Brief Spanish wine varieties guide

Grape names are not much used in Spain. In most restaurants or wine shops, wines are classified according to their origin. Spanish wine regulations limit regions, which means that in order to understand how a wine will be you should know something about that particular region! More and more producers do however include the name of the grape in their labels. We will list here the most important and common Spanish grape varietals.

Red varieties grapes

Tempranillo: Tempranillo is the best known quality Red Wine Grape in Spain. “Temprano” means early in Spanish, and the name Tempranillo refers to the early time the grape has been traditionally harvested. Tempranillo is also known as Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Cencibel in La Mancha and Ull de Llebre in Catalonia. Its home is however La Rioja. Tempranillo produces fresh and fruit young red wines but it shows its best when oak aged.
Garnacha (Grenache): A grape of Spanish origin despite most people associate it with the Rohne valley in France. This grape can be found in nearly all wine countries around the world. In Spain, it is found in the Northeast area, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and Cataluña. In Rioja it is normally blended with Tempranillo. This grape can produce fruity wines, with raspberry aromas.
Mencía: Es un varietal específico de nuestro país, que se cultiva tan sólo en la D.O. Bierzo (León) y en la D.O. Ribeira Sacra (Orense). Es una uva con mucho tanino que da unos vinos con una ligera astringencia, pero con mucha personalidad.
Bobal:Found mainly in Valencia, Bobal wines are full bodied and colourful. Their quality has witnessed a very important increase in the last years.
Cariñena: This grape has long history in Spanish wine tradition. A good complement for Garnacha, Cariñena is mainly found in Aragón and Cataluña. In Rioja this grape is named Mazuelo.
Monastrel: Es la uva típica de Murcia y el sur de Valencia. Produce unos vinos potentes, con mucha estructura y un grado alcohólico algo superior al normal. Hace unos años, estos vinos tuvieron mucho éxito en los países anglosajones.
Cabernet Sauvignon: You are right, this is not a Spanish grape varietal! The increasing demand for varietal wines in importing countries has made many Spanish plant cabernet. As cabernet grows well nearly everywhere, the results have been very good in Spain. As Cabernet is fairly tannic it is often blended with other grapes to produce more complex wines. You will find Cabernet wines in different regions in Spain (La Mancha, Catalonia, Navarra, etc.)
Merlot: Yet again another French grape variety in Spain. Merlot has also been quiet successful (though to a lesser extent than Cabernet) in Spain and can be found in many different regions.
Syrah: Syrah has become relatively popular in Spain, mainly in La Mancha and in the Mediterranean areas. In Spain you will find a very different Syrah to the Rhone or Australian Syrah. Spanish Syrah wines are normally full bodied, high in alcohol.

White grape varieties

Verdejo: typical grape of the D.O. Rueda. Wine from this grape have gained lots of commercial strength in the recent past. Verdejo wines are aromatic (with a tropical character), with body. Some producers opt for oak aging, and the results have been very good.
Albariño: Sometimes this Spanish grape varietal is thought to be the name of the appellation of origin where the wines are produced (Rias Baixas in the Northwest of Spain, in Galicia) Albariño wines are aromatic, crispy and with a distinctive aroma. It produces acid wines, but also with high glycerine that gives them a silky texture.
Godello: Another grape from the Northwest of Spain, Godello is a high quality grape that produces very aromatic wines.
Palomino: used mainly for Fino production in the South of Spain
Xareló, Parellada y Macabeo (o Viura): These are the 3 grapes tradionally used to produce Cava.
Airen:Though unknown to many people, this Spanish white varietal is the world’s most planted grape in the world. The grape was traditionally used for the production of alcohol that served as the base for Brandy.
Chardonnay:This typical grape from burgundy can be found in many different regions in Spain. Many Spanish producers have planted this varietal and produce oak aged wines. Cava can also include Chardonnay.