Name: Hestias Merlot Recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 bottle Merlot (bottle); 4 to taste Serving glasses (standard red wine); 1 to taste Decanter (optional); 500 ml Filtered water (for palate cleansing); 1 whole Pizza (Margherita or meat-topped); 4 servings Pasta with tomato-based sauce (e.g., Bolognese); 1 kg Roasted meat (beef or lamb); 100 g Dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or chocolate dessert

Indulge in the rich and velvety Trapiche Malbec, a perfect blend of dark fruit flavors and subtle spice. This exquisite Argentine wine offers notes of ripe blackberry, plum, and a hint of chocolate, creating a luxurious experience in every sip. Perfectly paired with grilled meats or enjoyed on its own, this Malbec is the ideal companion for any occasion, inviting you to savor the essence of the Mendoza region.

Trapiche Malbec

Med Bag of Chips

Ham, cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and arugula.

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mustard in a whole wheat wrap.

Fit Turkey Wrap

Merlot is a red wine that’s smooth, dry, and medium-to-full-bodied, with flavors of cherry, chocolate, and plum. It pairs well with pizza, pasta, and roasted meats.

Merlot is best served slightly below room temperature, about 14–18°C (57–64°F). If the bottle is too warm, place it in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes. If too cold, remove it from the fridge 10–15 minutes before serving to warm slightly.

Chill or bring to serving temperature

Use a clean corkscrew to remove the cork. Wipe the bottle neck with a clean cloth to remove any sediment or cork fragments.

Open the bottle

If the Merlot is young and tightly closed, or if it’s an older bottle with sediment, decant for 30–60 minutes to allow aromas to open and any sediment to remain in the bottle. For most everyday Merlots, pouring directly into glasses is fine.

Decant (optional)

Pour about 120–150 ml (4–5 oz) per glass. Hold the glass by the stem, tilt it slightly and observe the color and clarity — Merlot usually shows ruby to garnet hues with medium opacity.

Pour and observe

Gently swirl the wine in the glass to release aromas. Inhale to identify notes of cherry, plum, chocolate, and subtle spice. Take a small sip, roll it across your tongue, and notice the medium-to-full body and smooth tannins. Note finish and any lingering fruit or chocolate notes.

Swirl, smell, taste

Offer small sips of filtered water between tastings or courses to reset the palate.

Palate cleansing

Serve Merlot alongside tomato- and cheese-forward pizzas—Margherita or meat-topped pizzas work well. The wine's fruit and soft tannins complement tomato acidity and savory toppings. Enjoy 1–2 slices per person with 120–150 ml of wine.

Pair with pizza

Match Merlot with medium-bodied tomato-based pasta dishes like Bolognese. The wine's cherry and plum flavors harmonize with tomato and cooked meat flavors. Serve pasta hot and pour 120–150 ml of wine per person.

Pair with pasta

For roasted beef or lamb, season and roast the meat to medium-rare to medium. The wine's structure and chocolatey notes complement roasted, savory flavors. Carve and serve portions ~200–250 g per person alongside the wine.

Pair with roasted meats

Serve a small portion (about 30 g) of dark chocolate with the Merlot to highlight its chocolate notes. Take a small bite of chocolate and a sip of wine to evaluate how the flavors interact.

Pair with chocolate desserts

Use a large-bowled red wine glass to concentrate aromas. Hold by the stem to avoid warming the wine. Refill glasses sparingly to allow swirling and aeration.

Glassware and serving etiquette

Merlot (bottle)

Serving glasses (standard red wine)

Decanter (optional)

Filtered water (for palate cleansing)

Pizza (Margherita or meat-topped)

Pasta with tomato-based sauce (e.g., Bolognese)

Roasted meat (beef or lamb)

Dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or chocolate dessert

Merlot

Domaine Chevillon

Sylvain Pataille, Marsannay

Jolie Laide, Gamay / Cabernet Franc Blend, El Dorado, Ca

Berthaut – Gerbet, Fixin

Bruno Clair

Les Charmois ler Cru, Saint – Aubin 2022

Paul Pillot

Make Merlot Recipe in just 30m. Merlot is a red wine that’s smooth, dry, and medium-to-full-bodied, with flavors of cherry, chocolate, and plum. It pairs well with pizza, pasta, and roasted meats.

Merlot Recipe

Descriptors

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings

You might also like