Sumoll
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
- Facts: Wikipedia, Sumoll (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata Q3064821 (CC0).
- Variety record: Vitis International Variety Catalogue, VIVC 12072.
- Style profile, pairings and serving figures are our own assessment.
- Wikipedia: Sumoll.