Quite unlike thermophile Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot grows well in cooler climates. The wines made from Merlot can be soft, fruity with low acidity and low in tannins. Merlot also likes warm climates, but it has the ability to mature very quickly, and with the rapid maturation is losing some of its most essential features.

Merlot translated from French means "blackbird", most likely given the similarity between the color of the bird and the colour of the grapes.

It prefers light but rich soil on sloped areas. The cluster is medium size, cylindrical-conical, semi-compact. Grapes are small, spherical, dark blue, with abundant bloom. The skin is thin and wiry. The grape inside is juicy, with a harmonious taste. Grapes ripen about the middle of September - about 10-15 days earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot accumulate enough sugar - 22-26% and titratable acidity around 6g/l, which is lower than that of the Cabernet Sauvignon. More sensitive to low winter temperatures of Cabernet Sauvignon.