If you go to South east Spain to Benidorm, Alicante or Valencia you might pass lines of vines, see signs to Vineyards offering tastings or in restaurants and supermarkets come across wines made with the local Monastrell grape.
The wine grape known as Mourvèdre in France is called monastrell in Spain. The grapes are dark red (I call them black) and are tannic, dry in the mouth. That's what some people love. I used to hate tannic wines, but am gradually getting used to them. But the red or black grapes are also the source of some rose wines and some delicious sweet wines, to finish the meal, or in my case drink all the way through.
You might drink these wines on holiday in Alicante or Valencia, visit a vineyard or bodega for a wine tasting there.
Or buy from a supermarket in London, England or elsewhere before you go or just to find out in case you ever go there. (The same grape pops up in the USA and Australia.)
Eleven wines at different prices.
I went to a wine tasting, a Monastrell Masterclass and walk-around Tasting on 14th October 2024 at a Asia House in London.
The Monastrell Grape Masterclass
Growing vines to make wine in Spain dates back many years. The name monastrell probably comes from the Latin for monastery.
The monastrell grape grows in the sunny south-east of Spain. During the masterclass I learned that wines can thrive in hot climates without irrigation, (sending their roots deep down).
Uprooting old vines to replace them with orchards might seem a good idea short term. However, orchards need water. If the climate change results in less water, as predicted, those areas which saved their vineyards might be glad of their old vines in years to come.
Food to Match Monstrell Wine
Other fascinating facts. A popular saying is that what grows together goes together. What kind of food goes with Monastrell wines? Anything unusual? Distinctive? A local speciality? Yes. For those seeking something savoury, rice with rabbit and snails.
Paella From Valencia
It is not called paella. Paella is the speciality of the city of Valencia.
Monastrell
If you are looking for something sweeter or more familiar, Spain has an eggy bread, similar to what in England is called French toast. We were assured it goes very well with Monastrell.
Sweet Wine To Savour
I like sweet wines. So it was no surprise that my favourite was the last. One always finishes dinner with a sweet wine to go with sweet desserts, so even without any food, we finished with a sweet wine.
The Sweet Spanish Wine
The wine comes in a tall slim bottle, like sweet ice wines around the world. At thirty pounds, it is not cheap. (If you want a cheaper, strong dry red, there are at least three Monastrell wines costing around thirteen pounds.)
Secrets of Spanish Names Revealed
The name Silvano Garcia Dulce Monastrell 2019 was not memorable when I first glanced at it. However, when I researched the meaning of the words, they came into focus, close-up, vivid.
Bodegas Silvano Garcia
The bodega is the place where they serve you the wine which is grown on vines nearby. Silvano Garcia is a man's name.
Silvano - Meaning?
Silvano is a personal name which means someone who lives in the forest. Or woods. Silvano comes from the Latin word silva which means wood.
Silvano was the Roman God of the forest.
Garcia - A Popular Name
Garcia has an accent on the i for emphasis. Like pronouncing the name Maria, you say the penultimate vowel strongly.
Garcia means young, or young bear cub. In Germany a young bear is strong and courageous, and also means brave spear, or brave in battle.
Garcia is a popular surname. In fact, it's the most common surname in Spain. The second most common surname in Mexico.
Dulce means sweet. (Think of the English phrase describing a voice having dulcet tones.) Think of the Italian film titled La Dolce Vita. So Dulce means sweet wine. Monastrell is the grape. DO Jumilla, origin the Jumilla area.
Wine Visit In Spain
When you visit the area, you can visit the winery for a tour. Wines available locally are of course cheaper. Their website shows the sweet wine at 14.95 Euros. But then you have to transport it back to England or your country, unless you want to drink it here in Spain.
They also sell jams made from their sweet wines, at prices from about 1.90 euros to about 4.90 euros.
They have various tours at different prices and can arrange a wine tour followed by dinner.
Useful Websites
https://www.monastrell.org/en/monastrell-spain
Wiki on Mourvedre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourv%C3%A8dre
https://recipes.fandom.com/wiki/Monastrell
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