Collection: Merlot

Merlot is one of the world's most widespread and beloved black grape varieties, and it has its roots in Bordeaux in France, where it remains one of the most important grapes to this day. Here it plays the leading role in Pomerol and thrives on the clay-rich soils that resemble the terroir of Saint-Émilion. Merlot is also grown in California and many other places around the world, but in our range it comes above all from Italy.

It is especially Toscana that sets the agenda with us, supplemented by a few bottles from Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto. The grape can appear both in blends and on its own as pure Merlot, where its round, approachable character is allowed to stand as a fine soloist.

Merlot is a thin-skinned grape that gives a lighter colour than many other dark varieties. The wines are typically medium to full in body with a soft, fruit-driven style, moderate tannins and a characteristic note of plum. It is precisely this soft profile that makes Merlot so accessible, and that explains why the grape is so often used to round off harder wines in a blend. It ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes it a rewarding partner in classic Bordeaux blends.

The grape is also known under synonyms such as Bigney, Médoc Noir, Crabutet Noir, Vitraille and Petit Merle, a testament to its long history. Although Bordeaux is its homeland, Merlot has found its way to many other wine countries. In Spain it was introduced during the modernisation of the 1980s and 1990s and today features as a blending grape in, among others, Ribera del Duero and Rioja, often together with Tempranillo and typically in smaller proportions.

If you want to taste your way into Merlot, an Italian version from Toscana is a good place to start. The soft fruit and the rounded tannins make the style well suited to a wide range of dishes and easy to get along with, whether you are new to the world of Merlot or already have a favourite.