n. an invented regional wine designation from California, designating high-end cabernet-like wines made from Bordeaux varietals. Subjects:
English, United States, California, Food & Drink
Citations:
1989 Dan Berger Los Angeles Times (Feb. 23) “Vintners See Less Federal Regulation as Answer to ”: Meritage is the name selected by a group of 31 wineries that staged a nationwide contest late last year to come up with a designation for the new premium blends of wines springing up all over California. 2004 L.G. Gordon Naples Daily News (Florida) (Apr. 30) “Meritage restaurant…culinary razzle-dazzle on the Gordon River”: Meritage is a wine term—a compound of the words merit and heritage—coined by a group of vintners to identify handcrafted wines blended from traditional aristocratic Bordeaux varietals.