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26 | OHCC LIVING | MAY 2019 | Summer is coming – and summer party plans are underway. Our Summer Party is June 7, "Another Day in Paradise." Look for a poster at the Clubhouse with all the details! Wine Club members taste many different wines at the monthly wine tastings and continually learn about different types of grapes, regions of the world that produce different types of wines, and also words that describe wines. For example, Meritage is one of the newest words in wine. You may have seen it while browsing through your local wine shop, especially if you favor Californian wines. However, what exactly can you expect from a Meritage wine? The answer is a New World style of one the world's oldest and most beloved styles of wine, Bordeaux. Given its popularity and relative affordability, Meritage is a blend you do not want to miss. History of Meritage Wine: In the 1980s, even though New World wines — and Californian wines in particular — had risen in reputation ever since the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting, some California winemakers still faced difficulties marketing their product to consumers. In the U.S., any wine made with 75 percent of one grape can be labeled after the varietal. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon. However, what about wines that are blends of several grapes, like those from Bordeaux? At the time, U.S. winemakers who preferred to blend their wine had two choices: label their wines "Bordeaux," or "Bordeaux-style blends," which was not only disingenuous but also confusing; or give their wines the generic label of "red table wine," which told consumers nothing about the quality or taste of their wine. Therefore, in 1988 a group of California winemakers got together and realized what they needed was a completely new term to describe a high-quality style of blended wine made in the New World. Famous European wine regions like Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy, have their own brand, partly because people know what to expect out of wine from these regions, but also because European law protects the use of these names. In the U.S., however, place names are not as protected or regulated, nor is there the century's worth of trial and error and rules attached to AVAs as there is to French Appellations. Therefore, the California winemakers could not name their blend after a place. Instead, they would have to create a name from scratch and then trademark the term to protect against imitators and misuse. After holding an international contest for the best name, they settled on Meritage (rhymes with heritage). It is a combination of merit, indicating quality, and heritage, a nod to the traditional Bordeaux wines of France. What is in a Meritage Blend? Meritage wine is made from at least two of the "noble" Bordeaux grapes, with one grape variety making up no more than 90 percent of the total blend. In addition, that is it! Once a winemaker has created their blend, they have to apply to the Meritage Association to use the term Meritage on the label, since it is trademarked. However, those are the only two application requirements. The grapes that can be used in a red Meritage are: • Cabernet Sauvignon • Cabernet Franc • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • St. Macaire • Gros Verdot • Carmenère If the wine contains any other grape variety, it cannot call itself Meritage. White Meritage, like white Bordeaux, is a rarer blend, but if you can find it you'll discover a very food-friendly wine that's generally described as elegant and balanced. The grapes that can be used for white Meritage are: • Sauvignon Blanc • Semillon • Muscadelle du Bordelais A very short list compared to the red Meritage! Again, no other grape varieties can be blended into the wine if the winemaker wants to call it a Meritage. Want to try a Meritage wine, ask for recommendations at your local wine shop. There are many good ones to try. Wine Tasting Club

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