Labels:
Red Wines
Merlot (muhr-loh) is the principal black variety of the Bordeaux area and is also recommended in the south of France.The area planted in France increased dramatically between the late 1950s and the late 1980s.The variety has been introduced into other European countries and replaced local varieties. In Italy it is now recommended in more provinces than any other single variety, although it is far from surpassing Italian varieties such as Barbera and Sangiovese in area or production. In California there were almost no plantings before 1970, but by 1992 the area of Merlot was approximately 4050 ha and ten years later had increased to 21121 ha. It is a minor variety in Chile and Argentina. No early introduction into Australia has been traced.There were 10 350 ha of Merlot in production in Australia by 2003.
