- New Alliance of Women in Washington Wine already stands at 200 strong
- Bullocks bid goodbye to Eye of the Needle Winery in Woodinville
- VineLines Dispatch #7: That’s a wrap
- Former Oregon car dealer gears up with Jachter Family Wines
- VineLines Dispatch: 6 Vineyards at Work
- L’Ecole Nº 41 to create wine bar at Marcus Whitman Hotel
- VineLines Dispatch: Harvest surrounding Lake Chelan
- Northwest restaurateurs purchase Basel Cellars in Walla Walla
- Hayden Homes CEO buys interest in Pepper Bridge, Amavi wineries
- Walla Walla Community College to receive $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott
Washington Merlot love

Merlot is easy to love – and there is plenty to go around, as it is Washington’s No. 2 grape. (Photo by Andy Perdue/Great Northwest Wine)
Washington Merlot is easy to love. It’s smooth, rich and luscious with plenty of structure. It’s not usually as expensive as its big brother Cabernet Sauvignon.
In Washington state, Merlot has long been a star. For a decade-long stretch starting in the mid-1990s, it was the state’s No. 1 red wine grape. And even though Cabernet Sauvignon is the star, Washington Merlot continues to play an important role. Last year, Washington winemakers crushed 36,000 tons of Merlot. While this was well behind Cabernet Sauvignon, it was more than twice as much as Syrah.
Here are a dozen Washington Merlots we’ve tasted in recent weeks. Ask for them at your favorite wine merchant or contact the wineries directly.
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