Native and historic varieties
Spanish Wine Grapes
Explore twelve important varieties through consistent, high-resolution illustrations and practical guides to aromas, structure, regions and food pairings.
Red grape
Tempranillo
Spain’s signature red grape, capable of fresh, fruit-led wines and long-aged classics.
- Structure
- Medium to full body, moderate acidity and medium tannins.
- Key regions
- Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, La Mancha and many central Spanish regions.
Red grape
Garnacha
A generous Mediterranean grape that ranges from fragrant mountain reds to rosé and sweet styles.
- Structure
- Usually medium-bodied with warm alcohol, soft tannins and bright red fruit.
- Key regions
- Aragon, Priorat, Montsant, Navarra, Rioja and high-elevation sites around central Spain.
White grape
Albariño
A vivid Atlantic white grape known for citrus, stone fruit, floral notes and refreshing acidity.
- Structure
- Light to medium body with high acidity and a crisp, often mineral finish.
- Key regions
- Rías Baixas and other cool, maritime areas of Galicia.
White grape
Verdejo
An aromatic Castilian white grape with citrus, herbs and a characteristic gently bitter finish.
- Structure
- Medium body, lively acidity and a clean, savory finish.
- Key regions
- Rueda and neighboring areas of Castile and León.
Red grape
Mencía
A perfumed northwestern red grape that can combine floral fruit with mineral and herbal depth.
- Structure
- Medium body, fresh acidity and fine to moderate tannins.
- Key regions
- Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei.
Red grape
Monastrell
A sun-loving southeastern grape producing deeply colored wines with dark fruit and savory spice.
- Structure
- Full body, moderate acidity, firm tannins and generous ripeness.
- Key regions
- Jumilla, Yecla, Bullas, Alicante and Almansa.
White grape
Godello
A textured northwestern white grape with orchard fruit, mineral tension and excellent aging potential.
- Structure
- Medium to full body with firm acidity and a long, layered finish.
- Key regions
- Valdeorras, Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Monterrei.
Red grape
Bobal
A resilient eastern Spanish grape valued for color, freshness and savory black-fruit character.
- Structure
- Medium to full body with vibrant acidity and noticeable tannins.
- Key regions
- Utiel-Requena and Manchuela.
White grape
Palomino
The essential grape of the Sherry triangle, prized as a neutral base that clearly expresses biological and oxidative aging.
- Structure
- Usually dry, light to medium-bodied and shaped strongly by its maturation style.
- Key regions
- Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
White grape
Xarel·lo
A Catalan grape that brings structure, acidity and herbal-mineral character to still and sparkling wines.
- Structure
- Medium body with good acidity, texture and aging capacity.
- Key regions
- Penedès and areas associated with Cava production.
White grape
Macabeo / Viura
A versatile white grape used in fresh still wines, oak-aged Rioja whites and traditional-method sparkling blends.
- Structure
- Light to medium body with moderate acidity and a subtle aromatic profile.
- Key regions
- Rioja, Catalonia, Aragon and many Cava zones.
White grape
Airén
A drought-resistant central Spanish grape now increasingly used for clean, modern dry whites as well as distillation.
- Structure
- Light body, mild to moderate acidity and a straightforward, refreshing profile.
- Key regions
- La Mancha, Valdepeñas and broad areas of Castile-La Mancha.