Return to the Wine Guide
Wine varietal
Merlot (mair-lo)
Loading media...
Regions and Vineyards
Lodi, Galt, Auburn, Murphys, Mountain Ranch, Clarksburg, Grass Valley, Isleton, Rescue, Placerville, Vallecito, Shingle Springs, Somerset, Camino, Manteca, Fair Play, Nevada City, Courtland, Sacramento, Mokelumne Hill, Stockton, West Sacramento, Valley Springs, Acampo, Elk Grove, Ripon, Lockeford, Mt Aukum, Esparto, Plymouth, Sutter Creek, Truckee, Pilot Hill
Wineries
Abundance Vineyards, Barsetti Vineyards, Baumbach Wines, Black Sheep, Bodega Del Sur Winery, Bogle Vineyards, Borra Vineyards, Broll Mountain Vineyards, Burch Hall Winery, California Cellars, Chateau Leidigh California's Most Exclusive Estate Winery, Chateau Rodin Winery, Chatom Vineyard, Chevalier, Chevalier/One Pearl, Colibri Ridge Winery & Vineyard, Conti Estate/Charles B Mitchell Vineyards & Winery, Crystal Basin Cellars, Delicato Family Vineyards, Dkcellars, Double Oak Vineyards & Winery, E2 Family Winery, Ehrhardt Estates Winery, Fawnridge Winery, Fenton Herriott Vineyards, Fitzpatrick Winery & Lodge, Frasinetti Winery, French Hill Winery, Gnekow Family Winery, Gold Hill Vineyard, Granite Springs Winery & Vineyards, Harbor Winery, Hatcher Winery, Hello Wines, Heringer Estates, Hidden Jewel Winery, Housley's Century Oak Winery, Illuminare Estate Winery, Indian Rock Vineyards, Indian Springs Vineyards, Irish Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, Iverson Vineyards And Winery, Jessie's Grove Winery, Jodar Vineyards & Winery, Lange Twins Winery, Laraine Winery, Lava Cap Winery, Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery, Madroña Vineyards, McConnell Estates Winery, McManis Family Vineyards, Milliaire Winery, Mokelumne Oaks Vintners, Mount Aukum Winery, Mt. Vernon Winery, Nevada City Winery, Oak Ridge Winery, Oakstone Winery, Olde Lockeford Winery, Omega Cellars, Peirano Estate Vineyards, Perry Creek Winery, Primus Vineyards, R.H. Phillips Winery, River Grove Winery Inc., Scribner Bend Vineyards, Sierra Knolls Vineyard & Winery, Sierra Oaks Estates, Sierra Starr Vineyard, Sierra Vista Vineyards And Winery, Six Hands Winery, Smith Vineyard, Sogno Winery, Stama Winery / Kapiniaris Vineyards, Stevenot Winery, Stone's Throw Vineyard & Winery, Story Winery, Stover Oaks Vineyard & Winery, Sutter Creek Wine Tasting, Talus Collection, Toogood Estate Winery, Truckee River Winery, Ursa Vineyards, Van Der Vijver Estate, Van Ruiten Family Winery, Venezio Vineyards & Winery, Villa Toscano Winery, Windwalker Vineyards, Winery By The Creek, Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi ...more
Flavor
Sweet cherries, often coupled with herbal tones and a touch of spice
Body
Light- to medium-bodied, with supple feel and a soft overall impression.
At the table, pour it with...
Save lighter styles for lighter cheeses and pastas with a toned-down sauce, bigger styles for steak and duck.
Curiosities
Elsewhere, merlot customarily has been blended with cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties to add softness and complexity, but in California it's established itself as a popular varietal in its own right.
Return to the Wine Guide