California’s Grape Mix-Up: Mourvèdre vs Graciano

Rows of Croma Vera Wines’ Graciano grape vines still labeled as Mourvedre in July 2023 in Vogelzang Vineyard a boutique, low-production vineyard that practices sustainable farming located in Santa Ynez, California. Photo by Chris Steins.

In the sun-drenched vineyards of California’s Central Coast, a viticultural blunder unfolded, underscoring the complexities and nuances of wine grape cultivation. This mix-up involved two distinct grape varieties: Mourvèdre, a staple in Rhône blends, and Graciano, a lesser-known but vibrant Spanish variety.

The Great Grape Confusion

The confusion began in 2012 when a nursery in California introduced a grapevine marketed as “Monastrell” — a Spanish clone of Mourvèdre. This variety swiftly gained popularity among Santa Barbara and Paso Robles growers, with over 200,000 vines sold, equivalent to about 200 acres. Notably, these vines were probably the source for many Central Coast Mourvèdre wines in previous vintages.¹

However, Andrew Jones of Sunridge Nurseries revealed that these vines were not Monastrell or any clone of Mourvèdre but were, in fact, Graciano, a less-common variety from Spain’s Rioja region.¹

How Did It Happen?

The resemblance of Graciano to Monastrell is one reason. However, the issue is further complicated by naming conventions and historical mix-ups in Europe. In Spain, Graciano has been confused with Monastrell and has even been called “Monastrell Menudo” or “Monastrell Verdadero.” Graciano is also called…