Criolla Grande

Criolla Grande: Criolla Grande is an Argentine grape variety, often used to make dry white and rosé wines. With its unique flavour profile and ability to thrive in a variety of climates, Criolla Grande is enjoying a revival in popularity.

Criolla Grande typically produces light-bodied wines with a light yellow-pink hue. Aromatically the wines are often floral, displaying notes of jasmine, honeysuckle and orange blossom. On the palate, the varieties' wines typically feature a refreshing acidity, and flavours of citrus fruit, white peach, and green herbs.

Criolla Grande is most commonly found in Argentina, where it is grown in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja and Catamarca. Criolla Grande is a vigorous variety, and is well suited to different soils and climates. The variety is mid to late ripening with big, loose bunches of big berries. In Mendoza, Criolla Grande is used to produce dry white and rosé wines. In San Juan, the variety is often blended with Torrontés Riojano to make a unique, fruity rosé. While in La Rioja, the variety is blended with Torrontés Riojano, or Macabeo, to create dry white wines with a distinctively herbal character. Due to its light body and refreshing acidity, Criolla Grande is a great food wine that pairs well with salads, fish, seafood, poultry and mild cheese dishes.

Criolla Grande is believed to be a natural mutation of the Muscat of Alexandria variety.