Mencia
Encyclopedia
Mencía is a Spanish grape variety primarily found in the northwestern part of the country. It is planted on over 9100 hectares (22,486.6 acre), and it is primarily found in the Bierzo
, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras
regions.
Most wines produced from Mencía have traditionally been light, pale, relatively fragrant red wines for early consumption. This style of wine was the result of post-Phylloxera plantations on fertile plains, which tended to give high yield
s but diluted wine. In recent years, much more concentrated and complex wines have been produced by a new generation of winemakers, primarily from old vine
s growing on hillsides, often on schist
soils, in combination with careful vineyard management. This has led to a renewed interest in Mencía and the Denominaciones de Origen
using it, such as Bierzo, Valdeorras
, Ribeira Sacra and the little-known Liébana
.
Since the 1990s, the grape is increasing in popularity, and an increasing number of noted Spanish winemakers are now working with it.
, with which it shares some of its aromas, an impression which has been dispelled with DNA profiling.
It is often cited as being identical to Portugal
's Jaen du Dão (or "Jaen" for short) grape variety, but as of 2010, the Vitis International Variety Catalogue
keeps separate records for these two varieties, in which there are no overlapping synonyms.. However, DNA profiling carried out by the Department of Vegetal Biology of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has concluded that Mencía and Jaen are one and the same. See the Department's variety catalog at http://www.sivvem.monbyte.com/sivvem.asp.
Bierzo (DO)
Bierzo is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the northwest of the province of León and covers about 3,000 km²...
, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras
Valdeorras (DO)
Valdeorras is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located on the banks of the river Sil in the south of the province of Ourense, .-History:...
regions.
Most wines produced from Mencía have traditionally been light, pale, relatively fragrant red wines for early consumption. This style of wine was the result of post-Phylloxera plantations on fertile plains, which tended to give high yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
s but diluted wine. In recent years, much more concentrated and complex wines have been produced by a new generation of winemakers, primarily from old vine
Old vine
Old vine is a term commonly used on wine labels to indicate that a wine is the product of grape vines that are notably old. The practice of displaying it stems from the general belief that older vines, when properly handled, will give a better wine...
s growing on hillsides, often on schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
soils, in combination with careful vineyard management. This has led to a renewed interest in Mencía and the Denominaciones de Origen
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. In wines it parallels the hierarchical system of France and Italy although Rioja and Sherry preceded the full system...
using it, such as Bierzo, Valdeorras
Valdeorras
Valdeorras is a comarca in the Galician Province of Ourense. The overall population of this local region is 28,984 .-Municipalities:*O Barco de Valdeorras, capital of the comarca*O Bolo*Carballeda de Valdeorras*Larouco* Petín* A Rúa* Rubiá...
, Ribeira Sacra and the little-known Liébana
Liébana
Liébana is a comarca of Cantabria .It covers 570 square kilometers and is located in the southwest of Cantabria, bordering Asturias, León and Palencia...
.
Since the 1990s, the grape is increasing in popularity, and an increasing number of noted Spanish winemakers are now working with it.
Relationship to other grapes
It was once thought to be an ancient clone of Cabernet FrancCabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
, with which it shares some of its aromas, an impression which has been dispelled with DNA profiling.
It is often cited as being identical to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's Jaen du Dão (or "Jaen" for short) grape variety, but as of 2010, the Vitis International Variety Catalogue
Vitis International Variety Catalogue
The Vitis International Variety Catalogue is a database of various species and varieties/cultivars of grapevine, the genus Vitis. VIVC is administered by the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding in Siebeldingen, Germany, and contains information from grapevine collections existing in...
keeps separate records for these two varieties, in which there are no overlapping synonyms.. However, DNA profiling carried out by the Department of Vegetal Biology of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has concluded that Mencía and Jaen are one and the same. See the Department's variety catalog at http://www.sivvem.monbyte.com/sivvem.asp.