With everything going on in the world today, day-to-day life can be very stressful. And it’s ironic that we start with that sentence and publish this blog on this particular week.
At the end of the day, it is nice to be able to open up a bottle of Finger Lakes wine. When you take that first sip, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you can relax and enjoy the rest of your night.
November 7 is International Merlot Day, and with that comes the perfect excuse to open up a new bottle of Finger Lakes Wine from our trail.
While many think of the Finger Lakes as being known for their white wines, in particular our award-winning Rieslings, the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail has some of the finest red wines in New York. Before we dive into some great Merlots to try from our trail, let’s see how this varietal is made.
How It’s Made
Red wine is made much the same way it was 6,000 years ago in ancient Greece. Dark-colored grapes are harvested, crushed and fermented with the skins on them to help with color and taste. With the skin, pulp and seeds combined, winemakers leave this mixture to cool for a few days before the fermenting process begins. While some wineries add their own yeast to the mixture, others prefer to allow the yeast that is on the grapes to start the fermentation process.
Our Trail’s Merlot Options
The Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail is proud to have locally-made wine that is hand-crafted and skillfully made by tastemakers who love this region and it’s natural bounty. Here are some Merlot options from our trail.
This Merlot, with subtle herbal and black pepper aromas, has a medium body structure and finishes soft and clean. You may find notes of cedar, tobacco or chocolate. It pairs well with beef braciole and roasted vegetables seasoned with thyme. It’s made from various vineyard sites in the North Fork of Long Island. The sites are well-drained, have sandy soil and gentle rolling slope that ensures ripeness and rich Merlot fruit.
Strawberry, blackberry and baking spices with hints of anise. Medium bodied with a bright acidity and framed by structured but softened tannins. A very approachable wine that is true to the varietal. Pairs well with roasted pork tenderloin, game birds like Cornish hen, chocolate soufflé.
2 years in Romanian Oak, this full bodied Merlot shows a powerful side of the variety, with plush blue and black fruit and dark chocolate flavors, a smooth texture, framed by a dash of spicy oak and a long finish. Beautiful to drink now or lay down.
