Difference between Burgundy and Merlot

[MissyCat]

I am new at drinking wines. Can you tell
me the difference between the two wines
besides being red?

[Innkeeper]

Hi MissyCat, and welcome to the Wine Board. Burgundy can be red or white. Most red Burgundy is made from pinot noir. Most white Burgundy is made from chardonnay. Merlot is used as a blending wine in Bordeaux. On the East Bank of the Garonne, it is usually the primary grape in St Emilion and Pomerol with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc taking secondary roles.

If all this means, "what is the difference between pinot noir and merlot", here goes. Pinot noir is a very versitile wine showing different edges in a wide variety of wine regions, and matching with a huge variety of food. Merlot, by itself, usually shows a single dimension of plum fruit. Commercially, it frequently gets the single added dimension of oak.