National Mourvèdre Day Date in the current year: May 21, 2025

Mourvèdre, also known as Mataro in Australia or Monastrell in Spain, is a red wine grape variety that tends to produce tannic wines with high alcohol content. The name Mourvèdre is French, but the grape is believed to be of Spanish origin. It was established in Rousillon (then part of Spain) in the 16th century and spread from there to Provence and the Rhône. In the mid to late 19th century, many European Mourvèdre vineyards were decimated by the phylloxera epidemic. Around the same time, the grape was introduced to the United States and Australia.

Today, Mourvèdre is grown in Spain, where it is one of the most widely planted grape varieties, France, the United States (California, Washington, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Virginia), Australia (South Australia and New South Wales), and South Africa.

Mourvèdre is used to make varietal red wines, rosés, and port-style fortified wines. It typically produces full-bodied, tannic wines with moderate acidity and dark fruit (blackberry, plum, black cherry), spice and earthy notes. Oak-aged Mourvèdre wines also have hints of smoke and leather. In the U.S., varietal Mourvèdre wines tend to be less tannic and more fruity than their Old World counterparts.

Mourvèdre is also a prominent component in blends known as GSM, which stands for Grenache (Garnacha), Syrah (Shiraz), and Mourvèdre (Monastrell, Mataro). The blend originated in the Rhône wine region of France and is also produced in Australia, the United States and South Africa. These blends typically contain 40-70% Grenache, 10-30% Syrah, and 10-30% Mourvèdre, with Grenache adding fruity notes, Syrah adding complexity and depth, and Mourvèdre adding richness and structure.

Like other full-bodied tannic wines, Mourvèdre pairs well with rich foods such as braised meats (lamb, beef, pork, rabbit, veal), stews, and aged cheeses. Vegetarian foods that pair well with Mourvèdre include wild rice, lentils, tomato-based dishes, grilled vegetables, and mushrooms such as portobello or shiitake.

GSM blends are generally softer than Mourvèdre, with Grenache adding red fruit notes (raspberry, strawberry) and Syrah adding a broader range of spice. Similar to Mourvèdre, they pair well with red meats, aged cheeses, meat and vegetable stews, roasted and grilled vegetables, and rich tomato-based sauces.

The history of National Mourvèdre Day can be traced back to the 2017 Battle of the Texas Mourvèdre, hosted by the Texas Wine Lover blog. Eleven judges (experienced wine judges, somelliers, viticulturists, winemakers, winery owners, wine bloggers, wine lovers) tasted 17 Mourvèdres from 11 Texas wineries and chose the winner, produced by William Chris Vineyards. After the competition, it was decided to celebrate its anniversary, May 21, as National Mourvèdre Day.