Editing Merlot (section)

=== Rest of Europe ===
In the [[Eastern Europe]]an countries of [[Bulgarian wine|Bulgaria]], [[Moldovan wine|Moldova]], [[Croatia (wine)|Croatia]], and [[Romania (wine)|Romania]], Merlot is often produced as a full bodied wine that can be very similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.<ref name="Wine course pg 142-143"/> In Bulgaria, plantings of Merlot lag slightly behind Cabernet Sauvignon with {{convert|15202|ha|acres}} in 2009 while Croatia had {{convert|1105|ha|acres}}. In the [[Czech Republic (wine)|Czech Republic]], most of the country's {{convert|87|ha|acres}} were found in [[Moravia]] while Moldova had {{convert|8123|ha|acres}} in 2009.<ref name="Wine Grapes"/>

In [[Slovenia (wine)|Slovenia]], Merlot was the most widely planted grape variety of any color in the [[Vipava Valley]] in the [[Slovene Littoral]] and the second most widely planted variety in the [[Gorizia Hills]] located across the Italian border from Friuli. In the Slovene Littoral, collectively, Merlot accounts for around 15% of total vineyard plantings with {{convert|1019|ha|acres}} of Merlot in cultivation across Slovenia in 2009.<ref name="Wine Grapes" />

In [[Hungary (wine)|Hungary]], Merlot complements [[Blaufränkisch|Kékfrankos]], [[Blauer Portugieser|Kékoportó]], and [[Kadarka]] as a component in [[Egri Bikavér|Bull's Blood]]. It is also made into varietal wine known as ''Egri Médoc Noir'' which is noted for its balanced acid levels and sweet taste.<ref name="Robinson pg 91-94"/> In 2009, there were {{convert|1791|ha|acres}} of Merlot planted across Hungary. Most of these hectares can be found in the wine regions of [[Szekszárd]] and [[Villány]] on the warm [[Pannonian Basin]] with significant plantings also found in [[Kunság]], [[Eger (wine region)|Eger]], and [[Balaton (wine region)|Balaton]].<ref name="Wine Grapes"/>

In Romania, Merlot is the most widely exported red wine grape variety with {{convert|10782|ha|acres}} in cultivation in 2008. Most of these plantings are found along the [[Black Sea]] in [[Dobruja]], further inland in the [[Muntenia]] region of [[Dealu Mare (wine region)|Dealu Mare]] and in the western Romanian wine region of [[Drăgășani]]. Here the grape is often made a varietal but is sometimes blended with other international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and with local grape varieties such as [[Fetească neagră]].<ref name="Wine Grapes"/>

In 2009, [[Ukraine (wine)|Ukraine]] had {{convert|2820|ha|acres}} of Merlot in cultivation.

[[Russia (wine)|Russia]] had {{convert|1588|ha|acres}}.

[[Portugal (wine)|Portugal]], has only a very limited amount of Merlot compared to the abundance of native [[Portuguese grape varieties]] with {{convert|556|ha|acres}} planted in 2010, mostly in the [[Portuguese wine regions]] along the [[Tagus]] river.<ref name="Wine Grapes"/>

In [[Greece (wine)|Greece]], Merlot is one of the top six grape varieties planted in the eastern wine regions of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] ({{convert|86|ha|acres}})and [[Western Thrace]] ({{convert|243|ha|acres}}). In central Greece, there were {{convert|74|ha|acres}} of Merlot in cultivation as of 2012.<ref name="Wine Grapes"/>