Xarel·lo

Xarel·lo
Grape (Vitis)
Xarel·lo grapes
Color of berry skinWhite
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledSee list of synonyms
OriginSpain
Notable regionsCatalonia
Notable winesCava
Formation of seedsComplete
Sex of flowersHermaphrodite
VIVC number13270

Xarel·lo (Catalan pronunciation: [ʃəˈɾɛlːu]) is a white grape variety of Spanish origin specially grown in Catalonia.[1]

With Macabeo and Parellada, Xarel·lo is one of the three traditional varieties used to make the sparkling wine cava. Spanish plantations stood at 8,043 hectares (19,870 acres) in 2008. Xarel·lo wine can be strongly flavored and is more aromatic than the other two cava grape varieties.[2]

While historically the grape was only produced as part of regional blend in Penedès and Cava, modern winemaking has evolved in the last 20 years to where it is being seen in the form of varietal wines. High-end Cavas have been produced which feature the grape prominently such as Gramona's Enoteca or then as 100% of the finished wine in: Sabaté i Coca's Reserva Familiar, Recaredo's Turó d'en Mota,[3] and Mas del Serral from Raventos i Blanc.

Synonyms

[edit]

Xarel·lo is also known by the following synonyms: Cartoixà, Cartuja, Pansa, Pansa Blanca, Pansal, Premsal Blanca, Xarelo Blanco, Xerello.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Miquel Hudin. "The Xarel·lo grape. Or is it Xarello, Xarel.lo, or Xarel-lo?". Hudin.com. Retrieved 2018-11-01.(subscription required)
  2. ^ Jancis Robinson, ed. (2006). "Xarel-lo". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 777. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
  3. ^ Miquel Hudin. "The ever-mighty Xarel·lo. Recaredo: Turó d'en Mota 2006 & Serral del Vall 2008". Hudin.com. Retrieved 2018-11-01.(subscription required)
  4. ^ Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, José Vouillamoz (2012), Wine Grapes (First ed.), Allen Lane, p. 1279, ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)