Mourvèdre: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Mourvèdre The variety was probably introduced to Valencia by the Phoenicians around 500 BCE. The grape became known in Spain as Monastrell for reasons that are still unclear. It had a well-established presence in Roussillon (France today) by at least the 16th c (while still part of Spain). It later spread eastwards towards Provence and the Rhone. As European wine regions recovered from phylloxera by grafting Vitis vinifera varieties to American rootstock, it was discovered that Mourvèdre vines did not take well to grafting, thus many vineyards replanted with other varieties. Today, the majority of these grapes are grown in Spain. It shares characteristics with both Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It is one of the darkest reds, with high tannin, a medium acidity, and it is considered full-bodied. Because of its strength, it is advised to decant it prior to drinking. It is grown to a lesser extent, in Australia (plantings date back to the mid-19th c), the USA (brought to Santa Clara Valley California in the 1860s by Louis and Pierre Pellier) and Algeria. The variety saw a rise in interest during the 1990s as producers received acclaim for GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre).  Image source: blog.suvie.com The grape is used to make fruity rosés and dark-red wines with strong tannin content. The variety can be difficult to grow, said to prefer its face in the hot sun and its feet in the water. The name Mourvèdre is derived from the town of Murviedro in Valencia, and the name of Mataro is derived from the town of Mataró in Catalonia. |
Taste/smell: It is said to taste of dark fruits, with blueberries, blackberries, and plums being the most prominent. Other tones include black pepper, smoke, gravel, and roses. Often described as tasting gamey.  Image source: bcfw.co.uk Varieties/Mutations Originally, 15 clones were selected in the 1970s from southern France by ENTAV and INRA. Mourvèdre ENTAV-INRA® 233 and 369 are presently available commercially in California. The Cognac grape Balzac blanc was thought to be a colour mutation due to the similarities in synonyms with (Mourvèdre known as Balzac noir). DNA analysis in the 21st c showed the varieties had no relation. Despite the similarities of its synonyms, it has no relation to the Spanish wine grape Graciano which (aka Morrastel in France). | Description: Ampelographers suggest that it might be the parent to the grape Mavrud, or that at least Mavrud is a clone, imported into Bulgaria by the Romans.  Image source: Wikimedia Commons The vine can is vigorous, with abundant foliage that could shade the grape clusters, so canopy management is required. The variety has a tendency to bud and ripen very late. Shoot tips are felty tips with young leaves yellow-green and bronze highlights. Adult leaves have three lobes. It does best in a dry climate with enough wind to protect it from the hazards of powdery mildew and downy mildew. Its grape clusters are medium-sized and conical in shape,. Clusters are relatively compact, adding to the risk of mildew.  Image source: Wikimedia Commons Berries are medium, round and blue-black. Leaves often have a truncate cuneiform shape. |
| Mourvèdre producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: Balearics, Bullas, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Cava, Jumilla, Murcia, Valencia, Yecla France: Languedoc, Provence, Rhône Italy: not detected USA: California, Texas, Washington Chile: not detected Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: not detected Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia China: not detected Germany: not detected India: not detected New Zealand: not detected Portugal: not detected Romania: not detected South Africa: Eastern Cape, Turkey: not detected Others countries growing Mourvèdre Algeria, Bulgaria… | Grape is also known as: Alicante, Baltazar (Gironde), Benadu (Vaucluse), Catalan (Bouches-du-Rhône), Damas Noir, Espar (Herault), Flouron (Ardèchen), Flouroux (Ardèchen), Mataró (Portugal and New World), Monastrell (Spain), Mourvède, Mourvedon, Morvede, Mourvedre (Spain), Morvegue, Mourves, Mourveze, Negron, Negre Trinchera, Negre Trinchiera, Negron (Vaucluse), Piemonaise (Vaucluse), Pinot Fleri, Planta de Saint-Guilles (Gard), Spar (Herault), Tinto, Tinta, Tintilla… The grape is a permitted variety with: Cassis, Collioure, Corbières, Costières de Nîmes, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux du Languedoc, Coteaux de Pierrevert, Coteaux Varois, Côtes du Luberon, Coteaux du Tricastin, Côtes de Provence, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Ventoux, Faugères, Fitou, Gigondas, Lirac, Minervois, Palette, Saint-Chinian and Vacqueyras. |
Image source: nataliemaclean.com/blog
Mourvèdre: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
