Most common Spanish wine grapes
White Wine Grapes
- Airen – The most abundant white wine grape in Spain
- Albariño – Produces a crisp wine with citrus flavors from the Rias Baixas DO. This wine is heavily exported to the U.S. and other countries.
- Malvasia – Can produce a dry or sweet wine. Found mainly in Rioja.
- Verdejo – Similar in characteristics to a Sauvignon Blanc. Extensively exported. Produced in the Rueda DO.
- Viura – Also known as Macabeo. This grape makes a delicious dry white wine when it is barrel fermented. Found in Rioja and Navarra DO’s.
Red Wine Grapes
- Cariñena- More commonly known as Carignane. It is also called Mazuelo in the Rioja wine region. Usually blended with Garnacha but some producers are making 100% Carignane.
- Garnacha – This grape is called Grenache elsewhere in the world. It is widely grown in the Priorat and Montsant wine regions.
- Monastrell – This grape is widely known as Mourvedre in other parts of the world. It is grown in the very hot climate areas of Spain.
- Tempranillo – This is the main red grape of Spain made most famous by the Rioja wine region. The grape is called Tinta de Toro in the Toro region, but Tinto Fino in Ribera Del Duero. The grape varies in its robustness from region to region./li>
Other grapes used less extensively in Spain are: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.
