MundoVino Portfolio Book

Pedro Ximénez | Peh-Dro He-Meen-Ez | — With a high sugar content, it is often used as a sweetener in Cream Sherry or dried in the sun to make the rich Pedro Ximénez Sherry. Premsal | PrEm-Sal | — Also known as Prensal or Moll, Premsal is the dominant white grape of Mallorca. Its wines are spicy and complex. Verdejo | Ver-Day-Ho | — Grown in the region of Rueda, this grape is usually harvested at night and offers aromatic wines with plenty of fruit, low acidity and perfect balance. Xarel-lo | Shah-Rel-Loh | — Together with Macabeo and Parellada, Xarel-lo completes the trilogy of Cava grapes. It produces aromatic wines and is considered a main variety in the DO Alella (where it is known as Pansá Blanca), Costers del Segre, Penedés and Tarragona.

Red Grape Varieties

Bobal / Bo-Bahl — Ironically, this varietal is better known for its blending attributes (big, rich, and economical) than for its standalone characteristics, although there are delicious Bobals made in the Valencia region. It can deliver red and black fruit characteristics; however, old vines provide the greatness that young vines often cannot. Callet | Kai-Ett | — Callet is one of the main red grapes of Mallorca. In the past, it was considered a rustic grape used only for making young rosés and reds, but in the right hands it makes nuanced, typically light-colored, low-alcohol wines. When blended with varieties such as Manto Negro, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo, it adds complexity and spice. Cariñena | Kar-Reen-Yen-Ah | — Known as Mazuelo elsewhere in Spain and as Carignan in France, Cariñena is a popular red grape in the Priorato region. In this stony and schistose soil, old, low-yielding Cariñena vines produce wines that are astringent with strong tannins, ideal for adding structure to blends of Garnacha and Syrah. Garnacha | Gar-Nah-Cha | — One of the most widely planted grapes in the world, it originates in the region of Aragon and is used everywhere from the Rhone Valley (where it is called Grenache) to Australia. It grows well with hot days and cool nights, and can be used alone or in a blend. It’s known for offering a dark color with high alcohol levels and flavors of red ripe fruit, coffee and leather on a long finish. In Spain, it is mainly used in the wine regions Navarra, Rioja, Priorato and Campo de Borja. Graciano | Grah-See-Ahn-Oh | — This red grape is most popular in the Rioja region and is often used in blends. It produces a dark color and strong perfume, ages extremely well, and is usually harvested later than most grapes, in late October. It’s often added to Gran Reserva Rioja to provide structure and allow for long aging.

WINES OF SPAIN

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