Merlot Deserves Its Moment
Photo by Tom Arena, Wine Enthusiast
Few wines have been as misunderstood—or as underestimated—as Merlot. Two decades ago, a single movie dramatically altered the trajectory of one of Bordeaux's most celebrated varietals, and the wine world is only now finding its way back. At Grassini Family Vineyards, though, Merlot has never needed rediscovering. It has always held a place in our vineyard—and in our hearts.
A Small Vineyard with a Big Story
Merlot occupies just 1.28 acres of our estate vineyard in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara—only 3.75% of our total planted acreage. With plantings this small, every vintage is naturally limited, with only a few hundred cases produced even in the most generous years.
That scarcity is exactly why bottling our Merlot as a standalone wine, rather than blending it exclusively into our Bordeaux wines, felt like a leap of faith. Would our members embrace a single-varietal Merlot? Would those who knew us for our Cabernet Sauvignon discover and appreciate a more delicate expression of Bordeaux?
The Sideways Effect
It's impossible to talk about Merlot without mentioning Sideways.
When the film debuted in 2004, it introduced countless wine lovers to the beauty of Santa Barbara County and the Santa Ynez Valley. For that, wineries throughout the region—including ours—will always be grateful. It inspired visitors from around the world to explore our vineyards and helped establish Santa Barbara County as one of California's premier wine destinations.
But it also left Merlot with an unfair reputation.
Throughout the film, Miles passionately refuses to drink Merlot while praising Pinot Noir. What most viewers never learned is that, in the novel on which the movie was based, his dislike had nothing to do with the grape itself. Merlot simply happened to be his ex-wife's favorite wine—a painful reminder of a relationship he'd lost.
That important detail never made it into the film. Instead, Merlot became the punchline. The impact on the wine industry was remarkable. Merlot sales declined nationwide, and many growers removed healthy Merlot vineyards in favor of more fashionable varieties.
We never considered doing the same.
Why We Believed in Merlot
Great vineyards don't chase trends—they grow the varieties their land was meant to express.
That philosophy has guided our approach to Merlot from the very beginning. While others questioned the varietal, we saw something worth celebrating: a wine of elegance, restraint, and remarkable balance.
"Merlot just shows the more delicate side of Bordeaux. It doesn't need to be this big red wine. I do prefer fruit-driven, floral, light wines over any giant red any day of the week. Merlot exists within that realm."
— Bradley Long, quoted in Wine Enthusiast, "In These States, Merlot Is a Star in Its Own Right."
Our Merlot has always produced fruit with remarkable elegance and balance, offering layered aromas of plum, raspberry, and ripe strawberry, framed by notes of vanilla, cedar, and leather from French oak. The tannins are supple and silky, creating a wine that is refined, approachable, and unmistakably Bordeaux in character.
Before we released our inaugural vintage, I remember expressing some hesitation to Bradley. We knew the wine was special, but we also knew Merlot still carried the weight of public perception. Bradley never shared my uncertainty. He believed the fruit deserved to stand on its own.
He was right. The wine quickly spoke for itself.
Letting the Wine Speak for Itself
Our inaugural Merlot exceeded every expectation, earning 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and an Editor's Choice selection. Later vintages continued that momentum: our 2016 and 2018 releases earned 96- and 95-point ratings, respectively, with the latter also featured in Wine Enthusiast's article, "In These States, Merlot Is a Star in Its Own Right."
Those accolades were incredibly rewarding, but what has meant even more is watching our members return to Merlot, vintage after vintage. Many who first discovered us through our Cabernet Sauvignons have come to love Merlot for something entirely different—not its power, but its grace. It offers a softer, more delicate expression of Bordeaux while still carrying the complexity, balance, and structure that define the wines of Happy Canyon.
A Place Alongside Our Bordeaux Wines
Today, Merlot remains one of the smallest productions in our portfolio, and every vintage reminds us why we chose to bottle it on its own.
Trends come and go. Popular opinion inevitably shifts. Our philosophy doesn't.
We grow the varieties that belong in our vineyard, harvest them at their peak, and allow each wine to express its own character.
Merlot never needed to be rediscovered. It simply needed the opportunity to remind people why it became one of Bordeaux's great varietals in the first place.
We invite you to discover—or rediscover—our Estate Merlot for yourself and experience the elegance, complexity, and quiet confidence of one of Bordeaux's most enduring wines.
Here's to Merlot.