Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

Lyeth 2013 Meritage ($10)

This Meritage from Lyeth is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  The name "Meritage" was created in 1988 when U.S. wine makers decided to form an alliance and a name for their blended wines. By blending the words 'Merit' for having worth, and 'Heritage' for the Bordeaux style of wine making, they created a new word, Meritage. But instead of making this blend sound like a French wine, they insisted that Meritage be pronounced like the word heritage.  This Meritage from Lyeth is a nice example of a traditional Bordeaux blend.

What is Meritage Wine?

Have you ever come across a wine labeled as Meritage and wondered what it is? It's made in the U.S. where you can dependably know what a wine is because the label will tell you the grape varietal used to make the wine.  But this U.S. made wine seems to fall into the category of many European wines; the label does not directly tell you the grapes used in the wine's production. And for good reason.

Old World wines, especially those of France, are named for regions. Regions where only certain grapes are allowed to be grown. Additionally, there are regions, such as Bordeaux, where the wines are blends of these controlled grapes. And, as you may know, these Bordeaux blends have done rather well in the world market.

Blended wines have been made for years in the U.S., but their labels had to say generic things like "Red Blend" or "Table Wine."  Not nearly as sophisticated sounding as a Bordeaux. So, in 1988, U.S. wine makers decided to form an alliance and create a name for their blended wines. They decided on blending two words: 'Merit,' for having worth, and 'Heritage' for the Bordeaux style of wine making. Thus the new word 'Meritage.'  But, instead of making it sound like it is a French wine, they insisted that it be pronounced to rhyme with the word heritage.

Red Meritage can be blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. White Meritage is produced from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle du Bordolais.  So these blends rely on the traditional Old World Noble grapes yet gives U.S. wine maker's their own name for their blends.

Don't skip over this wine just because its label doesn't tell you what it is.  The label actually does tell you what grapes may be used. But most importantly, it allows wine makers the freedom to blend their own very unique creations from a common set of grapes. Cheers!

 

 

Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week

J Vineyards 2014 Pinot Gris ($14)

This Pinot Gris (pee-no gree) from J Vineyards has light and delicate fruit flavors of lime, pear and pineapple. Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, has medium acidity for a bit of a mouthwatering finish. In the USA, Pinot Gris is typically described as fruity and dry as compared to the Italian version that has more mineral flavors.  Chill this wine and enjoy it with soft, light cheeses, fish and chicken.

Is Ordering the House Wine a Good Option?

Often in the past, ordering a glass of wine was as easy as saying "I'll have a glass of the house red" or "I'll have a glass of the house white."  House wines were very common at restaurants and met the needs and expectations of many diners.

Today, ordering a glass of wine can often be downright difficult or intimidating. Restaurants are offering today's wine drinkers a wide array of options, sometimes contained in a multi-page wine list made into a book.

During a recent dinner at a mid-range restaurant, a guest at the table asked the server for "a glass of your house red wine."  The server asked, "What type of wine are you interested in?"  Again, the guest simply stated they wanted "just a glass of red wine." The problem was that the restaurant didn't have a house wine. So the server suggested "Would like something like a Zinfandel or a Petite Sirah?"  The guest, becoming a bit frustrated with the situation, simply repeated, "I'd just like a glass of red wine." It made for a bit of an uncomfortable situation for the guest. Whether it was for lacking of caring, lack of knowledge of wines, or from pure intimidation, it didn't need to happen.

If you fall into a situation where you just want a glass of wine and you really don't care about the grape it's made from or where it's grown, you should first ask if there is a house wine available.  And while "House Wine" may sound very generic, they are wines that are produced and bottled for sale by a winery and ones that the establishment chooses to feature. They should reflect on the quality of the establishment. These wines are usually very drinkable, very affordable, and can be enjoyed before or with a meal.

But, there is another option. If you are just looking for a glass of wine, and a specific house wine is not available, simply ask your server what they'd recommend. Once they understand that you are looking for a house wine, they'll know you are looking for an affordable, easy to drink wine. The server should always be able to tell you about a popular wine that a lot of people are ordering or something they really like that is in your price range. Then, go with their recommendation. Worst-case, if you really don't like what they bring you, tell them and they'll bring something else.

Ordering a house wine can be a great option. Or, your server should be more than happy to help you by selecting a wine that you will enjoy and that will go well with the occasion or with your meal. Cheers!