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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Alicante
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Sometimes called Garnacha Tintorera, it is one of the few grapes to have not only color in the skins, but also colored juice. NATIVE
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Aragon
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Synonym for Garnacha
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Bobal
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Ironically, better known for its blending attributes (big, rich & cheap) than for its stand alone abitities, but there are now delicious Bobals being made in the Valencia region. NATIVE
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Planted in Spain since the scourge of Phylloxera brought French wine makers to Spain in the nineteenth century. Its generally tolerated by the DO rules, except in Rioja where it is "illegal". Nonetheless you can find small plots of it there too. FOREIGN
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Carinena
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Known as Carignan in the rest of the world, but its rightful name is Carinena, just like the Eastern Spanish town from which it probably originates. Its called Mazuelo in Rioja & doesnt get much respect anywhere except in Priorat & Monstant, where old vines can produce a powerful, notable wine. NATIVE
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Cencibel
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Synonym for Tempranillo used in La Mancha
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Garnacha
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Known as Grenache in the rest of the world, it ought to be called Garnacha, as it originates in Spain & traveled to southern France in the eighth & ninth centuries. The rap on the grape is that it is only great when it is powerful & alcholic. That's not necessarily true, but Grenache does need to grow in a warm spot to display its best character. It's the critical grape in Priorat, & it is usally bottled as a rosado elsewhere in Spain. It's the third most planted grape in Spain & the second most planted variety in the world. NATIVE
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Graciano
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A very minor player in Rioja, but one that has its fans. It can have beautiful aromatics, color & tannins. NATIVE
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Juan Garcia
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Grown in Zamora (in the Northwest), but is more about potential than reality. NATIVE
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Listan Negro
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A grape that offers excellence on the Canary Islands. NATIVE
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Manto Negro
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Grown in Minorca & Mallorca & offering occasional excellence. NATIVE
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Mazuelo
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Synonym for Carinena used in Rioja
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Mencia
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Some people think it is Cabernet Franc. IT'S NOT, but its easy to understand why. It carries the red-cherry intensity & herbal note often found in Cabernet Franc. Like Cabernet Franc, Mencia can often be underwhelming. Even at its best, it is more structured than lush. NTAIVE
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Monastrell
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Known in the rest of the world as Mourvedre, it's a grape of Spanish origin. As in France, it is capable of producing truly great wines but so few people are focused upon that goal.The grape shows the most promise in Jumilla & Yecla. NATIVE
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Moristel
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A light & fruity grape in Somontano that almost never makes serious or powerful wine, but can be a charming wine nonetheless. NATIVE
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Pinot Noir
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Only a few examples of this grape are made in Spain. While fashions may investigate new plantings of the grape outside Penedes, there are far more reliable grapes for Spain to focus upon. FOREIGN
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Syrah
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Just as in the rest of the wine world, this grape is much sought after & happily settles into virtually every region in Spain in which it's planted. Syrah will become one of the critical players in Spanish red wine. FOREIGN
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Tempranillo
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The reigning indigenous red variety of Spain. Its various clones that are grown in different parts of Spain have very different characteristics: in the south, it ripens early; in Penedes, growers say that it is lower in acidity & doesnt age well; in Ribera del Duero, it's an ideal ager with moderate tannins & alcohol; & even in Rioja, growers accuse it of low acidity, yet it ages far better than it's structure suggests. The variety has preformed exceedingly well in the traditional style of Rioja; the soft, modern style of red wine; & also in powerful, rich, international school - style wines.
If Tempranillo still lacks a high profile, it is because it has failed at becoming an internationally successful grape - it tastes dull & boring grown almost everywhere outside of Spain. It grows well at a high altitude & seems to respond well to strong shifts in nighttime & daytime temperatures. Few grapes in the world can offer such an intense range of wines. NATIVE |
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Synonyms for Tempranillo
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Tinto de Madrid - Used in DO Vino de Madrid
Tinta del Pais - Used in DO Ribera del Duero Tinta de Toro - Used in DO Toro Tinto Fino - Used in DO Ribera del Duero Ull de Llebre - Used in Cataluna |
