Parraleta is a red

Spanish wine Spanish wine () includes red, white, and sparkling wines produced throughout the country. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 1.2 million hectares (2.9 million acres) planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely pla ...

grape variety This list of grape varieties includes cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). For a complete list of all grape species including those unimportant to agriculture, see Viti ...

which might also be known under various other names, such as Tinta Caiada ( Alentejo, Portugal) in several

Mediterranean countries The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the eas ...

. Parraleta is chosen as a prime name as it (old synonym Parrel) was used in

Somontano Somontano is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines, created in 1984, and located in the county of the same name, in the province of Huesca, (Aragon, Spain). It borders the regions of Sobrarbe and Ribagorza in the North, ...

, 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 Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label= Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, afte ...

), and Salceño Negro ( Somontano, Spain) with that of Parraleta suggests that they are one and the same variety.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

History

The origin of Parraleta is uncertain, other than it seems to have appeared in

. It was considered to be synonymous with

Graciano Graciano is a Spanish red wine grape that is grown primarily in Rioja. The vine produces a low yield that are normally harvested in late October. The wine produced is characterized by its deep red color, strong aroma and ability to age wel ...

, but this has been disapproved, although there is sufficient similarity to suggest a possible parental relationship.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 It has been also speculated that Parraleta is closely related to

Vermentino Nero Vermentino nero is a red Italian wine grape variety that is predominantly grown in province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany (wine), Tuscany. After World War II, the vine was almost lost to extinction until Podere Scurtarola, a producer from Massa, Tus ...

(

Toscana it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Citizenship , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = Italian , demogra ...

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

) however this has not yet been tested by DNA analysis. Although Parraleta is known as Carcajolo Nero on Corsica Island (

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

), it has been proved that it is not a color mutation of

Bariadorgia Bariadorgia (also known as Carcajolo blanc) 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/Carcajol ...

, which is also called Carcajolo Blanc.

Distribution and Wines

Appears to be produced only in DO

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

Vine and Viticulture

Parraleta is a low yielding variety H. Johnson & J. Robinson "The World Atlas of Wine", 5th ed., pg 195 Mitchell Beazley 2001 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 Tempranillo (also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais in Spain, Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal, and several other synonyms elsewhere) is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its ...

. 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 Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...

), Monvedro ( Bucelas, Portugal), Salceño Negro (

), Tinta Caiada ( Alentejo, Portugal). Other known synonyms: Bonifaccencu or Bonifacienco (

), Bonvedro or Bomvedro ( Bucelas in Portugal,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

), Carcaghjolu Neru (

Corsica Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...

), Carcajolo Nero or Carcajolo Noir (

), Caricagiola (Gallura in

), Cua Tendra ( Lérida, Spain), Espagnin Noir (

), False Carignan (

), Lambrusco de Alentejo (

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

), or Monvedro do Algarve (

Algarve, Portugal The Algarve (, , ; from ) is the southernmost NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities ( ''concelhos'' or ''municípios'' in Portuguese). The region has its ...

), Monvedro de Sines (

), Olho Branco ( Dão, Portugal), Parrel ( Somontano, Spain), Pau Ferro (

), Perrel, Preto Foz ( Dão, Portugal), Preto João Mendes (

), Tinta Grossa (

Alenquer, Portugal Alenquer () is a municipality in the Lisbon District, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 43,267,Douro The Douro (, , ; es, Duero ; la, Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province, central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part of ...

), Tintorro (

Alenquer, Portugal Alenquer () is a municipality in the Lisbon District, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 43,267,Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

). Varieties commonly mistaken for Parraleta:

Mazuelo Carignan (also known as Mazuelo, Bovale Grande, Cariñena, Carinyena, Samsó, Carignane, and Carignano) is a red grape variety of Spanish origin that is more commonly found in French wine but is widely planted throughout the western Mediterra ...

, Monvedro ( Dâo).

References

{{Reflist Red wine grape varieties Grape varieties of Spain