The “Meaning” of Paloma Merlot: Where Elegance Meets Approachability

Here at Paloma Vineyard, we have a soft spot for the gentle coo of doves, or palomas in Spanish. These graceful birds frequently visit our sun-drenched estate, and are the namesake of our flagship Merlot. But the connection goes deeper than a name. Just like the dove, our Merlot meaning embodies elegance and approachability.

Creating a Merlot that dances on your palate, a symphony of rich red fruit and subtle spice, is a labor of love that spans four years. It all begins with our meticulously tended vineyards, touched by our Vineyard Manager, Jose, every day throughout the growing season. We hand-pick each cluster of grapes, ensuring only the finest make it into our wine. 

Next, the magic of fermentation begins. Our winemaker, Sheldon, carefully processes the fruit with his son, Caston, and often our harvest helpers , and begins the transformation process. This takes place over a period of 2-4 weeks. This is where the wine's personality starts to emerge.

The journey continues with 18 months of aging in combination of new and neutral French oak barrels, to impart just the right amount of structure and complexity. Think of it as the wine's finishing school, where it learns to develop its full potential.

Then, after another two and a half years of bottle aging, our Merlot emerges ready to share its story. This patient aging process creates a wine with a remarkably soft mouthfeel, making it approachable, even in its youth. Yet, thanks to the careful oak regimen, our Merlot also boasts the potential to age gracefully, revealing new layers of flavor with time.

So what does this all mean for you, the wine lover? Simply put, Paloma Merlot is more than just a red wine. It's a testament to the dedication and passion that goes into every bottle. It's a wine that welcomes you with open arms, whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or simply curious about exploring the world of Merlot.

We invite you to raise a glass to the dove, the namesake behind our wine, and to the tireless hands that crafted it. And remember, every sip of Paloma Merlot is a journey, a story of elegance, approachability, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Why did founders Jim and Barbara Richards choose Paloma as the name of their long time dream endeavor? Well, it wasn’t their first choice…

Originally, they had planned to name the vineyard Colibrí—Spanish for hummingbirds. If you have ever visited, you know why. The Richards family has catered to a dedicated flock of hummingbirds for almost three decades— click here learn more about the Paloma hummingbirds . It is easy to see the fondness the family has for the little colorful birds.

During their journey of establishing the business, however, the hummingbird logo was trademarked on a bottle, and that was enough to knix the option. Instead, they decided to go with Paloma—Spanish for dove (or wild pigeon depending on where you are from, but we’ll stick with the former). Another bird that frequently visits the property. 

Since the first vintage of Paloma Merlot in 1994, the golden winged dove has christened our bottles. Fun fact: Paloma was also the first to use gold flecks in the silkscreening of their bottles. A practice that is now common amongst wineries in the Valley.  The label was also featured in the book “Icon,  Art of the Wine Label” a collective work by Jeffery Caldewey and Chuck House—page 270.

Why Spanish? 

Having spent much of their lives in Western Texas, Jim and Barbara always admired Spanish Mexican culture. Their drive and work ethic. Their family values. And probably most importantly, their kindness and generosity. They also loved the language and decided early on that they wanted the business to have a Spanish name.  So if it couldn’t be Colibrí, they felt Paloma would be just as perfect.