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 e ...

. 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 w ...

, 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 (

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

, Liguria) however this has not yet been tested by DNA analysis. Although Parraleta is known as Carcajolo Nero on Corsica, Corsica Island (France), it has been proved that it is not a color mutation of Bariadorgia, 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. 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), Monvedro (Bucelas DOC, Bucelas, Portugal), Salceño Negro (

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

), Bonvedro or Bomvedro (Bucelas DOC, Bucelas in Portugal, Australia), Carcaghjolu Neru (Corsica), Carcajolo Nero or Carcajolo Noir (Corsica), Caricagiola (Gallura in Sardinia), Cua Tendra (Lérida (province), Lérida, Spain), Espagnin Noir (France), False Carignan (Australia), Lambrusco de Alentejo (Portugal), or Monvedro do Algarve (Algarve, Algarve, Portugal), Monvedro de Sines (Portugal), Olho Branco (Dão DOC, Dão, Portugal), Parrel ( Somontano, Spain), Pau Ferro (Algarve, Algarve, Portugal), Perrel, Preto Foz (Dão DOC, Dão, Portugal), Preto João Mendes (Portugal), Tinta Grossa (Alenquer, Portugal), Tinta Lameira (Douro DOC, Douro), Tintorro (Alenquer, Portugal), Torres de Algarve (Portugal). Varieties commonly mistaken for Parraleta:

, Mazuelo, Monvedro (Dão DOC, Dâo).

References

{{Reflist Red wine grape varieties Grape varieties of Spain