Macabeo
Definition - What does Macabeo mean?
Macabeo is a white wine grape with origins in Spain. It is widely found cultivated in the regions of Rioja in northeastern Spain and in the region of Catalonia where Cava is produced.
It is a grape mainly used to make young, light-bodied, acidic wines. It is also used as a blending grape often with Garnacha (Grenache) and Tempranillo.
WineFrog explains Macabeo
Macabeo is one of the three main grapes used to make Cava. The other two are Xarel-lo and Parellada. In Spain, it is also called Viura and Macabeu, depending on the region where it is cultivated. Outside of Spain, it is grown in southern France in the wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon.
The grape itself thrives in warm, arid regions and has a short growing season. It is known for giving wines bright acidity and is mainly used to make wines meant to be consumed in a short amount of time.
