2007-06-20 06:00:03 · 8 answers · asked by Daniel K 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
To make wine, you need to start with grape. Merlot is the grape which makes the wine. For someone to make wine, you must grow the vine for at least 3-4 years before it can be mature enough to produce grape of good quality for wine making. That is the reason you really can't expect to make good wine out of grapes from your local grocery.
To add to the character of the grape, you need to grow it appropriately, which is dependant on the soil type, the weather, the humidity, the sun and the moon and everything. It also depends on the "stress" on the vines - the tighter the vine is grown together and the less water, the more concentrated the grape has and the flavor it obtains. Pruning the vines is also important.
Then, to make wine, you ferment the grape juice in various container, which further add the character of the wine. There are different types of barrels used, from metal container to American Oak to French Oak to other type of wood barrels. Adding different type of barrels would add different flavor, depending on the chemical interaction of grape juice and the chemical on the barrels. The time spent in the barrels as well as whether you mix the juice in the barrel or in the bottle also matters. Since many wines are a mixture of juice from different grapes (for example, for you to call a wine "Merlot" in California, the wine will need to have 90% Merlot but can use any variety of wine to make up the other 10%, whether to add flavor or to add color), some wine maker blend their wines in a neutral/used barrel while other wine makers mix them from different barrels once they are added into the bottles.
There is also a whole lot of science behind measuring the sugar content, alcohol content, pH, and various chemicals behind the making of wine. Only 12-18 months after the grape picking can a bottle of Merlot end up on the shelf for sale. It is a whole lot of science that some people get degree in Oeneology (most well known at UC Davis)
2007-06-20 06:24:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one fruit to make a merlot and that is from the Merlot grape. Merlot is a popular grape grown successfully all over the world. You will find many varieties and other grapes can be blended with it.
2007-06-20 15:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by beckaanne2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eehco is full of ****. to make merlot you need merlot grapes. something to ferment the wine in, and something to store the wine in. If you take grapes right out of the vineyard and crush them, they will start to ferment. then you have wine. to make good merlot? you need a good vineyard. there aren't many out there. and generally some type of barrel
2007-06-20 06:27:12 · answer #3 · answered by jon h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "merlot" grape.
2007-06-20 11:17:17 · answer #4 · answered by Joshua B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
merlot is a wine made from a red grape.
2007-06-20 06:02:42 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
merlot grapes
2007-06-20 06:02:46 · answer #6 · answered by Always Right 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Vitis vinifera merlot grapes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlot
Oh... and yeast. you can't make wine without yeast.
.
2007-06-20 11:26:03 · answer #7 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
besides the grapes and their skins for color, it really depends on the winery. it can vary from pepper, cherry, berry, oak, etc.
2007-06-20 06:13:47 · answer #8 · answered by eehco 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋