The Vijariego Negro grape is a rare, indigenous variety with a captivating history and craft rooted in the landscapes of the Canary Islands, Spain. Often dubbed an 'exotic find', it has become a symbol of the region which is renowned for its rich viticultural heritage.
Vijariego Negro is identified by its medium-sized berries and tightly packed clusters. It is known to result in wines of remarkable intensity and aromatic complexity, with hints of ripe black fruits, violets, pepper, dark chocolate, and minerals, all balanced by a refreshing acidity. The wines usually display a deep ruby colour which becomes more profound as the wines age.
What's particularly enticing about the Vijariego Negro grape is its versatility - it can produce a range of styles from light and fruity to full-bodied wines with lots of tannin, making it an exciting grape to experiment with.
The grape thrives in high altitude vineyards and volcanic soils, an environment prevalent in the Canary Islands. This instigates a specific character to its wines, imparting a sense of ‘volcanic’ minerality that sets them apart from others.
However, even with its complex character, the Vijariego Negro grape has, for a long time, been a mystery to many outside the Canary Islands. Over the years, the grape risked being forgotten entirely due to its labor-intensive cultivation process relative to its modest yield.
Today, though, there is a revival of sorts for the Vijariego Negro grape, as wine enthusiasts around the world become more drawn to the rediscovery of 'ancient varieties.' This rediscovery has been a boon for the grape variety, bringing it out of obscurity and into the cellars of wine aficionados worldwide. Still not widely cultivated, wines made from Vijariego Negro grape remain inherently unique, offering wine buffs a taste of the remarkable Canarian terroir.
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