It’s been three years now since the movie Sideways popped into our lives. To some this may be long forgotten, but to us in the wine world we are still feeling the effects of that one special phrase that Miles uttered (actually screamed) “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am not drinking any fucking Merlot!” And that was that. This one little phrase pushed Merlot to the bottom of the wine totem pole and…

Any wine lover can tell you that when you pick up a bottle from Bordeaux or Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the wine will usually consist of multiple varietals. Red Bordeaux is usually some combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot with perhaps a little Malbec or Petit Verdot. While red Châteauneufs are usually Grenache, Syrah, or Mourvedre based. When you pick up a bottle from California and it says Cabernet Sauvignon on it, you know what it…