🍷 Meritage
Also known as: Meritage wine, Meritage blend
An American name for wine blended from Bordeaux grape varieties.
Meritage is an American name for a wine blended from Bordeaux grapes. The word was coined in 1988 from two English words: merit and heritage. It was introduced so that producers in the USA could label red and white blends in the Bordeaux style.
For red Meritage the Bordeaux red grapes are used: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carménère. For white: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. The rule is usually that the blend must include at least two grapes, and none may exceed 90%. The name belongs to an association, and only its members may use it.
Why did it appear? American producers cannot call a wine Bordeaux: Bordeaux is a protected place name. And the word blend meant little to buyers. So a new word appeared.
Meritage sits next to the Bordeaux blend. Both describe one idea, a complex wine from several grapes, and the difference is origin: Meritage is American, while Bordeaux is a protected place name in France, so a US producer cannot use it. That is why the Bordeaux-style blend made in the USA needs a name of its own.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Meritage ← similar ← 🍷 Bordeaux blend → → → 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Bordeaux blend
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Bordeaux blend
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Meritage is a grape variety?
No. It is a name for a wine blended from Bordeaux grapes.
Which blending rule usually applies to Meritage?
The blend must include at least two grapes, and none may exceed 90%.
Which white grapes go into a white Meritage?
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle.
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.