Mencia

"Jaen (grape)" redirects here. For the white Spanish wine grape also known as Jaén, see Cayetana.

This article is about the wine grape. For the American comedian, see Carlos Mencia.

Mencía
Grape (Vitis)
Mencía grapes in Ribeira Sacra
Color of berry skin	Noir
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	See list of synonyms
Origin	Spain
Notable regions	Galicia
Notable wines	Bierzo DO

Mencía is a Spanish grape variety primarily found in the northwestern part of the country. It is planted on over 9,100 hectares (22,000 acres), and it is primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras regions.

Most wines produced from Mencía have traditionally been light, pale, relatively fragrant red wines for early consumption. This style of wine was the result of post-Phylloxera plantations on fertile plains, which tended to give high yields but diluted wine. In recent years, much more concentrated and complex wines have been produced by a new generation of winemakers, primarily from old vines growing on hillsides, often on schist soils, in combination with careful vineyard management. This has led to a renewed interest in Mencía and the Denominaciones de Origen using it, such as Bierzo, Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra and the little-known Liébana.

Since the 1990s, the grape is increasing in popularity, and an increasing number of noted Spanish winemakers are now working with it.

Relationship to other grapes

Portuguese Dão wine featuring Jaen (Mencia) in the blend.

It was once thought to be an ancient clone of Cabernet Franc, with which it shares some of its aromas, an impression which has been dispelled with DNA profiling.

It is often cited as being identical to Portugal's Jaen do Dão (or "Jaen" for short) grape variety, but as of 2010, the Vitis International Variety Catalogue keeps separate records for these two varieties, in which there are no overlapping synonyms. However, DNA profiling carried out by the Department of Vegetal Biology of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has concluded that Mencía and Jaen are one and the same.

Synonyms

Over the years, Mencía has been known under a variety of synonyms including: Fernao Pires Tinta, Giao, Jaen, Loureiro Tinto, Mencin, Negra, Negro, Mencia Roble, Tinto Mencia and Tinto Mollar.