Continuing our Food and Wine pairing with Red Wines, we have Merlot. Back in the 80’s before I was legally old enough to indulge in any real wine tasting I have a vague memory of my friends’ parents drinking Merlot.  Before Cabernet Sauvignon reigned supreme there was Merlot. Merlot was originally and still is used as a blending grape in the Bordeaux region of France.  It wasn’t until the 1960’s when two gentlemen from our great California Wine Country, Louis Martini and Ric Forman decided to give Merlot a chance to shine on its own, like other varietals before its time, the initial results were less than desirable but by the time the next decade rolled around American Merlot was in a class all by itself.

Now let’s get to the fun stuff, how do you pair Merlot with Food? Merlot like Cabernet Sauvignon is considered to be a medium to full bodied wine.  Almost garnet in color, Merlot has fewer tannins than Cabernet so it has less of that puckery feel when you taste it; Merlot also has higher sugar levels which gives it a sweeter, more initial fruit flavor up front which also translates to higher alcohol content.  Plum is the most notable fragrance and flavor in a Merlot.  Merlot is also known to be pretty easy drinking for a full bodied wine, which makes it easier to pair.  But despite the lower tannins and higher sugar content, remember Merlot is still red wine and therefore naturally heavier - a heavier wine calls for heavier meals.

Here are just a few meals that go great with Merlot. 

• Lamb Stew
• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Veal Picata
• Beef Stroganoff

When looking for a Merlot to try there are many good ones from California and Washington State to choose from but you can also find some good Chilean and Italian ones.  Remember, practice makes perfect.  Up next, the Belle of the Ball, Pinot Noir.

About Chef Heather

Chef Heather (aka Foodie Princess) is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City (formerly Peter Kumps New York Cooking School). She has worked for Gourmet Magazine, TV Personality Katie Brown, and the New York based Indian-fusion restaurant Tabla. Chef Foodie Princess resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter and is in the process of launching her own Personal Chef Service "The Princess & The Pea".