What is Meritage?

"In victory, you deserve champagne, in defeat, you need it." ~Napoleon

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Who doesn't love a reference that ties history, war and wine together?! The only thing that would make this post better is a way to call out the French... oh wait! We still can! This post will cover some history of the Bordeaux blend, French wine law, and the emergence of Meritage (pronounced like "heritage").

Surprisingly, and not so surprisingly, this post is one of the first to discuss French wine. I am surprised because France is the largest wine producer, in the world. (Producing approximately 8 billion bottles a year). But, I am also not surprised we have yet to cover France because there is a scary amount of information to cover.

I mean scary.

 So let's start with one of the most popular regions in France, Bordeaux.

The History of Wine Making in Bordeaux.

  Of course, the history of

vinifera

 vines in this region can be traced back to the Romans, who introduced wine production in the first century. Bordeaux wines have been popular internationally since the 12th century. (Not too shabby, right?) In fact, some even suggest that the marriage of King Henry II of England to Eleanor of Acquitane was primarily so the English could secure access to Bordeaux wine, also known as "claret." Bordeaux has remained successful ever since, thanks in part, to its iconic terroir. Generally, the Bordeaux sub-regions include: Right-bank and Left-bank (include Graves and 

Méd

oc).

So what is the Bordeaux Blend?

  The short answer, a blend of 5 grapes (most notably red) including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Some also argue 

Carménère was part of the original blend, but today it, along with Malbec, is less frequently used. There is also a traditional Bordeaux blend with white grapes, including 

Sémillon

, 

Sauvignon blanc

 and 

Muscadelle. But let's be honest, when we think Bordeaux, we think red.

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So what is Meritage exactly?

  Well, according to the Meritage Alliance

website

, Meritage is a name created by New World winemakers to identify wine made from the "noble" Bordeaux varietals. From my legally trained perspective, I see Meritage as a (very clever) way for New World winemakers to avoid legal ramifications under the French

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée system.

To get technical for a moment, the French AOC system is governed by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine or

 INAO. This board ensures that all French winemakers are meeting quality standards

and

 protects the French wine making brand. Basically, words like Loire Valley, Champagne and Bordeaux are protected marks of the INAO as indicators of origin and quality. So, it is illegal for California winemakers to label their "Bordeaux style" wine with the name Bordeaux because it infringes on French property.

Enter clever New World Winemakers!

 So, in order to get around French law

and

 come up with a name for wine made in California that was a blend of several varietals (specifically the Bordeaux blend) ...  

Meritage

was born! Today, in order to use Meritage on your label, you must obtain a license from the Meritage Alliance and comply with their high quality requirements. Generally, Meritage has had limited success because American wineries are allowed to use other fanciful names to label their red blends, such as, "Red Velvet, Ameritage or Diamond Scarlet."

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Now, since we have master Meritage, let's talk Pinotage.

I will let you in on the difference between Meritage and Pinotage.

First,

they are pronounced differently. Meritage, like "heritage" and Pinotage, like "

Pin

no

tajge

." The mis-prounounciation of wine terms is by far my biggest pet peeve (and I am no expert) so if you struggle sometimes like me, check out this awesome

link

, for pronunciation tips.

Second,

Pinotage is actually the name of a grape, not a blend. Pinotage is the signature varietal in South Africa and is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The grape produces wine with mixed popularity in South Africa, so if you find a producer you enjoy, be sure to leave a comment below!

Cheers!

Tasting Room Technique: Part I

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"Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together." ~Elizabeth Taylor

Ok Enthusiasts, maybe things aren't that drastic, but this was the most interesting quote I could find on pouring drinks (at least on short notice). You may ask, why is she talking about pouring drinks... well... get excited, because this blog post will be covering the tasting room experience!

Historically, I haven't been a big tasting room junkie. Blame it on my (generally unfounded) bias against East Coast wines, but if I wanted to drink wine, I would think wine bar over winery. I was so wrong! If you have the ability to visit a winery tasting room, I would highly recommend it! It's like visiting a wine bar where every. single. person. is passionate about the wine they are pouring. So in honor of the great experience I had in the tasting room recently, I share some tips on how to find the best tasting rooms! Then, I will cover some grapes you will likely see (and taste) at local tasting rooms in Pennsylvania. 

Tasting Room Tips:

Every tasting room experience is different, but if the winery you visit hits on half these things, it will likely be a great place! (And worth a second visit!)

• Polite and knowledgeable staff.  Back in the day, most wineries were staffed by the owners or family of the owners. Today, that is frequently impossible, but the tasting room staff should be as interested in the wine as family would be. Do I expect them to know the fermentation process, no. But they should be able to describe the wine with enthusiasm, they are sales people after all. (Even if you don't want to think so).
• No wine club pressure.  No one likes a pushy salesperson.
• Crowd control.  A crowd is great for business, but not for tasting wine. Every business has a busy time, the best tasting rooms will have a system to keep things moving.
• Have something for kids to do.  I know, I know. Wine is an adult beverage and generally the kids should stay at home if possible. But, if a family does show up, the tasting room staff should be welcoming (maybe sell some sodas).
• Have something special behind the counter.  The last winery I visited had hot mulled wine available for tasting in addition to the formal tasting list. It was a great surprise on the beautiful fall day
• Ask about special events.  At most wineries, there is so much more to do besides just sample wine. Most wineries double as venues for special events and host their own events as well. I am talking pairing events with cupcakes, chocolate, pasta and more. Others have live music. Long story short, wineries are so fun and you need to visit one... now!

View of Winery

And now for the Grapes!

Time for the juicy stuff! (ha, pun intended!) This post was inspired by my recent trip to a local winery. As you can see from the picture above, it was a beautiful (and I mean beautiful) fall day. Then, randomly, a riding club decided to roll through and taste some wine themselves. So to celebrate this great day, I'm also going to cover the wines I tasted (in no particular order):

Sauvignon Blanc.

 My favorite! The blog has covered SB by

comparing two regions

and

 as one of the

big six grapes

. So whats the moral of the story when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc? Herbaceous, cut grass, bell pepper and citrus. This Sauvignon Blanc did not disappoint featuring green fruit aroma and citrus flavors. 

Chardonnay.

One of my favorite terms is "ABCer." meaning "anything but Chardonnay" drinker. I was surprised how many people I met at the winery that claimed to hate Chardonnay. I will admit, I am hesitant myself. I do not enjoy the buttery oak bombs of California. But this Chardonnay was great. Aged in French oak with a fruit finish. A subtle Chardonnay much like those of Burgundy.

White Merlot.

 I love rose! But I usually drink rose from France, a much dryer style. But this Merlot wowed me. All the great subtlety and fruit flavors of the traditional red wine, but light body of a white wine. I would buy this in bulk if you see it in stores. 

Chambourcin.

I was so excited to try this grape, from the

American wine post

, we already know that it is the most successful PA variety. But what does it taste like?! Some writers say its a fruit bomb like Beaujolais, but this wine drank like a bright Pinot Noir. And it was delicious. Great wine for food.

Cabernet Franc.

 I was surprised to see Cabernet Franc on its own, it is frequently blended with other grapes (most famously in the Bordeaux blend). This wine was earthy with a smokey finish. 

You want to visit a winery now don't you... get going! Most are open year round and even sell fun cheese and local trinkets. Sounds like a much better place to visit on Black Friday then your local Target or Best Buy.

Cheers!

Grape Tales: Syrah

Syrah: "It's a sexy beast of a wine, that warms the mortal soul with ripe, rich fruit and manageably moderate tannins." - Mark Oldman

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Could not have put it better myself! When I saw the above quote, it reminded me how much I love the "sexy beast" that is Syrah, how I can't wait for cooler nights to open some and that I need to write a post completely dedicated to Syrah. If you are watching the news, listening to NPR or basically being an active participant in society... you know there has been a bit of drama going down in D.C. What better way to celebrate the government dysfunction than with a lovely glass of Syrah?

Introduction.

  The blog has introduced the Syrah grape

before.

 But as a reminder, Syrah and Shiraz are actually the same grape! (And actually one of my favorites!) The grape originated in Southern France and is known for it's intense flavor. Thus, Syrah is commonly a blending grape.

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Growing Profile.

  Now for the details on the production of Syrah.

Where it's grown:

  Rh

ône 

Valley, France and Austrailia (under Shiraz).

Common Characteristics:

Blackberry, tar, leather, anise, black pepper, smoke and earth. (Totally deserving of it's "sexy beast" nickname, right?!)

Acidity:

 Low to medium

Tannin:

 High

Alcohol:

 High

Now that we have covered the basics, time to delve deeper into the details. First, remember that Petite Syrah and Syrah are actually 

different grapes.

 Syrah (aka Shiraz) is considered one of the noble grapes. While, Petite Syrah is a humble French grape also known as Durif. The difference tends not to matter in the end because both grapes made intense red wine. If you are wondering what type of food to pair with Syrah, it goes great with heavier foods like stews, steak, lamb or anything charred or served with a pepper sauce. (yum!)

Producers to look for: Chateau St. Michelle, Rabbit Ridge, or Columbia Crest.

Cheers!