Grape variety and grafted vine plant Mencia: all the secrets

Mencia

Old variety, probably from Galicia. Its cultivation was introduced into the province of Leon, where it took to two thirds of the vineyards of the D.O. El Bierzo. Nowadays it occupies most of the new plantations. It is also grown in Portugal with the name of Jaén, particularly in the region of Dão.

CULTIVATED AREA IN SPAIN

YEAR	1990	1999	2009
HECTARES	8.845	10.732	8.761

CULTIVATED AREA IN PORTUGAL

YEAR	2000	2011
HECTARES	2.400	1.406

Budburst period: medium-early.
Ripening period: medium-late.
Yield: average-rich.

Ampelographic characters:

the bud has an open greenish apex and a five-lobed leaf. The cluster is medium, medium-compact with a visible green stem. The medium-sized ellipsoidal berries have a thick skin.

Cultural aptitude:

vine of medium vigour with semi-upright growth habit. Adaptable to different types of soils.

Training system and pruning:

suitable for different training systems and for short pruning.

Susceptibility to diseases and adverse conditions:

susceptible to downy mildew, powdery mildew and averagely susceptible to botrytis. Wind-susceptible.

Enological potential:

it gives purple wines with elegant aromas, slightly fruity and with good balance of alcohol and acidity. It produces excellent red and rosé wines, with primary aromas, and soft and velvety wines of high quality. When they are young, they are fruity and very tasty. With aging, the wines acquire a good bouquet and a great personality. On the palate, they emphasize their balance and softness together with a marked character. Not suitable for long aging.