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Cultivar · Grape cultivar

Merlot

Vitis vinifera

Merlot is a red wine grape from Bordeaux, France, widely grown for soft, early-drinking red wines and as a blending partner for Cabernet Sauvignon. DNA analysis identifies Cabernet Franc as one of its parents.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Record

Cultivar / variety
Variety of
Grape
Botanical taxon
Vitis vinifera
Type
Cultivar (clonal)
Breeding method
Traditional selection (one parent documented by DNA analysis)
Origin
Bordeaux, south-west France, France
Registry status
Historical
Registries
  • Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) · Global · as of 2026-07-12Catalogued as a Vitis vinifera wine-grape variety.
  • USDA GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System · United States / Global · as of 2026-07-12Germplasm accessions maintained in the US National Plant Germplasm System.
Adaptation
An earlier-ripening variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in temperate to warm climates; earlier budbreak can make it more exposed to spring frost.
Intended use
Red wine (varietal and blended)

Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.

Merlot is a black-skinned wine grape (Vitis vinifera) that originated in the Bordeaux region of France, where it is the most planted variety and dominates the right-bank districts of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. It is prized for producing supple, relatively soft red wines that are approachable at a younger age than many Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

An ancient clonal cultivar propagated vegetatively, Merlot ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon and is often blended with it. DNA analysis has identified Cabernet Franc as one of its parents, which makes Merlot a close genetic relative of Cabernet Sauvignon, since Cabernet Franc is a parent of both.

Origin and parentage

Merlot is documented in Bordeaux from the 18th and 19th centuries and became central to the clay- and limestone-rich soils of the right bank of the Dordogne, in districts such as Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.

DNA analysis has identified Cabernet Franc as one of Merlot’s parents. Because Cabernet Franc is also a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, the two Bordeaux reds are closely related, which is consistent with their long history of being grown and blended together.

Growing characteristics

Merlot generally buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which allows it to reach maturity in slightly cooler sites and gives growers flexibility in blends. Earlier budbreak can, however, increase exposure to spring frost.

  • Earlier budbreak and earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Well suited to cooler, clay-rich soils in its Bordeaux home
  • Larger, thinner-skinned berries than Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Widely planted internationally as both a varietal and a blending grape

Wine style and use

Merlot is used for dry red wine, both as a varietal and as a blending component that can soften and add flesh to firmer varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Styles range from lighter, fruit-forward wines to concentrated, age-worthy examples.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Adapted to climate

Adapted to soil

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: Originating in Bordeaux, France, and widely grown in temperate to warm wine regions worldwide as both a varietal and a blending grape.

Climate context: Earlier-ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon; grown across temperate to warm climates.

  • Wine style depends heavily on terroir, clone, growing season, and winemaking; the variety description is not a description of any individual wine.
  • The variety is a clonal cultivar with multiple registered clones differing in vigour and fruit character; this page describes it in general terms.
  • Only Cabernet Franc is asserted here as a documented parent; the second parent is not stated to avoid over-asserting less firmly established detail.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Cultivar/germplasm records and taxonomy for Vitis vinifera

    Type:
    Official registry
    Jurisdiction:
    United States / Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility (opens in a new tab)

    Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

    High

    Cited for: Taxonomic placement of Vitis vinifera

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]Encyclopaedia Britannica (opens in a new tab)

    Encyclopaedia Britannica

    Moderate

    Cited for: Historical background and documented parentage (secondary reference)

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

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