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Merlot Wine for Delivery or Pickup
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The Instacart guide to merlot
Merlot is an easy-to-drink red wine that has been popular for decades. Merlot is perfect for pizza night with the family or just sharing a bottle with friends. With dozens of brands on the market today, choosing the right bottle can be confusing. This Instacart buying guide can help you choose the right wine for any occasion. Once you find a wine you like, add it to your cart via the Instacart app. Our shoppers will pick and deliver your wine, often in as little as 2 hours!
About merlot wines
Merlot is a great introductory wine for those new to wine, or white wine drinkers trying reds for the first time. Because it is lower in acidity and tannins, merlot wine is soft and velvety on the tongue with a smooth finish. Merlot is a dry wine with flavors of cherry, blackberry, plum, chocolate, and spice. If aged in oak barrels, merlot takes on notes of cedar, vanilla, and clove. Merlot is extremely popular as part of a blend, but it also shines when bottled alone.
The alcohol by volume of a merlot varies depending on where they are produced. Merlot made in cooler regions, such as Bordeaux or Washington, has 13-14% ABV. Wineries in warmer regions, such as California, Australia, or Chile produce merlot with a 14-15% ABV.
Types of merlot wine
Merlot wines are often categorized based on growing regions. The unique soil and climate of each region create slight differences in the merlot produced.
Bordeaux, France is the most famous merlot-growing region in the world. Merlot wines from Bordeaux have mineral notes and robust fruit flavors. The Saint-Emilion and Chateau La Vieille Cure wineries produce outstanding Bordeaux merlot.
Merlots from Tuscany, Italy, are earthy and oaky. Tuscan merlots can be expensive, especially when blended in a "Super Tuscan" wine such as Bolgheri DOC. Masseto, Redigaffi, and Messorio produce excellent Tuscan merlot.
The Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia is most famous for white grapes, but merlot is the predominant red wine grape in the area. This part of northeastern Italy produces merlots with flavors of spice, stone, and anise. Attems, Grappolo D'Oro, and Ambo are delightful examples of merlot from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
California merlots are easy to drink, thanks to their smooth texture and flavors of jam, oak, and vanilla. Paso Robles and Napa Valley are the two most prominent merlot-producing regions in California. Popular California merlots include Chateau St. Jean, Cresta Blanca, and Stags' Leap.
Washington merlots are higher in tannins and acidity than many on the market. Cherry, berry, and dark chocolate flavors are prominent in Washington merlots. Leonetti from Walla Walla Valley, Long Shadows Pedestal from Columbia Valley, and Two Mountain Copeland Vineyard from the Yakima Valley are excellent Washington merlots.
Chile produces bold and fruit-forward merlot, similar to those from California. The Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley is known for producing some of the highest quality Chilean merlot. Vina San Esteban, Marques de Casa Concha, and Frontera are popular Chilean merlots.
Australian wineries have only been making merlot since the 1980s but have quickly become popular with consumers. Australian merlot has prominent flavors of fruit and wood, with a smooth finish. God's Hill Black Olive, Penny's Hill Malpas Road, and McGuigan Black Label are excellent Australian merlots.
Food pairings with merlot wines
Its low acidity and fruit flavors allow merlot to pair well with a wide variety of foods. Light-bodied merlot pairs well with poultry, pasta, cheese, pizza, and grilled vegetables. A heavy, full-bodied merlot pairs well with barbecue and beef.
The aromas and flavors of merlot are most enjoyable at 60-65°F. Allow your merlot to breathe in a decanter for 30 minutes to an hour before drinking. Once opened, use your merlot within 2-4 days.
Merlot Near Me
Buy your favorite Merlot online with Instacart. Order Merlot from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about merlot wines
Store your merlot store away from direct sunlight, in a cool basement or wine fridge set between 60-70°F. Properly stored merlot can last for 10 years or more.
Instacart is dedicated to making the buying process easy. The Instacart app lists participating wine retailers in your area. Once your order is placed, one of our dedicated shoppers will deliver your item straight to your door. When ordering merlot with us, please take note of the following restrictions:
- You must be 21 years or older to order wine with Instacart.
- At this time, we cannot take special requests for wine.
- Wine cannot substitute a non-alcoholic item.
- When your shopper arrives with your wine order, you must show them a valid form of ID.
- Instacart shoppers will not deliver wine to any visibly intoxicated person.
Instacart accepts military IDs, state-issued ID cards, and U.S. driver's licenses. Except for Costco, Walmart, and California-based orders, you may also use your U.S. passport as identification.
When your shopper arrives with your order, they will scan your ID or enter your information manually. The state of California, Costco, and Walmart prohibit the manual entry of ID information.