Varietals


The aromas and flavors that come from the grape variety provide the wine with particular characteristics and complexity. These are the most cultivated and consumed varietals in México; have adapted perfectly to the climate and terroir of the Mexican Republic.


Get to know in detail some of the most common types of grapes in our country.

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Red Grapes

From Italy. It is thought that she is originally from Central Piedmont. A few decades ago it was the third most planted red grape in Italy. The bunches of the Barbera are of medium size, compact and the length of the peduncle is very short. Its berries are spherical, small and uniform. Its wines are usually of an intense ruby red color with intense pink tones in the rim and with a pronounced acidity. 

It is a variety of French origin, from the south west of France. Bordeaux origin and base of many Bordeaux wines. It is considered the father of Cabernet Sauvignon. Clusters of medium size, which shed well when ripe. Small berries, circular in section, with bluish-black epidermis. Very colored and pleasant wines with characteristic aromas of raspberry and violet. With slightly lower levels of acidity and polyphenols than Cabernet Sauvignon wines. 

Native to the French region of Bordeaux, where the union of two grapes, the Cabernet Franc and the Sauvignon Blanc, gave rise to this well-known variety. It is the most widespread grape in the world. Its bunches are of good size and characteristic shape with shoulders; its berries, black and spherical, with a good load of color. The aromatic character of the wine shows a tendency towards flowers such as rose and violet, fruits such as blueberries, cherries, blackberries, coffee and green peppers. With rest on wood, incense, licorice and truffle are obtained. 

This strain is Spanish, more specifically from Aragon, where it is known by the name of Cariñena or Mazuelo. The clusters are large, with large berries, with poisoned epidermis and irregular color evolution, blue-black. It has good acidity, with a high content of astringent tannins and bitter and herbaceous aromas. Very aromatic, they give young wines of a very lively color with floral aromas, predominantly violets.  

It is a red variety known for centuries and native to the south of France. It produces large cylindrical clusters of black grapes with quite thick skins. This strain can produce bountiful harvests. Wine made from Cinsault grapes can be very aromatic, with a vaporous perfume that invades the nostrils and a smooth texture that soothes the palate. It is low in tannins, which is why it is often used to produce rosé wine by itself or mixed with another variety.  

Native to the Piedmont region, in Italy. Of circular and heterogeneous berries, blue in color. Early maturing, medium disease resistance. Most of the wines made are dry. The typical aromas of Dolcetto are cherries, plums and liquorice on the nose and on the palate with the characteristic Italian curl of bitterness at the end. It has a moderate acidity and a not very aggressive tannin.  

It is known by two main names, Grenache in France and Garnacha in Spain. The origin of this grape is still under debate, but the two most important points are Sardinia and the north of Spain. It is a very old grape: evidence of it has been found from more than 3,000 years ago. Clusters of medium to large size, very compact and of uniform berries, spherical, with dark violet red epidermis. Young Grenache wines have aromas of freshly ground pepper while maintaining aromas of raspberry and blackberries. 

Native to the Bordeaux area, France, it emigrated to the South of America, where it has become the flagship grape of Argentina. Its clusters are medium in size and loose in its berries, which are spherical, medium, blackish-blue in color and with thin skin. The height above sea level constitutes a special factor for the tannic maturation of the grape, thus obtaining wines with great acidity and subtle tannins.. 

Native to the south-west of France, from the Bordeaux region, where it has established itself as one of the traditional strains of great wines. It is the second most expanded red variety worldwide. The bunches are cylindrical, of medium size, with blackish blue grapes. The skin is thick and the pupa is juicy and has a pleasant taste. Merlot wines are wines with a certain coloring intensity, high alcohol content and light fruity and spicy aromas.  

It is a variety of Vitis vinifera introduced from Spain to the west coast of North and South America by Catholic missionaries in the New World. Larger bunch and similar to what we know as table grapes, longer, wider, and with a greater separation between the fruits. Great structure, tannic, very drying at times, with aromas where the black fruits are mixed with the earth and the understory. Medium intensity. 

Native from Spain, specifically it is believed that from Sagunto in Valencia. Although outside the borders of the Iberian Peninsula it is better known by its French name, Mourvèdre. The berries are medium-sized and black or blue-gray in color, while the clusters are compact and medium-sized. In addition, it is characterized by being a very sweet grape with a powerful and fruity flavor with hints of blackberry.

It is one of the oldest grape varieties in Italy, as far as written records are concerned, since it is mentioned for the first time in 1266. The smaller bunches of the hairless vine and its lower yields make it produce more concentrated wines. It is very susceptible to pests and rot. Nebbiolo grapes give excellent, complex and well-structured wines. Not for nothing are they recognized internationally. The wines made with this type of grape are characterized by their sweet fruit flavors such as blackberries, plums and cherries, while their acidity levels are very high and strong tannins. 

It is a grape whose origin is clearly unknown but it is considered that it was planted in France, even before Cabernet Sauvignon. Small clusters, with a very long peduncle. Berries of very uniform size, with dark purple epidermis, spherical in profile. The wines made with this variety of grape are characterized above all by having aromas of black fruits such as blackberries. Its fruits produce wines with a very powerful body and color.  

Grapes from the Rhone River Valley (Côtes du Rhône) France; Synonym of Durif, also French grape that is obtained from the mixture of Syrah and Peloursin. The "petite" in the name of this grape refers to the size of its berries and not the vine, the grape forms very compact clusters that can be susceptible to rot in rainy environments, the small berries create a high ratio of skin to juice Durif. It produces dark, ink-colored wines that are relatively acidic, with a firm texture; has hints of herbs and black pepper and typically offers flavors of blue fruits, black fruits, plums and especially blueberries. 

It is the quintessential red grape variety of Burgundy. Nowadays it is adapted in different wine-growing regions, especially in cold ones. Pinot Noir is the patriarch of the “Pinot” variety family and is one of those that make up the blends in most Champagne. Also as a grape for monovarietal wines, it is one of the most appreciated worldwide. Small-medium and compact cluster. The berries are spherical of medium size, of a purplish black color and of medium skin. The must has a high sugar content and low acidity.

Native to California, created in 1936 by Doctor Harold Olmo, it was born as a hybrid product of the mixture between two grapes, La Cariñena and Cabernet Sauvignon. The bunch is rather round and the grapes are not uniform. Its berry is black, of medium size and oval in shape. It is very resistant to drought and withstands strong winds very well. Its tannins are very soft and it is used for blends. Produces wines with good color and a pleasant strawberry flavor, but is generally blended to make bulk wines.  

It is a variety of grape native to Tuscany. Its name derives from the Latin phrase "Sanguis Jovis", which literally means "blood of Jupiter". They are violet, thick-skinned, very acidic, with moderate or high tannic content. Its maturation is late. This variety is very related to limestone soil and hot and dry climates. Under these conditions, its varietal characteristics develop in all their fullness.

It comes from the Rhone region, located in southeastern France. This grape variety comes from two types of grapes from southeastern France that have never become popular in the wine world: Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza. It is identified by the ease of its cultivation, it requires a lot of sun and high temperatures, it is also resistant to diseases. The vine is full-bodied, erect with long and delicate shoots, with multiple leaflets. Finally, its maturation is early. This variety is used for the elaboration of diverse types of wines, mainly rosés and reds. They are characterized by presenting a great flavor and body. 

It is the typical grape of Spain, with meanings such as ink of the country or cencibel. Its name is due to the fact that it is an early grape to ripen. Their skin is thick, deep blue in color. Generates spicy and fruity aromas; aromas of plum, black berries, vanilla, leather and tannery. It is used for aging wines of great expression and power. It is tannic and with a marked acidity.

It is a red variety of vitis vinifera from Central Europe, possibly from Hungary or Croatia where it is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. Grapes tend to ripen early, although quite unevenly even within the same vine. Clusters and sometimes even green, ripe and overripe grapes can coexist in the same vine. The wines produced by these grapes are of high alcohol content, quite tannic, sweet and spicy, with flavors of sour cherries, blackberries and raspberries, plum and cherry.

White Grapes

It is native to the Burgundy area, France. It is the most widespread white grape in the world. American and Mexican wines are important representatives of this varietal. Its clusters are small, cylindrical, winged and very compact. The berries are small, round. The leaves are large and rough in texture. This white grape is used, among others, in the winemaking of champagne.

It is native to the Loire Valley, France. It is the main white vine of Touraine and Anjou. The bunches are large, slightly oval and compact. The berries are oval with a resistant skin. Its aromas are dominated by apple, peach, quince, lemon and honey. It is vinified in a wide variety of styles: light and very aromatic, full-bodied, with and without barrels, dry, semi-sweet and sweet.

It is native to France. It is apparently a cross between Gouais blanc and Chenin blanc. It is also known as French colombard, Colombar, Colombier, and Tourterelle. Its clusters are of medium size and compactness and of short peduncle length. Its berries are uniform of medium size, they have a thin and hard epidermis, yellowish-green in color. Remarkable acidity and an important contribution of fruit, it is rare to find it as a mono varietal. The aromas it provides are spicy, citrusy like lemon or orange and with hints of green apple, nectarine and peach.

White grape native to the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, where it is also grown in the south of France. The bunches are of medium to small size and medium compactness. The berries are somewhat elongated spherical, medium to small in size and yellowish-amber in color, with a fine skin. Adapts well to hot and dry climates.

It is native to the Ebro and Valencia basin in Spain. Its bunches are large and the grain offers a good concentration of sugars, even more so when it comes to old vineyards and not very fertile soils. It is a vigorous, high-yielding variety, resistant to frost and droughts. It produces pale yellow white wines, with great expression on the palate, balanced acidity and citrus and floral aromas. It is one of the main varieties for obtaining sparkling wines in Querétaro.

Native to Africa, possibly of Mediterranean origin, Muscat of Alexandria grapes are grown all over the world. It is not a unique variety of grape, more than 200 different grapes have been described that correspond to varieties of the Muscat grape. It is a white grape with early budding, low productivity and medium resistance to drought that comes from the eastern Mediterranean basin. It is characterized by its subtle orange perfume and by producing young dry or semi-dry wines, sweet, strongly aromatic and with high alcohol content and acidity.

White grape belonging to the vitis vinifera variety. Apparently it arrived in Spain in the 16th century brought by the thirds of Flanders. Large clusters, medium to small berries, not very uniform within the same cluster. The wines are of medium strength, very pale yellow in color, neutral on the nose, with herbaceous aromas, very light and little acidity.

Coming from Bordeaux, also known as smoked white, blanc fumé or fumé blanc. It is, after Chardonnay, the most widespread white varietal in the world. Its skin is thicker than others, so it makes it more manageable. The berries are medium in size, spherical and with resistant skins. The bunch is round. It produces exotically fruity wines, with aromas such as lychee, carambola, passion fruit, guava, banana, together with white flowers.

Is a variety of French origin, Bourdeaux. Large clusters of high compactness, berries difficult to detach. Berries of fairly uniform thick size, with very vivid green epidermis that turns yellowish green when ripe. The wines of this variety give high quality dry wines with a toasted bread and honey flavor, very round and with a lot of density and body.

Variety native to Italy (Tuscany) where it is widely cultivated. The racemes are large, winged, elongated cylindrical. Berries of medium to small size, spherical, yellowish green epidermis that turns golden when ripe. Neutral but balanced dry white wines can be made, with mild acidity, with clear aromas of fruit, especially banana.

The Viognier grape is a white wine variety originally from France, from the northern area of the Rhône. Small and compact bunch. Small, round and spherical berries. It allows to make very aromatic wines, complex, powerful and high quality wines.

It is a type of white grape widely cultivated throughout the country, especially in Catalonia. The name Xarel·lo derives from the Italian word “chiarello”, which in our language means “claret”. Xarel·lo berries are amber-yellow in color and medium in size with a spherical shape, and the cluster is also medium in size, very tight and ovoid in shape. Compact, round grain, with strong and very sweet skin. The strain is vigorous and very productive, it blooms early and results in wines with high levels of acidity.

Know the wines of each varietal