Merenzao (mare-un-ZOW) is a red wine grape from Galicia.
What is merenzao?
Merenzao, better known as trousseau, is a red wine grape. It has a long history in Galicia and it’s considered a traditional grape variety.
What does Merenzao smell like?
Wines made from merenzao have floral aromas like rose petals that float over a background of ripe red and black fruits like cherries and blackberries. In Galicia, it produces delicate, aromatic wines.
What does Merenzao taste like?
Winemakers often blend merenzao with other wines like mencía, taking advantage of its floral and spiced characteristics to add depth the outright fruitiness of other varieties. On its own, the palate is spiced and earthy, with juicy fruit and herbaceous notes.
Where does merenzao come from?
Merenzao originated in the Jura in eastern France, where it grew in the regions of Poligny and Besançon. No one knows for sure how it made its way to the Iberian Peninsula, but one common Galician hypothesis is that monks on the Camino de Santiago carried vine clippings with them, planting them wherever they set up monasteries and churches to guard pilgrims’ souls. In Galicia, the grape is also sometimes known as bastardo.
Some technical details
Merenzao is a low-acid variety (the average is 5.1 g/L) and produces wines with high alcohol contents above 13%.