In many cultures, it’s customary to enjoy a glass of wine with a good meal. At the Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, we’ve adopted that custom and created a wine list to suit anyone’s taste. One of our favorite wines to serve is a beautiful glass of Merlot. We get a lot of questions about food and wine pairings, wine regions, and the aging process from our guests. Merlot is a fantastic wine that goes so well with much of our menu. We’re sharing some interesting facts about Merlot as well as great food pairings from our menu.
Merlot Regions
Merlot is one of the most commonly grown grape varieties around the world. It is harvested in France, Italy, California, several countries in South America, and even Israel. In France, it is usually grown in Southwestern regions like Bordeaux where it is often blended with Malbec. Northeastern Italy is also known for it’s ability to produce the grape and then combine it with other wines such as Cabernet Franc. The dark blue grape is grown most often in cooler climates to prevent the grapes from ripening too quickly. At our Downtown Dallas steakhouse, we carefully select our Merlot based on the region and how well it will pair with our menu.
Aging the Merlot
After the fermentation process, which can last anywhere from 7 to 18 days, the wine is aged in an oak barrel. The aging process is incredibly important to the taste of the Merlot. Depending on the variety of the Merlot, the wine might be aged anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Once the Merlot has been bottled, some winemakers like to age the wine for awhile longer before selling it in order to maximize the taste.
Food Pairings
Merlot, like many other wines, comes in all tastes and textures. Food pairings depend entirely on the style of Merlot. If you’re going to be enjoying a dinner at our Dallas restaurant and appreciate a full-bodied Merlot, then we recommend pairing it with one of our juicy, tender steaks. Some of our most popular steaks are our Porterhouse and New York Prime Strip. A lighter, fruiter Merlot should be paired with a grilled chicken dish such as our Avery Island Chicken Sandwich. Particularly ripe Merlots are paired beautifully with dishes like our Charbroiled Salmon and even our Prime Beef burger. If Merlot doesn’t suit your fancy, take a look at our wine menu to find something more up your alley.
Come for a Taste at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
Whether you just want to stop in for a drink or get the full steakhouse experience, we invite you to join us for a glass of wine! We have one of the most robust wine lists in Dallas with plenty of great food pairings. Contact us today for reservations!