Mourvedre (Mataro) was just another grape used in Australia’s bulk wines and is still popularly blended with Grenache and Shiraz. Mourvedre has since been rediscovered for its fabulously rich, spicy old-vine/bush-vine wines. The Barossa Valley has some wonderful examples of this variety showing beautiful spice and liquorice.

Called Monastrell in Spain, like Australia it is a commonly blended with Syrah and Grenache. Mourvèdre's home in France is Bandol, where it reigns supreme in the red blends and yielding a savoury, gamey, herby wine. It also produced in the Southern Rhone, Languedoc & Rousillion blends. The grape needs warm climates to fully ripen, where it produces full-bodied, gamey and rustic wines.