Mencía is the most widely cultivated red grape variety in Galicia, prominent in the Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras areas, and the most frequently planted red grape in other designations where white grapes and wines predominate. In the Rías Baixas it is the second native red grape.
Mencía grape emerges early in the year, with a short cycle, ripening easily, and it is very sensitive to late frosts. Its fertility and productivity are high. Its clusters are small and compact, with thick-skinned, medium-sized ellipsoid grapes, with a regular cross-section.
It is used to produce single-varietal wine or to be blended with other varieties. The monovarietal wines are delicate, elegant, fruity, mild with a tasty mouthfeel, balanced acidity with notes of ripe red berries, medium intensity, and lasting aftertaste.
It is blended with other native red grapes to attain greater complexity and structure, as well as an improved development of the wine over time.
