Have you ever had a Mataro? What about a Monastrell or Mourvèdre? Or maybe you know this grape from the classic red blend: GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro). This grape variety goes by many names, but they are all the same thing: a true workhorse of the wine world. And in this Mataro wine guide, we’re going to discover everything there is to know about this powerful, underrated grape.
Whether it is a single-varietal wine, blended red, fortified wine or rosé, you can find Mataro in more places than you’d expect. It has a long history as an unnamed workhorse in Australian cask wine blends, thanks to its deep colour, high acid, alcohol and tannin. But single-varietal Mataro wines are having a well-deserved moment right now, and once you try one, you’ll understand why.
Mataro at a Glance
Mataro is a diverse grape that thrives in warm and hot climates, which makes it perfectly suited to many of Australia’s best wine regions. You might know it best as the ‘M’ in GSM, a blending style inspired by the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France’s Rhône Valley. Most Australian wineries call it Mataro, though you’ll find plenty labelled Mourvèdre too. The name often comes down to winemaker preference.
Origins: Where Does Mataro Come From?
Mataro is thought to have originated in Spain, where it is widely known as Monastrell. From there, it travelled to France, where it became Mourvèdre, particularly celebrated in the Rhône and Provence regions.
James Busby brought Mataro to Australia in 1832, as part of his famous collection of European vine cuttings, and it was first planted in New South Wales. From there, it spread across the country, eventually finding its spiritual home in South Australia. The Barossa Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest continually producing Mataro vines, including the Old Garden vineyard, planted in 1853 by Friedrich Koch, which is considered the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world.
Interestingly, Mataro nearly didn’t survive South Australia’s 1987 Vine Pull Scheme, which saw many old Grenache and Mataro vines destroyed. It was saved largely through the efforts of industry icons like Peter Lehmann and Robert O’Callaghan, who convinced growers to hold onto their old vines. We owe them a drink.
Flavour Profile: What Does Mataro Taste Like?
It wouldn’t be a Mataro wine guide without diving into what you’ll find in the glass. As a single-varietal, Mataro is meaty and full-bodied, packed with aromas of dark fruit, think blueberry, blackberry and plum, alongside violet, black pepper, thyme and a distinctive savouriness that sets it apart from other big reds.
You can also find chocolate and liquorice in many examples. Young Mataro wines can sometimes come across as gamey, but with age, they develop into something more complex: forest floor, leather, barnyard, and even truffle. It is deeply coloured, often high in alcohol, and built with firm tannins and high acidity, all of which make it an excellent candidate for cellaring.
Because of that intensity, Mataro was long considered a better blending grape than a solo act. It adds colour, weight and structure to Grenache in a GSM blend, balancing out Grenache’s fruitiness with earthy depth. But increasingly, Australian producers are letting Mataro shine on its own, and the results can be extraordinary.
Where Is Mataro Grown? Key Wine Regions to Know
Barossa Valley, South Australia
The spiritual home of Australian Mataro. The Barossa holds some of the oldest continually producing Mataro vines in the world, and the region’s warm climate is ideal for producing deeply coloured, full-flavoured examples with notes of sweet plum, roasted game, tobacco and spice. Producers like Turkey Flat Vineyards were among the pioneers of single-varietal Mataro in Australia.
McLaren Vale, South Australia
McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate, warm days, and cool nights, produce Mataro with vibrant fruit and well-balanced acidity. Look for wines from Yangarra Estate, which uses biodynamic practices to produce Mataro that truly reflects the region’s terroir.
Riverland and Riverina
Some of the oldest continually producing Mataro vines in Australia are found in the Riverland (South Australia) and Riverina (New South Wales) regions, a reminder of just how deep this variety’s roots go in this country.
Spain and France
Back in the Old World, Monastrell reigns in Spain’s Jumilla and Yecla regions, producing rich, concentrated wines. In France, Mourvèdre is a key component of Bandol wines in Provence, and plays a supporting role in many Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends from the Rhône Valley.
Mataro in the GSM Blend
The GSM blend (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro) is perhaps the most famous vehicle for this grape in Australia. Modelled on the traditional blending style of the southern Rhône Valley, GSM takes the juicy fruitiness of Grenache, the spice and body of Shiraz, and the earthy structure of Mataro to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
In a GSM, the wine tends to be more approachable and fruit-forward than a straight Mataro, making it a great entry point if you’re new to the variety. Once you’re hooked, the single-varietal expressions are waiting.
Food Pairing: What to Eat with Mataro
Mataro wines love food — particularly flavours that echo the wine’s natural earthiness and savouriness.
- Single-varietal Mataro: Duck confit, beef stew, lamb shanks, mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses
- GSM blend: Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, BBQ ribs, charcuterie boards
- Rosé style: Grilled vegetables, seafood, lighter pasta dishes
- Fortified Mataro: Chocolate desserts, blue cheese, charcuterie
The rule of thumb is simple: if the food is rich, earthy or full of flavour, Mataro will match it.
Mataro Wine Guide: Key Takeaways
In this Mataro wine guide, we’ve uncovered a grape variety that punches well above its weight. It’s not as famous as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon, but it has been quietly holding the Australian wine industry together for nearly 200 years, first as a workhorse blending grape, and now as a star in its own right.
Whether you call it Mataro, Monastrell or Mourvèdre, there is so much to discover in the glass. Start with a GSM blend to get your bearings, then seek out a single-varietal from the Barossa or McLaren Vale. You might just find your new favourite red.
Looking to explore more grape varieties? Check out our guides to Grenache and Shiraz for more on the wines that share the glass with Mataro.