Marisancho

A name that designates different varieties depending on the area. A molecular study (Fernández-González et al., 2012) matches Marisancho with Pardillo in the Spanish-speaking part of the Valencian Country, and in Castilla-La Mancha «pardillo o marisancho» is listed among the traditionally authorised varieties (1,502 ha). In the late 19th century, however, «Mari Sancho» was identified in Valencia with white Picapoll (Mir, 1898; Oliveras, 1915), so the synonymy is not settled. In farmers' testimonies about grape-growing in Utiel-Requena between 1910 and 1950 it appears among the table («de comer») grapes. Today El Regreso, in Manchuela (Albacete), makes a single-variety wine (El Regreso Marisancho) and two blends (La Mola and Martirio) with it. In Fuenterrobles (Requena-Utiel), Arroyo Martínez records that formerly small amounts of varieties such as botón de gallo, jengibrera, ojo de liebre, teta de vaca, marisancho and crujidera existed, and that in 1977 only these last two survived (Oleana 26).

Source: Vi Natural, “Uvas valencianas”; Spanish Wine Lover, “¿Vuelven las uvas ancestrales de Castilla-La Mancha?”; Novella Herrero, Oleana 26; Ferrer i Alòs and Plans i Maestra, Dossiers Agraris ICEA 9 (2006).