Merlot
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Merlot is a dark-blue-colored wine grape variety that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird
Merlot grapes on the vine
A main cluster and an attached "wing cluster" of Merlot grapes with its characteristic dark-blue color
Cabernet Franc, one of the parent varieties of Merlot.
Merlot leaf from Hedges vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA
Carignan
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Carignan is a red grape variety of Spanish origin that is more commonly found in French wine but is widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean and around the globe. Along with Aramon, it was
Carignan in Viala & Vermorel
Carignan leaf.
Despite sharing several synonyms, such as Samsó in Catalonia, Carignan and Cinsault (pictured) are genetically distinct.
Old bushvine plantings of Carignan can be found in the Priorat region (vineyard pictured) of Catalonia