Editing Merlot (section)

== Food pairing ==
In [[food and wine pairing]]s, the diversity of Merlot can lend itself to a wide array of matching options. Cabernet-like Merlots pair well with many of the same things that Cabernet Sauvignon would pair well with, such as grilled and charred meats. Softer, fruitier Merlots (particularly those with higher acidity from cooler climate regions like Washington State and Northeastern Italy) share many of the same food-pairing affinities with [[Pinot noir]] and go well with dishes like [[Salmon as food|salmon]], mushroom-based dishes, and greens like [[chard]] and [[radicchio]]. Light-bodied Merlots can go well with [[shellfish]] like prawns or scallops, especially if wrapped in a protein-rich food such as [[bacon]] or [[prosciutto]]. Merlot tends not to go well with strong and [[blue cheese|blue-veined cheeses]] that can overwhelm the fruit flavors of the wine. The [[capsaicin]]s of spicy foods can accentuate the perception of alcohol in Merlot and make it taste more tannic and bitter.<ref name="Goldstein pg 148-152"/>