Merino wool is one of the finest and softest wools in the world. It is so fine that it is often blended with silk or cashmere to produce very fine wool and a smooth garment of incomparable softness and luxury.
This type of sheep was introduced to North Africa by the Phoenicians from Asia Minor.
Eventually the Moors introduced Merino sheep to Spain around the 12 th century. In the 1500’s genetic material from England was introduced and Spain became famous for fine wool thanks to this new strain of Merino sheep. Most of the large flocks were owned by the church or by nobility.
The Mesta was formed, a club of exclusive sheep owners who worked on developing the breed and controlling the flocks’ migrations to protect their monopoly. In fact, before the 18 th century it was a capital crime to export Merinos from Spain. Gradually, though, Merinos were introduced to Sweden, Hungary, Prussia and France.
There are two types of this sheep, the Poll Merinos who are hornless and the horned rams that have long, curving horns.
They are an adaptable breed, smaller than sheep bred for meat, thriving nearly anywhere that has proper forage. Their wool is finely crimped (wavy) and very soft.
There are five different grades—strong, medium, fine, super fine and ultra fine. The fineness is measured by micrometers; the lower the measurement the finer the fiber. Since the fibers are so thin, bacteria can’t find a surface to grow on so it doesn’t retain odors. This is why Merino wool can be called anti-microbial as well as hypoallergenic. Although it will shrink when washed or dried (at about the same rate as cotton), it can easily be stretched back to its original shape.
There are different strains of these sheep giving differing amounts of wool. A Saxon Merino yields between 6-13 pounds of greasy wool a year, about 3-6 pounds after cleaning. The Peppin Merino can produce up to 40 pounds of greasy wool per year.
Merino wool is very popular for athletic clothing because it’s good at regulating body temperature when it’s worn next to the skin.
It keeps a person warm without overheating, drawing moisture away from the skin (wicking). It can absorb water up to 1/3 of its weight but retains its warmth when wet. For this reason it is the first choice of athletes like mountain climbers, who use it to avoid hypothermia. The fibers have microscopic pockets of air that trap the body’s heat, similar to how a sleeping bag keeps someone warm.
Buying an item that says “Merino” doesn’t mean you’re getting wool from a Merino sheep but often means only that the wool is as fine or equivalent to the Australian and New Zealand Merino wools. If you want 100% Merino wool, check the label carefully.