Wine production in Spain
Spanish wine classification.
With 78 sub-regions of wine production across 17 provinces in the country, Spanish wines have the classification of Denominación de Origen (DO) and Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC). These two classifications control wineries in meeting stringent requirements to produce quality wine. The DOC designation is of the highest quality. Currently, only two regions have met DOC requirements in Spain, Rioja and Priorat. In Catalonia, it is referred to as DOQ Priorat due to the Catalan language spelling and pronunciation.
Worldwide wine production in 2020, by country.
Even though Spain is the third-largest producer of wine, the country cultivates and manages 400 grape varieties. Although, 80% of the country's bulk wine production derives from only 20 grapes and this includes:
Tempranillo.
Garnacha.
Monastrell.
Albariño.
Palomin.
Airen.
Macabeo.
Parellada.
Xarel-lo.
The most widely planted is Airen, a white wine grape that is valued for a variety of reasons including its hardiness. Second is Tempranillo, the popular grape of Rioja, followed closely by Garnacha which is planted throughout Spain but mostly known internationally due to the Catalan region of Priorat.
Red 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 fruity young red wines but it shows its best when oak-aged.
Garnacha
A grape of Spanish origin despite most people associating it with the Rhone 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.
Monastrell
It is the typical grape of Murcia and the south of Valencia. It produces powerful wines with great structure and strength somewhat higher than normal. A few years ago, these wines were very successful in Anglo-Saxon countries.
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.
Bobal
Native to the Utiel-Requena region in Valencia, Spain, Bobal wines are full-bodied and colourful. The presence of Bobal in Utiel-Requena was documented in the 15th century and their quality has experienced a very important increase in the last years.
White grapes.
Albariño
Sometimes this Spanish grape varietal is thought to be the name of the appellation of origin where the wines are produced, in 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.
Palomino
Used mainly for Fino production in the South of Spain, this is a white grape widely grown in Spain and South Africa. This is best known for its use in the manufacture of sherry.
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.
Verdejo
Typical grape of the D.O. Rueda. Wine from this grape has gained lots of commercial strength in the recent past. Verdejo wines are aromatic with a tropical character. Some producers opt for oak ageing, and the results have been very good.
Godello
Another grape from the Northwest of Spain, most famously in the Galicia region, Godello is a high-quality grape that produces very aromatic wines. It came close to extinction in the 1970s but has since had a resurgence.
Cava grapes.
Parellada
This is a white grape variety of Catalan origin specially grown in Catalonia. Macabeu and Xarel·lo are one of the three traditional varieties used to make the sparkling wine Cava, which is primarily produced in Catalonia. Besides its use in Cava, it is used mostly for blending in young white wines, although some more ambitious oaked blends with Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc are also used.
Macabeo
Also known as Viura or Macabeu, this is a white variety of wine grapes, which is widely grown in the Rioja region of northeastern Spain. The Cava producing areas south of Barcelona, and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.
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