Monastrell is also known by the name Mourvedre.  This wine grape is used to make strong dark red wine as well as a rose.  It is an international grape and can be found in many regions around the world.  Monastrell produces a high alcohol and very tannic wine similar to a Rhone style French wine.  The characteristics of the grape tend to vary from region to region, but the majority of the time it is very earthy and gamy with red fruit flavors.  These grapes have a long history and date back to the Phoenicians around 500 BCE. 
Monastrell made its way to France in the 16th Century and then to California in the 1860s.  Monastrell was hit hard with the phylloxera epidemic but has made a recovery and gained popularity as of late.  These grapes ripen late as medium sized blue-black berries with thick skins.  Mourvedre is the more common name these grapes are known by, but other names include Alicante, Monastre, Mourves, Damas Noir, Mataro and many more. 
Monastrell is also located in North America.  Varietals are located in Ontario, Canada.  It can even be dated back to the beginning of the 20th century as one of the first to be used in Southern California.  In fact, it has been said that some of the best grapes come from Paso Robles, California.
 In France it is used in many Chateauneuf du Pape wines, and sometimes in a fortified wine in Languedoc-Roussillon.  In Australia it is used in Rhone style and GSM blends of Shiraz and Grenache.  A misidentified reading of DNA testing caused some confusion by stating Monastrell was not related to Mourvedre, but it was later corrected.