Varietal Article

Trousseau (also called "Bastardo") is a dark-skinned wine grape originally from Jura, northeastern France, but which has made its way over the centuries to vineyards in northwestern Spain and various parts of Portugal. As one might expect of a well-traveled variety with a long history, it goes by various names, the most notable of which are Bastardo (Portugal), Merenzao and Verdejo Negro (Spain).

Wines made from Trousseau typically have a deep cherry-red color and flavors redolent of dark red berries and other forest fruits. They also tend to be powerfully alcoholic, thanks to the prolific natural sugars of the Trousseau berry and their correspondingly high potential alcohol.