Spain’s Great Grapes

RE: Spain’s Great Grapes

Keith Herrick — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 17:16:19 GMT

Lots of awesome info on this article, it is very helpful! I did notice one error, unless my source is incorrect. From what i have read on Jancisrobinson.com, the 300,000HA of Airen statistic is from 2004, and in fact now Tempranillo has overtaken Airen as the most planted grape in Spain at 210,000HA (or more now). This is largely due to irrigation implementation in Central Spain, combined with a vine pull scheme.

RE: Spain’s Great Grapes

Xoel Cantero Alvarez — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 09:17:35 GMT

Thanks Miquel Hudin!

Tinto/a is a term we use in Spain to refer to the red colour obtained from pigmentation ( it is also Spanish for ''Ink''). That way we refer to red wine (vino tinto), Garnatxa Tinta, Tinta del País and so on.

Thank you for the clarification, some times one can get really confused trying to translate terms from one leaguage to another.

RE: Spain’s Great Grapes

Miquel Hudin — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:33:07 GMT

[mention:172a6173953b4c31aa8fd6ad5a25d7f2:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05], indeed if it were Garnacha Roja, then it would be in Castillian and translated as Red Grenache, although in Spain this red variant is officially called Garnacha Tinta for reasons that escape me.

Garnatxa Roja (also called Lledoner Roig in both DO Empordà as well as across the border in Roussillon) is the old Catalan/Occitan name still in use locally and 'roja' in feminine or 'roig' in masculine (pron. roa-zha and roach respectively) don't directly mean red, but more 'ruddy'.

The Catalan word for red is 'vermell/a' but this 'roig/roja' is used as the grapes of this Grenache mutation are indeed 'ruddy' or 'pinky' in color. Obviously, 'ruddy grenache' sounds weird which is why I opted for the clearer use of 'grey' as seen in both French grapes (ex. Grenache Gris) or Italian (ex. Pinot Grigio).

I hope that clears it up?

RE: Spain’s Great Grapes

Xoel Cantero Alvarez — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:03:30 GMT

Garnatxa Roja would be translated to Red Grenache rather than Grey.

RE: Spain’s Great Grapes

Jodi Bronchtein — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 14:09:04 GMT

In Leon now and Prieto Picudo is plentiful, cheap, and really lovely!