Sumoll

Red wine grape

The style profiled here is a dry, light-bodied red Sumoll wine: pale, tart cherry, rustic. Typical alcohol is 12 to 13.5%. Serve it at 14 to 16 °C.

Also called Rabo de ovella, Sumoi, Sunier, Sumoll negro, Sumoll tinto, Vijariego negra, Verijariego negra, Vijariego Negro.

The grape

Sumoll is a Catalan red grape, historically associated with the Penedès and now part of renewed interest in local varieties. Its appeal is not a simple imitation of a plush international red. Freshness and an often firm, slightly rustic outline can make it feel lively and individual, particularly in the hands of a producer who keeps the fruit clear.

The grape appears in red and rosé wines, and production choices create considerable variation. A light, minimally extracted wine and a more structured bottling are different introductions to the same variety. It is worth checking the producer's approach to maturation and handling rather than assuming that a rediscovered local grape must come in one particular natural-wine style.

Try a dry Sumoll with grilled vegetables, pork, mushrooms or a meal that benefits from a red with freshness rather than great weight. A modest chill can help a lighter version. If you prefer especially soft tannins, ask about the actual bottle: the heritage story is interesting, but it cannot tell you how the texture will feel at dinner.

BuyingLook for a Catalan varietal Sumoll and choose by extraction and tannin, particularly if you prefer light reds to firmer rustic styles.

Style profile

Our rating of a representative wine
Sweetness
Bone dry
Body
Light
Tannin
Medium
Acidity
Very high

Sweetness and structure vary with the producer, region and winemaking. These ratings describe the style above; check the label for the bottle in front of you.

Food pairings

Where it grows

Notable regions
Penedès

Similar grapes

Sources