Maturana

Synonyms: merenzao (Galicia), tintilla (Canary Islands), verdejo negro (Asturias), María Ordoña (Galicia), bastardo (Portugal), trousseau (France).

This grape is widespread in Spain, Portugal and France. It flowers and ripens early, producing wines with little colour and structure. However, in Rioja, where the term maturana tinta is most widespread, at least according to the wines tasted for the Guide, the wines are completely different, with lots of personality, deep colour, rustic and herbal aromas, and a powerful, flavourful and tannic mouthfeel. There are very few examples of single-varietal wines, as it is commonly used as a variety to add complexity and structure to wines.

Everything seems to point to the fact that Rioja's maturana tinta is actually another variety. The DOCA Rioja Regulatory Council itself states that ‘DNA analysis seems to link it to the Castets variety, which has practically disappeared in France, its country of origin’, so we could be talking about an erroneous synonym created by local usage and customs.

The cycle of this Rioja “Maturana Tinta” is late budding and medium ripening.