South America | Argentina | Passionate Wines | Via Revolucionaria Criolla Grande

Via Revolucionaria Criolla Grande

Varietal
Criolla Grande. Believed to be a crossing of Criolla Chica (aka Listán Prieto/Mission/Pais) and Muscat of Alexandria, the grape has pink skin and is more thick than its Chilean cousin Pais, has softer tannins but similar fruit flavors and earthy notes. Criolla Grande is the 4th most widely planted grape in Argentina though few of the wines made from it are exported.

Notes
Criolla is the collective name of South America grapes that were either brought here as seeds or cuttings by the Spaniards in the mid-16th century, or which are the result of spontaneous crossings that took place in South America between these European grape varieties: listán negro, listán prieto, moscatel de alejandría and pedro ximénez. Since arriving in Argentina centuries ago as seeds or cuttings, they have since stood as parents to the criolla family tree.

VINEYARD: Campo Vidal, planted in 1972 on alluvial, rocky soils at 3450 ft asl.

VINIFICATION:  Manually-harvested. Macerated with the stems, then fermented with native yeasts; aged 5 months in concrete egg.