Merlot is one of the traditional red grapes of Bordeaux. The name comes from the Merle (= French: Blackbird), that appreciate the precocious sweet berries very much. In the Bordeaux wines from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, the Merlot usually plays the leading role in the cuvée. The Merlot vine, popular for its early maturity and high sugar content, spread rapidly and wide in Europe. Already in 1855 it was mentioned in the Italian Veneto under the name "Bordò" and at the beginning of the 20th century also in the Ticino / Switzerland, where it supplies excellent wines. The approximately 270.00 ha vineyard surface of the Merlot can be found worldwide. It has the second most planted of all vines worldwide, just a little behind the Cabernet Sauvignon, in which it has a brilliant partner in many great red wines of the world. Famous (almost) 100% Merlot wines are the Chateau Petrus from Pomerol or the Masseto from Tuscany.