Mind Bottling! Chapter 1: Texas Black Spanish

Something that all these pictured Texas wines have in common, is a grape called Lenoir (Len-wah), or better known in Texas as Black Spanish. This American hybrid grape is believed to have started in South Carolina dating back to the 1830's.  However, legends will state the Spanish missionaries may have brought the grape to Texas as early as the late 17th century, and for many decades, was the main grape used in making Communion Wine.

  

Lenoir gained it fame during the late 1800s when an outbreak of Phylloxera, microscopic louse that eats the roots of vines, infected many grape vines in Europe. As the infection spread it was nearly impossible to save the vines, so Europe had to outsource. That is when Lenoir came to the rescue! To think, this unique, relatively unknown varietal saved the European wine industry!  The American hybrid grape was found to be immune to Phylloxera. It was later found that Lenoir is also immune to Pierces disease, which is a deadly disease caused by a bacteria spread by sharpshooters in the southern USA. 

With all that being said, Black Spanish is not well known, especially outside Texas.  This hearty grape has a unique and bold tasting profile, and an intense dark color. When this grape is on its own, it is full bodied and musky with a strong taste of dark fruit, acidity, tobacco, and spice. When drinking Black Spanish in a stand alone wine or blended with others, we suggest aeration and/or decanting to dramatically open up the beautiful and unique flavors.

Here in the Lone Star State, it is also common to see this grape in a Port Style, rich with notes of vanilla and chocolate and subtle earthy tones.  Black Spanish also picks up secondary notes from aging very well, and one can note beautiful aromatics of toast, oak and tobacco in the dry, sweet and Port style labels. 

Come on down to The Rustic Grape to embark on a fun wine journey into what we call the Unofficial Official Grape of Texas!  Kristina will wow you with her intense fondness of Majek Vineyard's Lenoir!  It is excellent pairs with Eastern European flair, and is equally as good with a perfectly grilled steak.  Be sure to also try Besitos De Chocolate by Los Pinos out of Pittsburg!  We lovingly nicknamed Besitos, Chuck With a Tan, and this sweet Black Spanish has a liquid chocolate infusion and reminds most of drinking a chocolate covered strawberry.

**While we pride ourselves on knowing a lot about Texas wines, we will admit first hand that we aren't the fountain of knowledge!  We have learned a lot from the following websites, and invite you to take a look at them, as well!

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/profile-of-the-black-spanish-grape.html

http://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-2045-black-spanish-lenoir

http://winefolly.com/review/no-cure-for-grape-phylloxera/

** A special thanks to Lynne Majek for her wonderful plethora of information regarding Black Spanish!