Red Meritage

A red Meritage is made from a blend of two or more of the following varieties:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Cabernet Franc
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot
• St. Macaire, Gros Verdot
• Carmenere

No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend.

White Meritage

A white Meritage is made from a blend of two or more of the following varieties:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Sauvignon Vert

No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend.

What is Meritage?

In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify handcrafted wines blended from the traditional "noble" Bordeaux varietals.

Most American wines are labeled after the grape variety that comprises at least 75% of that wine. A label with "Cabernet Sauvignon" indicates that the wine is comprised of 75% or more of the grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon.

Many winemakers, however, believed the varietal requirement did not necessarily result in the highest quality wine from their vineyards. "Meritage" was coined to identify wines that represent the highest form of the winemaker's art, blending, and distinguish these wines from the more generic moniker "red table wine." "

"Meritage," pronounced like "heritage," was selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest to name the new wine category. Meritage is an invented word that combines "merit" and "heritage" --reflecting the spirit of members of The Meritage Association.

While many wineries prefer to use proprietary names in addition to, or rather than, Meritage, to obtain a license and use the term Meritage a wine must meet the criteria shown at your left.

Many retailers and restaurateurs are now responding to demand for Meritage wines by stocking or listing them separately in their stores and wine lists.