Macabeo

Macabeo (or Viura in Rioja) is a white wine grape used on either side of the Pyrenees, in the north and east of Spain and the southernmost reaches of France. A relatively versatile grape, it is used in still, sparkling, dry and sweet wines. There are few universal truths about how Macabeo tastes; the wines can be fresh, floral and aromatic when harvested sufficiently early and aged in stainless steel, but weighty, honeyed and nutty when aged in oak and harvested slightly later.

Macabeo – Parellada – Xarel-lo blends are used mostly in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, notably in Penedes and Priorat. Its most famous function is in the white sparkling Cava wines, which are found around the world.

Synonyms include: Viura, Maccabeo, Maccabeu.

Food matches for Macabeo include:

• Grilled shrimps
• Green mango salad
• Whitebait fritters