Merlot is quickly becoming one of the most popular red wines for the discerning drinker, rivaling Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
Merlot hails from the renowned Bordeaux wine region in the southwest of France, where some of the best examples of this grape variety can be found in the Saint-Emilion and Pomerol regions.
But wine explorers don't need to be confined to France - Italy, Chile's Colchagua Valley, California, and Washington State are also producing high-quality Merlot wines that are well worth seeking out.
