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    Merlot

    Vitis vinifera L.

    The majority grape of Saint-Émilion, half-sibling of Cabernet Sauvignon, and about 3% of all the world's vines in 2015.

    VIVC
    № 76571
    Berry skin
    black (noir)1
    Origin
    France1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    721
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 5cluster
    parentMagdeleine Noire des Charentes
    parentCabernet Franc
    Merlot

    confirmed by DNA markers (VIVC)

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (5 lobes).

    Where Merlot comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)France
    2. Atlas regionNapa Valley
    3. Atlas regionBordeaux
    4. Atlas regionPriorat
    5. Atlas regionChianti Classico

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    Family

    Merlot comes from the Bordeaux vineyards.2 Genetic analyses show it is a cross of Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes.2 VIVC lists this pedigree as confirmed by markers.1 That makes Merlot a half-sibling of Cabernet Sauvignon: both have Cabernet Franc as a parent.

    Where it grows

    In 2015 Merlot covered 266,000 hectares in 37 countries, about 3% of the world's vineyard area.3

    In Bordeaux it spread only from 1830.4 On the clay and limestone of Saint-Émilion it is by far the majority variety,5 and the appellation rules note that it particularly suits cool, damp clay soils.6

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Bigney, Begney, Bidal, Bigney Rouge, Bini.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 257,778 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 2 of 1497 varieties in the database.7

    The largest area is in France: 116,523 ha (45% of the world total), across 46 countries.7

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area grew by 21%.7

    1. France116,523 ha
    2. Italy26,360 ha
    3. the United States18,003 ha
    4. Spain11,745 ha
    5. Romania11,012 ha
    6. Chile10,652 ha
    7. Bulgaria9,346 ha
    8. Australia8,108 ha
    9. Moldova7,689 ha
    10. China6,680 ha
    11. South Africa5,184 ha
    12. Argentina4,703 ha

    Area, 2023

    213,428267,883266,813257,7782000201020162023

    Regions

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport no. 7657. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (JKI), accessed 2026-10-13. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Merlot N. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-13. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Bordeaux » (projet de modification, PNO 2023). INAO, 2023. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Saint-Emilion PDO — amendment application PDO-FR-A0988-AM01. European Commission, eAmbrosia. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    6. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru PDO technical file (PDO-FR-A0993). European Commission eAmbrosia / Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    7. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13