Monday, May 9, 2016

Merlot - blackbird and dark wine

A colleague of mine went to the London Wine Fair and was told by a lady serving merlot wine that merlot means blackbird.

I looked it up online and up popped the Wikipedia explanation:

Merlot is a dark blue-colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape.

Yes, a diminutive of merle. That makes it much easier to remember a black grape like a blackbird making a dark coloured wine.

Not only have I learned to remember merlot, I have learned the French for blackbird, merle. One vineyard has called itself Blackbird, and specialises in Merlot.

More information from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlot
https://www.blackbirdvineyards.com/the_blackbird_story/

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. 
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