Mourvèdre

MOURVÈDRE is a red wine grape variety of the Vitis vinifera species. It is late-ripening and thick-skinned, known for producing wines with deep color, substantial tannins, and good aging potential. The grape is also widely known under its regional synonyms Monastrell in Spain and Mataró in parts of Catalonia.

In France, Mourvèdre is a key component of Bandol AOC in Provence, where it often forms the backbone of blends with Grenache and Cinsault. Bandol wines are typically robust, dark-fruited, and age-worthy, with notes of leather, game, earth, and herbal garrigue. Mourvèdre is also used in other Provençal and Languedoc blends, sometimes as a co-ferment with other Rhone varieties.

In Spain, the grape is called Monastrell and is one of the country’s most planted varieties. It dominates in Valencia, Murcia, and Alicante, including Jumilla and Yecla, where wines tend to be dense, high in alcohol, and deeply colored, offering black fruit, spice, and sometimes earthy or mineral notes. Monastrell also appears in blended wines in other regions of Spain.

Outside Europe, Mourvèdre is grown in several New World regions, including Australia and the United States. In Australia it is often labeled Mourvèdre or Mataró and is used in single-varietal bottlings or blends. In California and other states, it appears in Rhône-inspired blends such as GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) and in some varietal examples.

Viticulture and winemaking notes: Mourvèdre prefers warm climates where it ripens late, contributing structure and color to blends. It can be prone to certain diseases in damp conditions and may require careful vineyard management and aging to reveal its characteristic notes.