Rim Rock Now

1. Choose to your taste

Merlot comes in 3 styles: fruity and soft, medium weight, and full and rich. Consider your taste as well as your guests before making a selection.

2. Check I.D

Like most wines, merlot matures at a certain age. Most merlot is best aged between 3-8 years, though some need 10-15. Check the label for more information.

3. Where is it From?

The two main Merlot producers are California and France. Choosing a Merlot from one of these regions is your best bet. While California Merlot is more fruity, Merlot from France is a good balance of the fruit and non-fruit taste.

4. Be Specific

The more specific the region on the label, the higher the quality of wine is likely to be. For example: if a label says it is from “Northern California”, it may not be very good. Now, if the label said it was from a certain mountain, valley, or vineyard the quality is likely to be much higher.

5. Lighter Taste? Go Abroad

If you are new to wine tasting or your taste in wine is a bit light, try a Merlot from Italy. The Merlot wines from Italy tend to be much lighter than the heavier ones found in California and France.

6. Consider your Diet

Checking the label for calorie count, ingredients you might not want to ingest, and unwelcome chemicals is always important. Most wines are low in fat and actually quite healthy in small quantities.