Pedro Ximénez (ES)

Recommended in Portugal: Andalusia, Castilla la Mancha, Extremadura, Murcia, Valencia.

Authorized: Canary Islands, Cantabria.

DOC quality wine: DO Cataluña, Condado de Huelva, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Jumilla, La Mancha, Málaga, Montilla-Moriles, Ribera del Guadiana, Sierra de Málaga, Terra Alta y Valencia. DOCa Priorato.

Young shoot (form of tip): Very open, anthocyanin colouration absent, no, or sparse, prostrate hairs.

Young leaf: Low or absent anthocyanin colouration, almost no hairs between veins, very sparse on main veins.

Young shoot: Nodes and internodes green with red stripes on upper and lower surfaces, glabrous.

Inflorescence (sex of flower): Hermaphrodite.

Mature leaf: Medium size, deep green, slightly shiny, pentagonal, five slightly overlapping lobes with medium notching. Half-open V-shaped petiolar sinus, no fluffy hair on veins or between veins. Petiole shorter than main vein, with very sparse hairs. Medium sized teeth convex on both sides, high length-width ratio of blade.

Bunch: Large, medium density, short petiole.

Berry: Medium size, uniform, yellow green, with very thick skin. Berry difficult to detach. Flesh colourless, soft, and very juicy.

Woody shoot: Well-formed, dark brown, striate.

Time of bud burst: Normal.

Flowering: Normal.

Berry (colour change): Normal.

Berry (harvest ripe): Normal to late.

Vigour of shoot growth: High at the time of bud burst.

Pruning weight:: Very high.

Shoot attitude (habit): Heliotropic, erect growth.

Length of internodes: Long.

Shoot length: Long.

Tendency to form lateral shoots: Medium to low.

Rate of multiple bud bursts: Zero.

Bud fertility index: Very high.

Yield consistency: Consistent.

Crop uniformity: Uniform.

Sensitivity to abiotic factors: Tolerates low humidity.

Susceptibility to fungal diseases: Very susceptible to Peronospora and Bunch Rot (Botrytis). Susceptible to Oidium, Esca and Eutypia.

Susceptibility to Pests: Termites.

Bunch weight: High.

Seeds per berry: 3-4.

Vineyard conduction system: Nowadays, usually the vase training system.

Pruning: Short pruning, cane pruning.

Green pruning: Not absolutely necessary.

Soil requirement: Deep sandy, dry, calcareous soils.

Climatic requirements: Warm and dry.

Vine density: 1,200 – 2,400 vines/ha.

Rootstock: No known incompatibility.

Incidence of coulure/millerandage: Low. Occurs in some years.

Spoilage of mature berries: Susceptible when yields are high.

Risk of bird damage: Yes.

Machine harvest suitability: Hardly suitable.

Hand harvest suitability: Suitable.

Wine type: Quality dessert wines (Sherry and Málaga), table wines of medium quality.

Potential alcohol content: In the appropriate terroir, very high sugar concentrations (14.5% – 16% vol.) which can be so high that it can be used to boost alcohol content in dessert wine.

Natural acidity of must: Medium.

Total anthocyanins: Very low.

Risk of oxidation of must: Present.

Tendency towards acidity loss in fermentation: Low.

Colour intensity of wine: High.

Wine colour tonality: Straw yellow.

Tannins: Low.

Total polyphenol index (at 280 nm): 9.

Risk of oxidation of wine: Low.

Aromatic profile: Hints of fruit preserves.

Ageing Potential: Very good, as a dessert wine.

Blending recommendation: With Palomino.

Wine Descriptors: The wine presents iself with a strong, almost dark colour, with deep aromas as one encounters with raisins. In the mouth it is sweet and soft, has a well-balanced abundant richness, and long finish.

Wine quality: Premium quality dessert wines.