Macabeo

Macabeo (Spanish ) or Macabeo (in Catalan) is the most widely planted white grape in northern Spain. In the areas of Penedès and Conca de Barberà it is one of the main varieties of the Spanish sparkling wines Cava. Under the name of Viura in Rioja, it provides for 90 % of white stock and is mainly used for early drinkable, fresh white wines, which have a low alcohol content. In addition, it is in the Spanish D.O. Regions Alicante, Bullas, Calatayud, Cigales, Coster del Segre, Méntrida, Rueda DO, Utiel -Requena and Valdepeñas, terraced. In 2000, the area under vines was 32,905 hectares in Spain.

But even in the Roussillon in France (about 2,778 hectares as of 2007 ), it is often found as a blending partner for Chardonnay or Bourboulenc. The high yielding and late maturing variety is drought tolerant, but susceptible to fungal diseases. If the grape is read late, it provides strong alcohol, rather low-acid white wine with a flowery character, which are often processed into amber-colored dessert wines such as the Rivesaltes. It tends little to oxidation and is therefore often blended with Chardonnay in frühgelesenem state. As she drives out late, she is very popular in areas with late frosts. Worldwide about 47,000 hectares are planted with this variety.

See also the article viticulture in Spain, viticulture in France and viticulture in Argentina and the list of grape varieties.

Synonyms

The Macabeo grape is also known under the name Alcañol, Alcañón, Blanca de Daroca, Charas Blanc, Forcalla, Gredelín, Lardot ( in the department of Drôme), Macabeo, maccabeo, Maccabeau, Malvasia ( in Limoux ), Perpignan ( at Beaucaire, France), queue de Renard, Macrossan, Vuera, Viuna or Viura (in Spain).