Why is it called Meritage?
The chosen name ‘Meritage’, is a combination of the words ‘merit’ and ‘heritage’. ‘Merit’ was chosen to reflect the quality of the grapes while ‘Heritage’ was chosen to recognize the centuries-old blending process that was involved in making the wine.
Where did Meritage come from?
Meritage, pronounced like heritage, first appeared in the late 1980s after a group of American vintners joined forces to create a name for New World wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux. The word was selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest.
What makes a wine a Meritage?
Meritage (rhymes with “heritage”) is a particular category of blended wine. To use the term, a winery has to be a member of the Meritage Association, and the wine has to be blended entirely from Bordeaux grape varieties, with no more than 90 percent of any single grape.
What is white Meritage?
A white Meritage is a blend of two grape varietals, either from sauvignon blanc, semillon and muscadelle du Bordelais. These wines are an ode to the centuries-old tradition of blending, which has long been considered one of the highest forms of winemaking.
How do you say Meritage?
Understanding the Wine Term: Meritage Meritage has to be one of the most misunderstood and mispronounced wine words in the world. With that being said, let’s get the pronunciation out of the way first: “MARE-eh-tidge” is correct, and “MARE-eh-targe” is not.
Who coined the term Meritage?
The first wine to be labeled with the term “Meritage” was the 1986 “The Poet” by Mitch Cosentino (Cosentino Winery) and 1985 vintage by Dry Creek Vineyard was the oldest vintage released “Meritage”.
What is Meritage wine made from?
A Red Meritage is a blend of two or more of the red “noble” Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and the rarer St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère. If the blend includes any other grape variety, it is, by definition, not a Meritage.
What does Meritage pair with?
Pairs well with red, savory meats, grilled or roasted. Foods and Entrees that usually pair: Beef, lamb, game, chicken, turkey, veal or pork grilled, roasted or braised, chili, hamburgers, meatloaf, mushrooms, cheese based pasta, risotto.
Is Meritage a good wine?
Red Meritage wines historically have been among the world’s most highly rated wines. They are prized for their smooth, silky texture and complex, robust structure. While they age beautifully – often for decades – most are also very drinkable in their younger years.
Is Opus One a Meritage wine?
Meritage wines are usually moderately expensive and are often given fanciful proprietary names. Such wines as Opus One, Insignia, Cain Five, and Magnificat would all qualify as Meritage if their producers chose to have them so designated.
Who is the chairman of Meritage Homes?
Mr. Steve Hilton is the Executive Chairman of Meritage Homes and a member of its Board of Directors.
When did the Meritage Association change its name to Meritage Alliance?
Shifting its focus from trademark policing to education and marketing resulted in swift growth. By 2003, the Association had over 100 members, including its first international participants. In May 2009, the Meritage Association announced that it had changed its name to the Meritage Alliance.
How many cases of Meritage can a winery produce?
Although not stipulated by the licensing agreement, the Meritage Alliance strongly recommends that wineries label only their best blend Meritage and limit production to no more than 25,000 cases. Unlike regulations like French AOC, there are no mandatory rules related to winemaking or winegrowing.
How much does it cost to label a Meritage blend?
The Meritage agreement stipulates the blends that can be labeled “Meritage”, a fee per case (currently $1.00, capped at $500.00 per vintage), and various labeling restrictions.