Mourvèdre, also known as Monastrell and Mataro, is a heat-loving red grape variety from the Mediterranean whose tannic, meaty character is increasingly popular, especially as a blending tool, in several of the world’s hotter wine regions.
Mourvèdre has small, thick-skinned berries, which bring firm tannins and blackberry fruit, often showing a wild, gamey edge, dried herbs, leather and a violet aroma. Mourvèdre is often blended with Grenache and Shiraz, providing depth and length but with some of its wildness tamed by the other varieties. In southern France’s Bandol region, Mourvèdre lends its structure to unusually age-worthy rosé. In even hotter climates, such as southern Spain, Mourvèdre can be softer with sweeter fruit.
Mourvèdre almost certainly originated in western Spain, quite plausibly taking its name from the ancient town of Murviedro (now called Sagunto) near Valencia.
Mourvèdre is most planted in its native Spain, where the grape is called Monastrell. It is concentrated in the western provinces of Murcia, Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha, although is also found in Catalonia’s Costers del Segre and Penedés. Mourvèdre’s second home is southern France, where for a long time it was the most important grape in Provence, although that is now only the case in the variety’s famous enclave of Bandol. Mourvèdre has recently grown in popularity across Languedoc-Roussillon and the Southern Rhône. The variety also plays an important role in Rhône-style blends from both California and Australia, especially Barossa. In both countries it is generally known as Mataro. Mourvèdre can also be found on a smaller scale in both Washington State and South Africa.
In addition to the most common synonyms for Mourvèdre – Monastrell and Mataro – the variety has a French nickname of Etrangle-Chien, or “Dog Strangler” in reference to its mouth-drying tannins.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Alcallata, Alcayata, Arach Sap, Beausset, Balzac, Balthazar, Balzar, Balsac, Benadu, Beneda, Béni Carlo, Buona Vise, Bérardi, Bod, Casca, Catalan, Bon Avis, Charmet, Espar murredi, Espar, Esparte, Estrangle-Chien, Cayata, Caymilari Sarda, Flouron, Flouroux, Garrut, Clairette Noir, Maneschaou, English Colossal, Murveder, Minustrello, Pinot Fleri, Maurostel, Monastrell Verdadreo, Gayata Tinta, Piémontais, Mechin, Neyron, Négron, Morrastrell, Negria, Négrette, Negralejo, Negré trinchiera, Monastre, Monastrel, Mourvede, Morastrell, Monastrell, Mourvedo N, Mourvedon, Mourvedr Espar, Mourvedre, Mourvégé, Mourvégué, Mourvès, Reina, Valcarcelia, Verema, Veremeta, Vereneta, Rossola Nera, Plant de Saint Gilles, Tire-droit, Trinchiera, Spar, Ros
