How Mencia Became Spain’s Breakout Star
After years of playing second fiddle to better-known Iberian exports like Albariño and Tempranillo, Mencía is finally gaining broader recognition on the world stage. As new approaches to winemaking catapult Spanish Mencía into a higher league with consumers, sommeliers are also leaning into the grape for their wine programs.
Mencía’s origins remain a mystery, but it’s most likely native to Spain or northern Portugal, where it’s known as Jaen. Originally a grape that produced bulk wine, it first gained international recognition at the end of the 20th century. Today, it’s the star grape of Spain’s Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra DOs, with close to 8,000 hectares planted. Although Mencía isn’t quite a household name, the United States is its number one importer from both Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra, followed by Germany, Canada, and the UK…
