Well, merlot is a blending grape and that’s been wine industry “wisdom” for a long time, the book and movie just taught randos what the experts already believed

Well, merlot is a blending grape and that’s been wine industry “wisdom” for a long time, the book and movie just taught randos what the experts already believed. People outside of the US largely don’t drink it straight. Americans just glommed onto it because it sounded French. Pinot is quite drinkable as the main/sole grape. Of course, drink what you like. But the industry was hardly “broken” (If anything Id bet it was accelerated) just altered.