A pleasant garnet color. On the nose, plums, almonds with hints of ginger. The palate has pronounced cherry with good acidity and a soft finish. Certified Sustainable and Certified Vegan.
La Playa Merlot
In 1952, patriarch Søren Axelsen left his native Copenhagen to travel the world. Eventually, he settled in California to grow his own grapes. But he never forgot the remarkable growing regions he had seen in Chile, in particular Colchagua Valley, which showed such great potential to produce world-class wines.
By 1989, he had realized his dream, founding Viña La Playa alongside his sons Peter and Eric. Viña La Playa of Chile is a partnership between the Axelsens and two promient Chilean winemaking legends: the Sutil and Errázuriz families. The winery encompasses 597 acres of prime property in the Colchagua Valley, where its vineyards enjoy a unique microclimate that fosters the growth of premium wine grapes.
Wine specs
Tasting notes
Wine specs
Food pairing notes
Our wine experts think this Chilean Merlot wine would be a match made in heaven with these dishes. Bon appétit!
Wine specs
Winemaker notes
Merlot is a staple of the wine producing regions of South America. Alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, the bold, spicy grape contributes to Chile’s reputation for creating great, affordable wine.
Chilean Merlot tends to be full-bodied yet gentle, relatively low in alcohol yet with a bracing acidity, and it often has a divisive “green” characteristic to it.
This iconic Bordeaux grape was first brought to South America in the 19th century, yet only really came into its own during a massive surge in the consumption of Chilean and Argentinian wine in the 90s.
In 1994 it was discovered that much of what was thought to be Merlot was actually Carménère, an almost identical grape native to France that growers more or less turned their back on due to its relatively low yields.
The best Merlot in Chile grows in the Apalta region in the Colchagua province. The grape thrives in many countries around the world, and enjoys a subtle yet compelling variance from climate to climate.
Chilean Merlot can stand up to strong flavors fairly well, so pair with a big red-sauce Italian meal, some meatballs, a bit of roasted turkey or even a good pizza.
