Meritage

Derived from a combination of the words “Merit” and “Heritage”, Meritage wines are U.S. born and bred and must include some combination of the classic Bordeaux varietals. When examining our Meritage Wine Ratings, it is evident that the red blends are far more prevalent than the whites. The red wines are a blend of the noble Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, while the whites combine Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. In these wines, no one varietal may account for more than 90% of the blend. In order to use the term Meritage, wineries must apply for and obtain a license through the Meritage Alliance, though certain wineries choose to brand their wines, creating a proprietary blend such as Joseph Phelps’ “Insignia.” The Alliance considers these wines to be the best of the vintage, and consumers can expect big and bold flavors, brimming with ripe and lush berry fruit that will only improve with oak barrel aging. For further information on these wines simply reference our Meritage Wine Reviews.