Franco-California

I can always count on Salon.com to come up with some of the most interesting map related graphic images... Today's article in the food section caught my eye.

Meritage: New world grapes and old world blends Your guide to some truly great American wines, made in French style, by Steven Kolpan

California winemakers have coined a term for wines produced in the style of well known French wines:

So, what constitutes a Meritage wine? First of all, the wine must be made from a blend of at least two traditional Bordeaux grapes -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot for reds, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for whites (more than 80 percent of Meritage wines are red). Second, no varietal can exceed 90 percent of the blend.

The article goes on to list some of the better tasting "Meritage" wines.

If you wine connoisseurs wish to argue the relative merits of California vs. French wines, be my guest. I'll just admire the maps. (It took me a moment to figure out that red splotch in southern California... sorry Corsica...)