In Europe, France is the largest producer of Merlot. In Bordeaux, where the grape variety originated, it is mainly grown in the Médoc, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion regions. In Italy, Merlot is cultivated in the Veneto and Toscana regions, and in Spain in the Navarra and Rioja regions.
In North and South America, Merlot is cultivated in the USA, Canada and Chile, while in Australia and South Africa it is mainly grown in the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Paarl regions.
Merlot wines often have aromas of black fruits such as blackberries, blueberries and plums, sometimes also notes of chocolate and tobacco. They are usually soft and round in taste, less tannic and less full-bodied than other red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon.