Castellana Negra

Elegant red variety from the Canary Islands.

The Castellana Negra variety is a red grape grown in the Canary Islands that originated in the Portuguese regions of Dao and Porto, where it has been cultivated since the XVIIth century. Traditionally grown in the island of Tenerife, the variety has spread across other islands of the Canarian archipelago over the last years.

The Castellana Negra variety produces small, short, compact, cone-shaped grape bunches, with elliptical berries that have an uncoloured flesh. Despite being a late-ripening and low-yielding variety, it shows an impressive resistance to botrytis and other grape diseases. Besides, it usually reaches phenolic maturity at around 12º, which allows for the production of elegant wines with a moderate ABV.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the wines made from the Castellana Negra variety is its aromatic elegance, with characteristic aromas of liquorice and suggestive mineral intimations. Because of these qualities, there is a growing interest among the new generation of Canarian winemakers for the variety, which is usually blended with other red varieties.