Obscure Varietals
OCTOBER 2026
This month we are featuring two red grapes that we think you may have never heard of: Frappato from Sicily & Mencía from Bierzo in northwest Spain. Both grapes are delicious, easy-drinking, and perfect for fall. Enjoy!
Frappato = Grape #1
Traditionally, winemakers in Sicily's only DOCG region of Cerasuolo di Vittoria have blended Nero d'Avola with Frappato as part of a 60/40 blend. Recently, with the rise in demand for lighter-bodied, lower-alcohol reds, Frappato has emerged as a delicious single-varietal that checks all the boxes – it's aromatic, has lots of red fruit flavors, good acidity, and tastes great!
Cantine Birgi
Sicily, Italy
Headquartered between Marsala & Trapani on the northwest coast of Sicily, Cantine Birgi is a co-operative that has members with 2,800 hectares of vineyards throughout the island. They grow native varieties such as Grillo, Catarratto, Nero d'Avola (and your club wine, Frappato) as well as international grapes such as Chardonnay, Syrah & Merlot. Ten growers founded Cantine Birgi in 1960. Today is has grown to include thousands of members who bring their harvested grapes to have their wines produced at the co-op.
Cantine Birgi 2025 Frappato • Sicily, Italy • Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $14.99
100% Frappato. Nose is so sexy: forest strawberries, dark raspberries, earthy and spicy, but light. Flavors are bigger: more strawberries, raspberries, an herbal note then blackberries add in acidity. A little orange-citrus note on the finish. Makes this wine so interesting. Jens: Absolutely stunning. Medium- to lighter in body. Perfect with tinned fish spaghetti, in the case below... sardines.
Mencía = Grape #2
Mencía is a red grape that is indigenous to northwest Spain and only grows on the Iberian Peninsula. It's most commonly found in Bierzo, a hilly (if not mountainous), high-altitude region of Castilla y León, right on the border to Galicia. If you know anyone who has walked the Camino from the northern route (France), they have trekked through the vineyards of Bierzo.
Bodegas Arganza
Bierzo, Spain
The vineyards for this winery date back to the 15th century. In 2003, the Robla family (pictured) bought the property and runs it today as a family enterprise.
Vina Século 2023 Mencía • Bierzo, Spain • Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100% Mencía. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks, then aged 3 months in French & American oak barrels before bottling. Earth, dark plums on the nose. Medium-bodied. Flavors of blackberries, black cherries, purple plums. Good acidity. A little spicy on the finish — in a good way. Great sipper if you’re okay with a European-style red (=a little acidity). Superb food wine. A LOT of wine for the money. Perfect pairing? Pepper steak or pork tenderloin with chanterrelles over mash potatoes.
A Note from Jens:
The theme of obscure varietals was the best way for us to get these two wines into a tasty, fall club for you. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Absolutely great wines for the price.
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. We host this tasting so that you can taste and learn about your wines before enjoying them at home.
You'll also be able to taste the Portalis FLAGSHIP club wines. Our October club features a winery – Viñas del Cénit – from Zamora (Spain) featuring 100+ year old vineyards with a mix of red & white grapes that get vinified as a field blend. Seriously fun, interesting, educational club... and the wines are fabulous. This one is a don't-miss!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online sign-up. You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).