Buy 6 qualifying perennial bare roots and receive free standard shipping. Qualifying quantities are calculated within the Perennial shipping group. See the shipping policy for details. Merlot is a Vitis vinifera wine-grape cultivar. It bears small blue-black berries used for varietal red wines and Bordeaux-style blends and generally ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. This product is one dormant bare-root vine. Merlot grape vine details Plant form: One dormant bare-root grape vine USDA hardiness zones: 6–10 Pollination: Self-fruitful; a second grape variety is not required for fruit set Harvest: Commonly late summer into early fall; timing varies with climate and the intended wine style Pruning: Spur prune during dormancy and train on a sturdy trellis or wire system Fruit: Small blue-black seeded wine grapes with relatively thin skins Planting and care Plant in full sun, with at least seven to eight hours of direct light, in soil that drains well. Install the training system at planting. Water deeply during establishment without leaving the root zone saturated. Prune every dormant season to renew fruiting wood and manage the canopy. Choose a site with good air movement and avoid prolonged saturation around the roots. Harvest and shipping notes Use maturity measurements and taste—not color alone—to choose a winemaking harvest date. Grapes do not continue to ripen after picking. A dormant bare-root vine may arrive leafless; this is normal. Establishment, ripening, crop size, and the finished wine depend on site, weather, vine age, pruning, harvest decisions, and winemaking. Compare this cultivar with other wine grape vines, browse all grape vines, or use the related grape-growing guides on this page.
