Bordeuax vs. Meritage

      A Bordeuax wine can be either red or white.  The red wine must be made from at least two of these grapes, with no single varietal being more then 90%: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère.  It can not contain any grape that is not on this list.  The rules are the same for white wine with these varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle du Bordelais.

       A Meritage is pounced just like heritage but with an M in front.  According to the Meritage Alliance a meritage is a blend that of at least two grapes, with no single grape being more then 90%.  The grapes varietals that can be blended are:

A red meritage: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and sometimes St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère.

A white meritage: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle du Bordelais.

No other grape can be used.

      Bordeuax and a Meritage almost the same with one big difference.  A Bordeuax must be from Bordeuax, France, if it is made one yard outside of the Bordeuax region it is not longer a Bordeuax.

     But what about Meritage, does that have a region restriction? It must be made in the US.  US is a new world wine region.  I will continue to do research on how Meritage is used in both new world and old world wine regions, and will let you know what I find.