Graciano Wines

Graciano Wines from Great Wines Direct.

The wine grape with black skin from northern Spain, Graciano is primarily planted in Navarra and Rioja. The variety is sporadic outside of Spain, however it can be found in limited amounts in Australia and California. It is also grown in the Languedoc in modest amounts under the name Morrastel.

The traditional Graciano wine has a medium tannin content, is dark in colour, and has a powerful scent of mulberry, violet, and chocolate. These flavours are supplemented by vanilla and sweet spices, which are distinctive to red wine that has been matured in barrels, in Rioja, where the majority of red wines are aged in wood.

The grape variety graciano is particularly well-liked by winemakers, who primarily employ it in the traditional Rioja Blend with Tempranillo and Garnacha (although a few varietal examples exist). Even when used in modest quantities, the variety can still be detected in blends.

Graciano shares a lot of similarities with Petit Verdot in this sense, another flavourful, colour-rich red wine type valued for its use in blends and infrequently vinified alone.