Monastrell

Identity

The Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) lists Monastrell under number 7915, with black berries and Spain as country of origin.¹ Among its 131 synonyms are Mourvèdre, noted as the official name in Croatia, Cyprus and Malta, and Mataro, Balzac and Alcayata.¹ VIVC gives no marker-confirmed pedigree for it.¹

In sparkling wine

In Cava the rules authorise five white varieties (Macabeo (Viura), Xarel·lo, Parellada, Malvasía (Subirat Parent), Chardonnay) and four red ones (Garnacha Tinta, Monastrell, Pinot Noir, Trepat). A rosé base must contain at least 25% red grapes.³

The Cava rulebook describes two of the red varieties together: Garnacha Tinta and Monastrell contribute "graduación alcohólica y moderada acidez" (alcohol and moderate acidity).² Red varieties are needed for rosé Cava, whose base must contain at least 25% red grapes.³

Corpinnat divides its varieties into historic ones, at least 90% of the blend (Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Sumoll, Xarel·lo Rosado), and non-historic ones, up to 10% (Malvasia de Sitges, Trepat, and Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are being phased out).⁴ Monastrell is also on the Classic Penedès list.⁵