Merlot is traditionally one of the most recognizable red wines in the entire world. Recently creative winemakers started to peel the skins off their red Merlot grapes to create a white Merlot.
White Merlot is an untraditional wine that has grown in popularity over the past few years. This article explores its origin and flavor. It gives a few ideal pairing tips and a couple of great examples of white Merlot aimed any anyone trying it for the first time.
The only way to find out what makes white Merlot so unique is to try this refreshing and bold-tasting wine for yourself. Let’s uncork some of the most interesting facts about this special white wine that every wine enthusiast should know.
What Does White Merlot Taste Like?
Most white Merlots have a sweet, crisp, berry flavor with a light texture similar to other blush wines. Common tasting notes for white Merlot include citrus, peach, melon, grapefruit, cranberry, and orange peel.
This type of wine is significantly less bitter and slightly less acidic than conventional red Merlot due to the absence of grape skins.
Some variations of this wine are white and clear in color, while others can be bright pink.
Consider white Merlot the next time you are looking for something far from the traditional flavors of white and red wines and would rather enjoy something in between.
I find that both red and white Merlot have similar tasting notes but easily distinguishable flavors on your tongue. Red Merlot is deep, bitter, and layered while its white Merlot is light, sweet, and crisp.
Best White Merlot Examples
Foffani White Merlot 2018 – This great-tasting wine has a fruity and floral note with good minerals and a high alcohol infusion. Its crisp taste makes this a fantastic option for any wine lover.
Château Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2019 – A fine wine from the Bordeaux regions of France. Overall, a balanced success with notes and flavors of citrus, peaches, and apples. A real summer treat.
Sherwood House Wine – This white Merlot wine is infused with notes of fresh berry, orange zest, and raspberry. The taste is crisp and paired with the delicious flavor of berry, citrus, and sweet cherry.
Sutter Home White Merlot – A perfect wine for everyday drinkers. Ideal for a sip during your favorite tv show or movie. Not too bitter and not too sweet, balanced in the best way.
Gallo Family White Merlot – Here is a white Merlot that has plum and blueberry flavors. It’s actually a pale pink color. If you are a lover of blush wines, then Gallo Familly White Merlot will surely win your heart.
What Food Pairs with White Merlot?
There are so many food pairings for a glass of white Merlot, here are some of my favorites.
Pork – Pork dishes tend to pair better with red wines, but they are an ideal companion for a white Merlot as well. Pork chops, pork tenderloin, ham, and bacon will go with medium-acidic but light-bodied white Merlot to balance the smoke, salt, and sweetness.
Vegetables – White Merlot makes an excellent pairing with vegetables. The earthy flavors in this wine go best with roasted mushrooms and grilled vegetables. It also tastes best with tomato sauce dishes and tomatoes.
Poultry – Poultry like chicken, turkey, and duck are the best pairing for this white wine. The fat on white meat tastes fantastic with white Merlot. Consider a rich duck recipe for a dinner party.
Salads – If it goes well with vegetables then it will be great with fresh salads. You can add a sprinkle of goat or feta cheese to the platter. You can add healthy veggies like avocado, papaya, mango, grilled red peppers, and much more into the dish.
Cheese – This is one of the classic food choices with this white wine. This is similar to a match made in heaven when you pair white Merlot wine with Pecorino, Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Manchego, and Cheddar.
These cheese types have a salty flavor that will go very well with this wine. You can also try it with soft cheeses like Emmenthaland Gouda, Comté, and Gruyère
Fish – Merlot isn’t that popular with fish, but there are exceptions. This white wine has a dry medium feature with soft and rich flavors. Thus, the taste of the wine will overpower the delicate taste of seafood or a fish dish.
However, you can try fishes like cod, sea bass, snapper, and halibut. You can also try sushi with it.
Pasta – This wine goes hand and hand with pasta dishes. It is a soft and fruitier type of drink, which makes it a great pair with pasta fused with mushrooms, bacon, and vegetables. You can add tomatoes, chicken, and fresh lemon zest to the dish.
Thai Food – Merlot is ideal for Thai food. The extra heat in the dish will make your wine taste like heaven. Thai food is generally spicy and with this, you can add a pair of lime then have it with white Merlot.
You can opt for Thai chicken salad and green curry which will bring out the unique flavors of this white wine.
Where Did White Merlot Begin?
White Merlot was created in 1992 by the Fortant Winery of Languedoc in the Southwest of Rhòne, France.
During that time blush wines, such as Zinfandel, were gaining popularity around the world, especially amongst North American consumers. Since certain regions can only grow a specific type of grape, winemakers were forced to innovate.
The Fortant Winery peeled the skin of their traditional Merlot grapes and created a unique pink wine, and subsequently, a new wine category called white Merlot.
Their new product was actually pink, not white as the name would suggest.
Pink wines are often referred to as blush or rosé.
Traditionally the color comes from a mix of red and green grapes, but in the case of white Merlot, it’s a result of maceration.
Summary
That is everything a wine enthusiast needs to know about white Merlot. Now, you are prepared to try this uniquely fantastic mixture of sweet and crips flavors without any hesitation.
If you think I missed something about this wine, please let me know in the comments section or by reaching out to me directly.
I hope this helped you gain a little understanding about this often skipped-over wine and motivated you to try it if you haven’t done so already.