Merlot is a French technical grape variety belonging to the Western European eco-geographical group. It is widely cultivated along the Mediterranean coast, in Algeria, southern Russia, and Ukraine. This variety has a medium ripening period: from bud break to technical maturity for table wines, it takes about 152 days, and for dessert wines — about 164 days. Harvesting is typically carried out at the end of September to the beginning of October, with the vine reaching 90-95% maturity before autumn frosts. Shoot growth is of medium to above-average vigor, with one-year-old shoots having a yellowish-brown color and darker nodes.
The leaves of Merlot are of medium size, rounded, dark green with a slight bronze tint, moderately lobed and five-lobed, with open upper lateral notches. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow with red spots. Bunches are cylindrical-conical in shape, of medium size, and berries are black with a heavy waxy bloom. The berry flavor is harmonious, with a characteristic tomato-like taste. Flowers are hermaphroditic, which promotes good pollination and stable yield.
The Merlot variety is valued for its high-quality grape material, used for producing both table and dessert wines. It is often used in blending to enhance the characteristics of other red wines. The grape exhibits high and stable yield, as well as relative disease resistance, making it popular among viticulturists. The sum of active temperatures during the ripening period reaches 3000-3300°C, indicating its adaptation to warm climates.
