Mencia

Common synonyms: Cabernet, Jaen (Portugal), Loureiro tinto, Médoc, Mencía pajaral, Mencía pequeña, Negra, Negro

Parentage of the grape: As the list of synonyms indicates, it was thought for a long time that Mencia was related to Cabernet Franc. However, it was proven in 2003 that this is not the case.

History of the grape: Mencia is native to northwestern Spain and was once thought to be a clone of Cabernet Franc that was brought there  by pilgrims traveling along the Camino de Santiago. This is not the case. Perhaps its roots are really in Portugal, where it is known as Jaen.

Characteristics of the grape: red and dark berry fruit, occasional vegetal character, can be savory, with good acidity and tannin.

Regions where the grape currently is important: Ribeira Sacra, Bierzo, and Valdeorras

Type or types of wines the grape produces: The Mencias of Ribeira Sacra are lighter, brighter, fresher, and often more mineral-driven. The grape thrives on the steep Read more »

Mentor for Mencia Wines

Etty Lewensztain

I'm the owner of Plonk Wine Merchants, an interactive online wine shop that operates the Plonk Wine Club and specializes in top notch, small production, and off-the-beaten-path wines from around the globe for under $30!

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Popular Mencia wines

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Popular Regions for Mencia View all

  • Castilla y León

    This region is located north-northwest of Madrid. Its terrain is a combination of flat, open pl...

  • Rías Baixas

      This region lies along the Atlantic coastline in Galicia, in the northwest part of Spain. ...

  • Bierzo

      This region is in the northwest of Spain, in the Castilla y Leon province near Galicia. It...

  • Valdeorras

  • Ribeira Sacra

    Wines made from Mencia grape. The origins of the grape are not clear. While there seems to be a...

  • Spain

    Spain is one of the word’s largest wine-producing regions. It comprises most of the Iberian Pen...

  • Raul

  • Galicia

    Located on the northwest corner of Spain, Galicia is just under Portugal, along the Atlantic Oc...

  • Monterrei

Popular Wineries using Mencia

  • Bodegas Emina

    In order to produce the Emina wines, the grape has been carefully selected from the very best est...

  • Bodegas Reyes

    Bodegas Reyes was founded in 1994 by Juan José and Luis Reyes with their father Teofilo as Techni...

  • Abadía Retuerta

    The Abadía Retuerta Estate occupies over 700 hectares of terrain, and its name comes from the com...

  • Bodegas Naia

    Located on the left bank of the river Duero, this winery dedicates itself to the production of hi...

  • Telmo Rodríguez

    Even though the wine was successful, the increase in grape prices during the 1990s and the lack o...

  • Dominio de Atauta

    One of the principle characteristics of Atauta is the great height of the vineyard situated at 95...

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