📜 Merlara

Merlara is a DOC for white and red wines from the plain south of Padua and the neighbouring part of the province of Verona. The specification lists Bianco (also frizzante), Tai (from Friulano), Malvasia (from Malvasia Istriana), Chardonnay (also frizzante), Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Rosso (also Novello), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet, Refosco dal peduncolo rosso, Raboso and a frizzante Marzemino.

Wines named after a variety must contain at least 85% of it, and the rest may be similar non-aromatic grapes. Merlara Bianco contains 50 to 70% Friulano; Merlara Rosso contains 50 to 70% Merlot, and the Novello must be made by carbonic maceration of at least 70% of the grapes. Merlara Bianco is pale straw yellow, sometimes greenish, dry, medium-bodied and slightly bitter on the finish, with at least 11% vol total alcohol, 4.5 g/l total acidity and 14 g/l of non-reducing extract. Yields run from 13 to 14 tonnes of grapes per hectare depending on the type.

The grapes come from the communes of Masi, Castelbaldo, Merlara, Urbana, Casale di Scodosia and part of Montagnana in the province of Padua, and Terrazzo, Bevilacqua and Boschi Sant'Anna in the province of Verona. The DOC was approved in 2000.