Graciano wine grape variety in Australia

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Graciano is an aromatic red wine grape variety that is prized for the rich colour it gives to wines.

Graciano is used mostly in blends with Tempranillo in it's native Spain. It is prized for the spiciness, acidity and tannin that it gives as the minor component in blends. Problems in the vineyard such as Downy mildew restrict its popularity in some regions.

Graciano: a naming mess

The original variety is Spanish and is named Graciano in its homeland the Ebro Valley and Navarra. It is grown in the Jerez region under the name Tintilla de Rota.

Graciano is used in France under the name Morrastel. But the Spanish use the variety called Mourvedre (or Mataro in Australia) under the name Morrastel.

To add to the confusion the Portuguese variety Tinta Miuda is now known to be to be the same variety.

Not to be outdone the Californians grow Graciano under the name Xeres

Graciano in Australia

The variety has a few adherents in Australia where it is used in blends with Tempranillo or as a varietal. The list below indicates that the variety is being tried in all mainland states but has yet to become popular anywhere.

I have been impressed with a few Tempranillo/Graciano blends. Straight Gracianos tend to be big, soft and aromatic, sometimes a little too aromatic.

Wineries in Australia using the Graciano variety

919 Wines Riverland
Artwine Clare Valley
Atse's Corner Wines Barossa
Back Pocket Granite Belt
Bremerton Langhorne Creek
Brown Brothers King Valley
Cascabel McLaren Vale
Ciavarella King Valley
Donnybrook Estate Geographe
Epsilon Barossa Valley
Geoff Hardy McLaren Vale
Happs Margaret River
Lillian Pemberton
Mazza Geographe
Moss Brothers Margaret River
Mount Majura Canberra
Rimfire Vineyards Darling Downs
Ross Estate Wines Barossa Valley
Rudderless Wines McLaren Vale
Rusty Fig Wines South Coast Zone
Swings & Roundabouts Margaret River
Talijancich Swan Valley
The Grove Vineyard Margaret River
Tscharke Barossa Valley
Vinifera Wines Mudgee
Yangarra Estate McLaren Vale
Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

Food Pairing with Graciano

With blends of Graciano and Tempranillo you should probably aim to match your food just as you would with Tempranillo.

However if you have a varietal Graciano it may be worth thinking about what foods will go with the stronger aromatic flavours of varietal Graciano wine.

Rustic game dishes or strongly flavoured stews might be the go with varietal Graciano.

Try this easy Spanish recipe: Alubias con Chorizo - bean and sausage hotpot

Slice a couple of hot chorizo sausages into 1 cm rounds.

Saute for a couple of minutes in olive oil with some crushed garlic and a chopped onion.

Add to a pot with 1.5 litres of water and 500g of haricot beans which you have soaked overnight (or you can cheat with canned beans).

Simmer for 1.5 hours. Adjust seasoning and perhaps add some paprika.

Serves 6 as a first course with crusty bread and a bottle or two of Graciano wine.

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