Pedro Ximénez
Encyclopedia
Pedro Ximénez is the name of a white grape
grown in certain regions of Spain
, and also a varietal
wine
, an intensely sweet, dark, dessert sherry
. Pedro Giménez
(Pedro Jiménez) is a widely grown criolla variety in South America whose relationship to Pedro Ximénez is uncertain, as it shows ampelographic
differences.
(1500–1558) in the Spanish Netherlands
. It seems unlikely that a grape that so likes warm weather would have done well so far north, and no current Rhine grape resembles PX, so the story is probably apocryphal.
An origin in the Canaries is possible, perhaps the most plausible explanation is that it is a Moorish
grape that was 'rebranded' after the Reconquista
.
to make fortified wines and sherry types wines known by the Australian term - Apera. It is often used for blending and to make botrytised
dessert wines and still lends itself admirably in the Swan Valley the making of organic and preservative-free dessert wine today. This grape variety has thrived in Western Australia's Swan Valley since its introduction there due to the hot climate growing conditions. The vine requires a rich soil and short pruning.
James Busby
brought some Pedro Ximénez to Australia in 1832. Some were imported from Jerez and planted at Clarendon; a transfer from the Sydney Botanic Garden is recorded in around 1839.
.
, Málaga virgen and Montilla-Moriles
dessert wine. It is made by drying the grapes under the hot Spanish sun, concentrating the sweetness, which are then used to create a thick, black liquid with a strong taste of raisin
s and molasses
that is fortified and aged in solera
.
The grape is also grown in the regions of Valencia, Canary Islands
and Extremadura
, and occasionally also used in making a poorly-rated table wine.
The Pedro Giménez of Argentina has hairy shoots, whole or 3-lobed leaves, roundish berries, branchy bunches and sets fruit earlier.
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
grown in certain regions of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and also a varietal
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, an intensely sweet, dark, dessert sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
. Pedro Giménez
Pedro Giménez
Pedro Giménez is a white Argentine wine grape that is rapidly declining in plantings. Despite the similar name, the Spanish wine grape Pedro Ximénez is a different variety with ampelographers not yet certain if the two grapes are in any way related. Grown predominately in the Mendoza wine region,...
(Pedro Jiménez) is a widely grown criolla variety in South America whose relationship to Pedro Ximénez is uncertain, as it shows ampelographic
Ampelography
Ampelography is the field of botany concerned with the identification and classification of grapevines, Vitis spp. Traditionally this has been done by comparing the shape and colour of the vine leaves and grape berries; more recently the study of vines has been revolutionised by DNA...
differences.
History
Legend has it that Pedro Ximénez originated in the Canary Islands before being taken to the Rhine. The grape then came to Jerez in the baggage of a soldier called Pedro Ximénez (or Pedro Siemens or Pedro Ximen), serving in the navy of Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
(1500–1558) in the Spanish Netherlands
Seventeen Provinces
The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France , and a small part of Western Germany.The Seventeen Provinces were originally held by...
. It seems unlikely that a grape that so likes warm weather would have done well so far north, and no current Rhine grape resembles PX, so the story is probably apocryphal.
An origin in the Canaries is possible, perhaps the most plausible explanation is that it is a Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
grape that was 'rebranded' after the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
Argentina
"Pedro Giménez" is the most widely planted white grape in Argentina, where it is used to make fortified wines like those of its homeland in Jerez. As noted below, it is a criolla variety that is different from Spanish Pedro Ximénez, but the exact relationship is uncertain.Australia
Historically Pedro Ximénez is grown in AustraliaAustralian wine
The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine around the world, with 760 million litres a year to a large international export market and contributes $5.5 billion per annum to the nation's economy...
to make fortified wines and sherry types wines known by the Australian term - Apera. It is often used for blending and to make botrytised
Noble rot
Noble rot is the benevolent form of a grey fungus, Botrytis cinerea, affecting wine grapes. Infestation by Botrytis requires moist conditions, and if the weather stays wet, the malevolent form, "grey rot", can destroy crops of grapes...
dessert wines and still lends itself admirably in the Swan Valley the making of organic and preservative-free dessert wine today. This grape variety has thrived in Western Australia's Swan Valley since its introduction there due to the hot climate growing conditions. The vine requires a rich soil and short pruning.
James Busby
James Busby
James Busby is widely regarded as the "father" of the Australian wine industry, as he took the first collection of vine stock from Spain and France to Australia. Later he become a British Resident who traveled to New Zealand, involved in the drafting of the Declaration of the Independence of New...
brought some Pedro Ximénez to Australia in 1832. Some were imported from Jerez and planted at Clarendon; a transfer from the Sydney Botanic Garden is recorded in around 1839.
Chile
A small amount of white table wine is also made from this grape in the Elqui valley, in Chile (where it is labelled "Pedro Jimenez"), and it is also used to make piscoPisco
Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored grape brandy produced in winemaking regions of Chile and Peru. Pisco was developed by Spanish settlers in the 16th century as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain...
.
Spain
PX is used for SherrySherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
, Málaga virgen and Montilla-Moriles
Montilla-Moriles
Montilla-Moriles is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wines located in the southern part of the province of Córdoba...
dessert wine. It is made by drying the grapes under the hot Spanish sun, concentrating the sweetness, which are then used to create a thick, black liquid with a strong taste of raisin
Raisin
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking and brewing...
s and molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
that is fortified and aged in solera
Solera
Solera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, and brandy, by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. A solera is literally the set of barrels or other...
.
The grape is also grown in the regions of Valencia, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
and Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, and occasionally also used in making a poorly-rated table wine.
Vine and Viticulture
Pedro Ximénez has cottony shoots, smallish 5-lobed leaves, elliptic berries, smallish conic bunches, and late fruit set. The soft, thin-skinned berries produce a very sweet juice.The Pedro Giménez of Argentina has hairy shoots, whole or 3-lobed leaves, roundish berries, branchy bunches and sets fruit earlier.