Stephanie Miskew / 24 Comments
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Stephanie Miskew thinks life is better with wine and she wants to help you enjoy it to the fullest! As a Certified Sommelier, her real world advice on tasting wine like a pro, discovering which wines you truly love, picking the perfect bottle for any occasion and creating magical food and wine pairings will have you looking like a wine expert in any situation.
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You missed all of the great Merlots–Pride, Paloma, Switchback, Lewis, Keenan. You got all the large producers, but not the ones that make great Merlot.
There are so many great Merlot producers it was really hard to choose just 6! I went with wines that I really enjoy that would also be somewhat easier for people to find. I do love your taste in Merlot though & thanks for stopping by – Cheers:)
Merlot is slowly growing on me after saying no to it for far too long. I don’t know why exactly but I always buy rose, old habits die hard, right?
Very true and I love rose too but I think Merlot is a wonderful choice for the Fall & Winter months – Cheers:)
With all the football and wine, October really is a month for our men though I have to admit I LOVE my Natura merlot.
Enjoy, Sara!!!
Yep, I’m a newbie so I had no clue merlot had a downward spiral, to me it’s a wine I have a couple of times a month.
That’s great news, Fiona! Keep on loving that Merlot:)
Years ago for a special treat we would buy Pahlmeyer’s merlot. The price has gotten too high, sadly. Will have to look for the labels you recommend!
I love Pahlmeyer too, Susan! A wonderful wine for a special occasion:)
So happy you featured La Jota, that is the wine my husband brought to our first dinner as a married couple. This is our go-to wine for any major event, it’s that good!
How romantic, Lydia! I like that wine even more now – thanks for sharing your story xo
You look so good on TV, you should do more videos!
Thanks so much, Abigail! I’m working on that now – fingers crossed I’ll be introducing more videos soon:)
Drats, I’m too late! Well, guess I’ll have to make November Merlot month haha.
I think that’s a fabulous decision! I know we’ll be enjoying Merlot all Fall/Winter long – Cheers:)
I’m terrible at picking the right wines, I never know what to get. Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll try them all, I need to find a staple wine.
Awesome, Christopher! Have fun picking some out:)
The Falesco merlot tastes insane and it’s dirt cheap, you can’t miss that one!
So glad you like that one, Joseph! We love it too – Cheers:)
I’m no expert by any means but thanks to you I discovered my passion for wines. I’ve found your blog while looking for a chicken recipe and discovered your rosemary roasted chicken. Now I can’t wait for your next recipe 🙂
Thanks so much, Susana! Glad to hear you enjoy our Roasted Chicken as much as we do. I’m making it again tonight actually – Cheers:)
You look amazing, Stephanie! I don’t know how you do it, especially since you cook some amazing dishes, I would be piling on the pounds…
Thanks so much, Helen! I appreciate that and I definitely try to walk off those pounds whenever I can – Cheers:)