Mourvedre Wine Variety in Australia

In Spain the variety is known as Monastrell. As the origin of the grape is most likely Spanish, and there is much more grown in Spain perhaps Monastrell could be regarded as the more correct name. It was also known as Mataro in Australia and in California. Occasionally you will still find wines with that name on the label. To add to the confusion the variety was also formerly known as Esparte.

In France it is used a part of the blended red wines in the Southern Rhone, often playing a supporting role to Grenache. The Mourvedre grape is also important in Provence, where it is used to make well structured roses, as well as serious reds, especially in the Appellation of Bandol.

It is widely grown in Spain under the name of Monastrell. It is not so highly regarded in Spain, its main role is to produce wines with high alcohol and tannin levels.

Mourvedre in Australia

Before the 1980s Mourvedre was sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to make Cabernet Mataro but these blends are largely replaced by Cabernet Merlot these days.

Mourvedre is used in Australia mainly as a blending partner with Shiraz and Grenache, hence the increasingly popular 'GSM' blends. A significant number of wineries make other blends using this variety. It adds a certain rustic flavour, palate length and some tannic structure to the wines. Varietal Mourvèdre and many blends age well, developing farmyard or meaty aromas.

A couple of straight varietal Mourvedre wines deserve special mention. Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre is made from the fruit of 150-year-old vines in the Barossa Valley. Cascabel in the McLaren Vale produce a wine from this variety under the name of its Spanish synonym of Monastrell, reflecting winemaker Susana Fernandez's Spanish heritage.

Australian Wineries Using Mourvedre

If I have missed any you can leave a note in the comments box below