Maturana Tinta vines produce small clusters of grapes with high acidity and good resistance to vine diseases. The deep-colour grapes and great tannic structure of these grapes make premium red wines possible.

While Maturana Tinta grapes were cultivated many years ago in Rioja, this was done only on a limited scale. Recent DNA analysis seems to relate the variety to relatively unknown French variety Castets, itself a relative of Carmenere. The Maturana Tinta vines, discovered in an old vineyard in Navarrete, were also part of the Universidad de La Rioja rescue project.