International Merlot Day: What makes Merlot unique, and its ideal food pairings

The grape variety of Merlot is primarily known to have become popular from Bordeaux in France. Over time, the wine made from the grape variety has travelled around the world including India. Interestingly, every year people around the world celebrate International Merlot Day on November 7. However, with so many wine varieties today, what makes Merlot unique?

With each passing day, Indian chefs have said on many occasions that with more Indians travelling around the world their palates have evolved to experiment with a wide variety of flavours with their food and drink. Wine is certainly one of them and that is evident from the fact that in September this year, Sula Vineyards unveiled their Sula Merlot to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

On the other hand, Grover Zampa Vineyards has its Merlot variety but admits the origins weren't without challenges. "It is very difficult to grow Merlot in India. We did several trials and we are lucky that we got our varietal which is giving fabulous quality of Merlot as it is grown in our own vineyards." Their Merlot wine is fruity, medium body with a smooth finish.

Uniqueness of Merlot
So, what makes Merlot wine unique to the Indian palate? Vikram Singh Kaplish, F&B manager at ITC Grand Central Mumbai in Parel, explains, "Merlot is approachable and adaptable due to its fruity overtones, such as plum and black cherry, and its smooth tannins. It also pairs nicely with the complex, multi-layered tastes of Indian food."

On the other hand, Nitin Tirkha, the bar manager at AXO Bar & Lounge, believes the fact that it is milder than other wines also makes it appealing to the Indian palate, apart from offering a smoother flavour profile.

As India's wine culture grows, Tirkha says over the last five years, the awareness and appreciation for Merlot grapes have grown significantly in India owing to the increasing number of seminars and specialised wine classes that educate people about the versatile wine.

Apart from the awareness, Kaplish says the appeal of Merlot has increased dramatically because of its flavour. "Due to its easy-drinking qualities, it has gained popularity among both novice and experienced wine drinkers, and more establishments are now featuring it on their menus," he adds.

Wine and food-pairings
While wine and cheese have been a common food pairing made popular over the years, there has been a shift in the approach, especially in India, as more people enjoy it with Indian food too. If purists believe that's not quite something they identify with, many experts and sommeliers ask why not.

Kaplish highlights, "Merlot goes nicely with roasted meats like lamb, roasted root vegetables, and mushroom dishes. Its fruitiness enhances rather than overpowers these flavours." Such is his love to explore the flavours of Merlot that he personally loves to pair it with paneer tikka or lamb roast, and with a piece of dark chocolate cake, for dessert.

On the other hand, Tirkha does love pairing his Merlot with Brie cheese, but there's more he likes to try out. He explains, "I like to also pair it with cashews or pistachios, berries, meatloaf, hummus dip, garlic mushroom, pork chops, and various fruits. These options bring out Merlot's depth and create a delightful tasting experience."

Festive season with wine
Even as International Merlot Day is celebrated in November, the timing couldn't be better because of the festive season that starts in December. More often than not, wine becomes a popular choice and if Merlot is on your menu, then the Mumbai food and beverage expert says, "Merlot complements celebratory delicacies like chocolate truffles or plum tarts because of its silky texture and dark fruit overtones, which add sweetness without being overpowering."

Even chef Amit Sharma at Poetry by Love & Cheesecake in Bandra believes Merlot pairs perfectly with desserts but even there he has a favourite. He explains, "The soft, fruity notes of a good Merlot balance out the creamy sweetness of cheesecakes so beautifully. Especially around the festive season, there's just something warm and inviting about a dessert-and-wine pairing." Personally, his favourite combination is a glass of Merlot with salted caramel cheesecake, which is incidentally available at the cafe too.

On the other hand, Kaplish says the festive season demands more and can be even enjoyed before you reach sweet treats. He shares, "Merlot pairs wonderfully with shredded chicken or white meat steaks. These meats complement the wine's flavours, allowing one to savour its richness with a variety of delicious appetisers."

It is no different for Stefan Gadit, executive chef at Torii in Bandra. He likes to enjoy Merlot wine with chicken yakitori or mushroom hot pot rice, which he believes are perfect for any occasion. However, he believes the festive season opens up a universe to pair the wine with desserts of different kinds. "Merlot wine's fruitiness pairs beautifully with dark chocolate and berry desserts, adding balance and depth." However, he says beyond the grilled meats you can also experiment with delicious mushroom risotto and caramelised vegetables.

Even though it is Christmas and New Year, Indian festivities are incomplete without butter chicken and Nawabi biryani, which he believes are definitely a must-try with Merlot wine. "Meat, pasta, legumes, charcuterie and cheeses are some of the delicious combinations you can create with this grape variety," he concludes.