The world’s fourth most planted grape variety, Merlot is also the most widely grown red varietal in France, where its footprint covers nearly 100,000 hectares. Prized for the roundness it instils in wine, both in blends and as a single varietal, it is nevertheless raising concerns. Could climate change and new industry issues jeopardise its future?

For the past fifteen years or so, Armenian wines have been undergoing a true revival. Viticultural traditions that were forgotten, and sometimes lost, during the Soviet era, are re-emerging with increasing numbers of vineyards coming on-stream and an ever-broadening variety of wine. With its outstanding rocky, mountainous terrain, average elevation of 1,500 metres, diverse micro-climates and rich volcanic soils, Armenia is home to felicitous regions for growing vines.