Worldwide Merlot Month Movement Engages Millions
Napa, Calif. – October 1, 2019 – Beginning October 1st wine lovers and producers from around the world will join together for #MerlotMe, a month-long, global movement celebrating the Merlot grape. The seventh year of the #MerlotMe movement aims to hit a record number of social posts using the hashtag to reach millions of wine lovers.
#MerlotMe unites passionate wine lovers to celebrate this lavishly textured, dazzling versatile noble red grape varietal. Wine producers and consumers across the globe will celebrate Merlot online during October with the hashtag #MerlotMe, sharing wines while toasting and tasting at events, in wine stores, restaurants, and homes everywhere.
Participating wineries, restaurants and retailers will feature #MerlotMe inspired tasting flights, food bloggers are posting Merlot-paired recipes with #WinePW Twitter chat on Saturday, October 12th at 10 am CST, spotlighting the food-friendly nature of the varietal. Winery tasting rooms in California, Washington and beyond are featuring special tasting flights, reserve and library pours and special pricing in honor of Merlot Month.
How to #MerlotMe:
- Get your hands on Merlot! Share online with #MerlotMe.
- Visit MerlotMe for the latest on where to taste, recipes, and follow participating wineries for Merlot news all month long.
- Visit your favorite winery and mention #MerlotMe for special offers and tastings.
Merlot Momentum
In just the last five years the #MerlotMe celebration has generated more than 62 million social media impressions and reached a worldwide audience in 40+ countries and nearly all 50 states with almost 15,000 social media posts. Merlot is one of the most popular fine wine varieties in the world with more than 720,000 acres planted worldwide. Merlot is the third leading red varietal after Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blends purchased by Americans today*. Merlot is the #1 red most consumed wine varietal according to consumers in a Wine Intelligence August 2018 survey of more than 4,000 wine consumers across all ages and drinking preferences. Merlot led social discussions online versus other varietals during the majority of months over the past year and Merlot received 43% of social mentions during the past year**. California Merlot consumption was approximately 19 million cases in 2017 in the U.S., growing from the 2.8 million cases sold in 1994*.
Visit www.merlotme.com for more information on events, recipes, participating wineries, materials for the wine trade, and how to #MerlotMe. Join #MerlotMe on Instagram @merlotme and Facebook MerlotMeOfficialPage.
*Source: The Wine Institute
**Source: Emetry, September 2019.
