MERLOT DOMAINE CHANTELLE

Merlot has long been considered a classic among wine connoisseurs worldwide. Because of its rich blue tint, Merlot gets its name from an old Occitan expression that translates to “young blackbird,” although the wine is more often known for its mellow quality. The origins of Merlot vineyards in France may be traced back to the eighteenth century (the grape is first mentioned in the writings of a Bordeax official in 1784). It’s been used for centuries by vintners. A terrible winter hit France in 1965, killing out many of the country’s merlot vines. Wineries typically replant their vines in the spring in the hopes of revitalising their Merlot crop. A huge amount of the recently planted grapes were lost to a widespread ground rot, creating yet another wine calamity. Whenever France experiences a serious wine shortage, the government steps in and places a statewide ban on growing Merlot, which this time lasted until 1975. I refuse to accept it. The French Merlot harvest has recovered nicely since then.

Since we are the finest at what we do, we decided to make a special tea blend to celebrate this excellent vintage. Infusing hibiscus, dried elderberries, and raisins into premium black tea was our first step.