Parraleta

Last updated
Parraleta
Grape (Vitis)
Color of berry skinRed
Species Vitis vinifera
Origin Spain
Notable regions Somontano
VIVC number 8951

Parraleta is a red Spanish wine grape variety which might also be known under various other names, such as Tinta Caiada (Alentejo, Portugal) in several Mediterranean countries. Parraleta is chosen as a prime name as it (old synonym Parrel) was used in Somontano, region located in the north-east Spain, which is its likely place of origin. DNA profiles of Tinta Caiada (Alentejo, Portugal), and Carenisca (Sardinia, Italy), and Salceño Negro (Somontano, Spain) with that of Parraleta suggests that they are one and the same variety. [1]

Contents

History

The origin of Parraleta is uncertain, other than it seems to have appeared in Somontano. It was considered to be synonymous with Graciano, but this has been disapproved, although there is sufficient similarity to suggest a possible parental relationship. [2] It has been also speculated that Parraleta is closely related to Vermentino Nero (Toscana, Liguria) however this has not yet been tested by DNA analysis. Although Parraleta is known as Carcajolo Nero on Corsica Island (France), it has been proved that it is not a color mutation of Bariadorgia, which is also called Carcajolo Blanc. [1]

Distribution and Wines

Appears to be produced only in DO Somontano, where its importance has declined from 22% of the planted area in 1975 to only 0.2% in 2002. [2] It is reported to produce wines with good colour, structure, acidity and fragrance.

Vine and Viticulture

Parraleta is a low yielding variety [3] giving round mid-sized berries in small to medium and moderately compact bunches. It can be used to make varietal wine or blend most commonly with Moristel or Tempranillo. The wines usually have intense color, high phenol and acidity. The alcohol content is potentially higher however wines are often noted for aromatic flavors.

Synonyms

Genetically verified synonyms: Carenisca (Sardinia), Monvedro (Bucelas, Portugal), Salceño Negro (Somontano), Tinta Caiada (Alentejo, Portugal). [1]

Other known synonyms: Bonifaccencu or Bonifacienco (Sardinia, Italy), Bonvedro or Bomvedro (Bucelas in Portugal, Australia), Carcaghjolu Neru (Corsica), Carcajolo Nero or Carcajolo Noir (Corsica), Caricagiola (Gallura in Sardinia), Cua Tendra (Lérida, Spain), Espagnin Noir (France), False Carignan (Australia), Lambrusco de Alentejo (Portugal), or Monvedro do Algarve (Algarve, Portugal), Monvedro de Sines (Portugal), Olho Branco (Dão, Portugal), Parrel (Somontano, Spain), Pau Ferro (Algarve, Portugal), Perrel, Preto Foz (Dão, Portugal), Preto João Mendes (Portugal), Tinta Grossa (Alenquer, Portugal), Tinta Lameira (Douro), Tintorro (Alenquer, Portugal), Torres de Algarve (Portugal). [1]

Varieties commonly mistaken for Parraleta: Graciano, Mazuelo, Monvedro (Dâo). [1]

Related Research Articles

Malvasia Variety of grape

Malvasia is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. In the past, the names Malvasia, Malvazia, and Malmsey have been used interchangeably for Malvasia-based wines; however, in modern oenology, "Malmsey" is now used almost exclusively for a sweet variety of Madeira wine made from the Malvasia grape. Grape varieties in this family include Malvasia bianca, Malvasia di Schierano, Malvasia negra, Malvasia nera, Malvasia nera di Brindisi, Malvasia di Candia aromatica, Malvasia odorosissima, and a number of other varieties.

Alicante Bouschet Variety of grape

Alicante Bouschet or Alicante Henri Bouschet is a wine grape variety that has been widely cultivated since 1866. It is a cross of Petit Bouschet and Grenache. Alicante is a teinturier, a grape with red flesh. It is one of the few teinturier grapes that belong to the Vitis vinifera species. Its deep colour makes it useful for blending with light red wine. It was planted heavily during Prohibition in California for export to the East Coast. Its thick skin made it resistant to rot during the transportation process. The intense red color was also helpful for stretching the wine during prohibition, as it could be diluted without detracting from the appearance. At the turn of the 21st century, Alicante Bouschet was the 12th most planted red wine grape in France with sizable plantings in the Languedoc, Provence and Cognac regions. In 1958, Alicante Bouschet covered 24,168 hectares ; by 2011, plantings represented less than 4,000 hectares. This scenario is largely reversed in other regions of Europe, and in southern Portugal, where its wines are highly prized and frequently outscore traditional autochthonous varieties.

Carignan Red wine grape variety

Carignan is a red grape variety of Spanish origin that is more commonly found in French wine but is widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean and around the globe. Along with Aramon, it was considered one of the main grapes responsible for France's wine lake and was a substantial producer in jug wine production in California's Central Valley but in recent years, it has been reborn as a flagship wine for many cellars in the south of France as well as in Catalonia.

Tempranillo Variety of grape

Tempranillo is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain. Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano ("early"), a reference to the fact that it ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes. Tempranillo has been grown on the Iberian Peninsula since the time of Phoenician settlements. It is the main grape used in Rioja, and is often referred to as Spain's noble grape. The grape has been planted throughout the globe's wine regions.

Trousseau (grape) Variety of grape

Trousseau or Trousseau Noir, also known as Bastardo and Merenzao, is an old variety of red wine grape originating in eastern France. It is grown in small amounts in many parts of Western Europe; the largest plantations are today found in Portugal, where most famously it is used in port wine. It makes deep cherry red wines with high alcohol and high, sour candy acidity, and flavours of red berry fruits, often complemented - depending on production - by a jerky nose and an organic, mossy minerality.

Portuguese wine

Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the Methuen Treaty in 1703. From this commerce a wide variety of wines started to be grown in Portugal. And, in 1758, one of the first wine-producing regions of the world, the Região Demarcada do Douro was created under the orientation of Marquis of Pombal, in the Douro Valley. Portugal has two wine-producing regions protected by UNESCO as World Heritage: the Douro Valley Wine Region and Pico Island Wine Region. Portugal has a big variety of local kinds, producing a very wide variety of different wines with distinctive personality.

Mencía (grape) Variety of grape

Mencía, known as Jaen in Portugal, is a Spanish grape variety primarily found in the northwestern part of the country. It is planted on over 9,100 hectares, and it is primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei regions.

Vermentino Variety of grape

Vermentino is a light-skinned wine grape variety, primarily found in Italian wine. It is widely planted in both in Sardinia and Liguria, to some extent in Corsica, in Piedmont under the name Favorita, and in increasing amounts in Languedoc-Roussillon. The leaves are dark green and pentagonal. The grapes are amber-yellow and hang in pyramidal bunches. The vines are often grown on slopes facing the sea where they can benefit from the additional reflected light. The Vitis International Variety Catalogue now gives Italy as its origin.

Grand Noir de la Calmette Variety of grape

Grand Noir de la Calmette is a red teinturier grape variety that is a crossing of Petit Bouschet and Aramon noir created in 1855 by French grape breeder Henri Bouschet at his vineyard in Mauguio in the Hérault department. The grape was named after the breeding station Domaine de la Calmette. As a teinturier, Grand noir is often used to add color to wines that it is blended into but is paler than other choices such as Alicante Bouschet. The vine tends to bud late and has a high productivity but with some susceptibility to the viticultural hazard of powdery mildew.

Lisboa VR

Lisboa, until 2009 named Estremadura, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Estremadura region, and taking its name from the country's capital. The region is classified as a Vinho Regional (VR), a designation similar to a French vin de pays region. While the Beiras and Alentejo VRs are largest geographically, the Lisboa region is Portugal's largest producer of wine by volume. The region stretches from Lisbon along the Atlantic coast to the Bairrada DOC.

Alfrocheiro Preto Variety of grape

Alfrocheiro Preto is a red Portuguese wine grape variety planted primarily in the Dão DOC and Alentejano VR. The grape is known for the deep coloring it can add to wine blends. Under the name Baboso negro, it is considered a minor Spanish red grape variety, growing mainly in the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca, in the region of Castile and León. It is one of the authorized varieties of the La Gomera and El Hierro Denominación de Origen, in the Canary Islands (Spain).

Baga (grape) Variety of grape

Baga is a red Portuguese wine grape variety planted primarily in the Bairrada DOC. As a varietal, Baga produces tannic wines with high acidity.

Moreto is a red Portuguese wine grape variety that is planted primarily in the Alentejo. As a varietal, the grape makes neutral wines.

Cornifesto is a red Portuguese wine grape variety that is used in the production of Port. In Port production it is considered a minor grape that is usually used to make lighter bodied wines. It originated from the crossing of Castellana Blanca and Alfrocheiro Preto.

Rufete is a red Spanish/Portuguese wine grape variety that is grown primarily used in port wine production in the Douro region of Portugal. It is also grown up along the Duero basin across the border in the Spanish province of Castile and León and can be found in the Dão DOC of Portugal where the variety is known as Tinta Pinheira.

Albaranzeuli bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in Sardinia. Ampelographers use to believe that the grape was originally Spanish in origin and was introduced to the island when it was ruled by the Crown of Aragon. Recent DNA profiling has suggested that the grape may have originated on the island as a crossing between the red Sardinian wine grape Girò and the Spanish table grape Molinera, known locally as Pansa Rosa di Málaga and distinct from the Veneto wine grape Molinara that is used in Amarone. A pink skinned grape known as Albaranzeuli nero is also found in Sardinia but its exact relationship to Albaranzeuli bianco is not yet clear.

Brustiano bianco is a white French wine grape variety from the island of Corsica. The grape was thought to be extinct until DNA testing of vines on nearby Sardinia led to the discovery that the Licronaxu bianco and its color mutation grapevine Licronaxu nero were in fact Brustiano bianco. This discovery has allowed for the grape to be reintroduce to Corsica where it is often blended with Vermentino, Biancu Gentile and Scimiscià.

Vermentino nero Variety of grape

Vermentino nero is a red Italian wine grape variety that is predominantly grown in province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany. After World War II, the vine was almost lost to extinction until Podere Scurtarola, a producer from Massa, began replanting old vineyards with the grape. By 2000, there were 199 hectares of Vermentino nero growing in Italy with the grape authorized for production in the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines of Candia dei Colli Apuani and Colline Lucchesi.

Bariadorgia is a white Italian/French wine grape variety that likely originated on the island of Sardinia but today is only found in limited planting on Corsica. Despite similarities in synonyms, Bariadorgia/Carcajolo blanc is not a color mutation of the red Spanish wine grape Parraleta which is also known as Carcajolo near on Sardinia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 89-90 Allen Lane 2012 ISBN   978-1-846-14446-2
  2. 1 2 C. Montaner, J. P. Martínb, J. Casanovaa, C. Martía, D. Badíaa, F. Cabelloc and J. M. Ortiz. Application of microsatellite markers for the characterization of ‘Parraleta’: an autochthonous Spanish grapevine cultivar. Scientia Horticulturae Volume 101, Issue 3, 10 September 2004, Pages 343-347
  3. H. Johnson & J. Robinson "The World Atlas of Wine", 5th ed., pg 195 Mitchell Beazley 2001 ISBN   1-84000-332-4