Varietal Character

Lenoir
You arrived in the ‘Lone Star State’ to work on a mission. Your duty in life has been simple – to offer your services at Communion. Unknown to you, you possessed a rare and powerful gift. Your dark color was exquisite and your beauty seemed to ooze from under your skin. Though you were not one to focus on such secular obsessions, your missionary fathers were convinced that your beauty had the power to spread ‘the word’ across Texas. Over time, the power of your voice faded in the state. But in areas close to the Mexican border, they still listen to the padre known as ‘Black Spanish’.

Appellations producing the most Lenoir wines:

Texas (State Appellation)	North Carolina (State Appellation)
Texas Hill Country (AVA)	Sonoma Valley (AVA)

Lenoir (aka. Black Spanish)

This red-fleshed grape is a popular variety in Texas, where it is sometimes blended with Ruby Cabernet to make red table wine. It is highly resistant to Pierce’s disease, which makes it a good match for the hot and often humid Texas climate. It thrives best in deep, sandy soils. Originally, Black Spanish was used as a wine at Communion. At one time, along with Mission, Lenoir was one of Texas’s most planted varietals. Acreage in the state is now on the decline, although it still maintains a presence in the state, particularly in the few wineries located near the Gulf of Mexico.