

Undertones of coco, vanilla, and other earth tones frequently accompany these taste sensations. While the taste of Merlot varies according on the environment in which it is produced, it usually has overtones of juicy blue, black, and red fruit. It also has a fruitier, and sometimes less complicated, body. Merlot differs from Cabernet Sauvignon in that it has a thinner skin and is less astringent owing to fewer and softer tannins. Merlot, like Cabernet Sauvignon, has a similar taste profile and belongs to the same grape family (a descendant of Cabernet Franc). Merlot will be used in both red wine blends and single varietal wines in several wine areas known for producing the grape. Merlot grapes, which are traditionally vinified to produce a dry red wine, may have a wide range of flavors depending on the environment in which they are cultivated. It is the most commonly planted and popular red wine grape variety in France's Bordeaux region, as well as the second most widely planted and popular red wine grape variety in the United States. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay, Read more.Merlot is a black and blue grape varietal that produces dry red wine with a softer, medium to full body. APPELLATION: The Folie à Deux Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir shows beautifully from the Sonoma Coast AVA, which contains more than 500,000 acres, primarily along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, and extends from San Pablo Bay to the border of Mendocino County.

Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially.


Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world.
