Among the many wine producing regions in the world today, Spanish wines, characterized by quality and diversity, have long established a wide market and consumer awareness. Behind this quality and pluralism, the differentiation of Spanish wines with unique flavors makes them stand out in the global market, forming their own unique and irreplaceable differentiated regional style.
If we continue to trace the origins, the cornerstone and source of this differentiated flavor is the unique and diverse grape varieties in Spain's vast growing land.
01
Spain's unique source of flavor: a diverse variety of grapes
In Spain's vast growing land, grape varieties are diverse. As the country with the most extensive viticulture in the world, Spain is not only rich in soil and climatic types, terroirs and vinification traditions, but also its diverse grape varieties are the original source of Spain's unique flavors.
If you are familiar with the knowledge and process of wine making, then you have to come to a conclusion, that is: wine depends on raw materials and three points rely on technology, and grapes are the soul of winemaking.
Due to Spain's strict legislation on the quality of winemaking, only those varieties found in the Spanish Commercial Grape Variety Register can be grown in the country. As a wine-producing country with more than 4,000 years of winemaking history, Spain is home to more than 400 grape varieties, more than 100 of which are currently wine grapes, which are widely distributed in its diverse appellations and appear as authorized varieties in different rules of origin.
From a wide variety of red, white and rosé wines, to elegant and charming cava sparkling wines, to its unique fortified wine, Sherry, Spain has plenty to surprise wine lovers. The 10,000 flavours of Spanish wines come from the characteristic flavours of these diverse grape varieties.
02
The cornerstone of quality and diversity: unique grape varieties
It is on the basis of these diverse grape varieties that Spain has developed a large number of grape varieties that are uniquely Spanish, making them the cornerstone of the quality and diversity of Spanish wines.
Grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Mencia, Graciano and Cariñena have become almost a calling card of Spanish wine, showing the quality and diversity of Spain.
As the shining card of Spain's high-quality wines, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro are the three classic regions of Tempranillo. Tempranillo from Rioja in northern Spain is elegant and almost perfect. Usually matured in American oak barrels, this wine has prominent red fruit characteristics, condensed flavors, and over time develops animal and plant flavors; The Tempranillo wines from Ribero and Toro are deeper than those from Rioja, with a stronger blackberry fruity flavor.
Thanks to the world's largest viticultural area and geographical diversity, Spain's rich and unique grape varieties are also able to blend with each other, which brings winemakers more possibilities to bring different surprises to the global wine market with its unique grape varieties.
Trivia of Spanish grape varieties
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is Spain's most mainstream and well-known local red wine variety, accounting for 20% of Spain's vineyard area.
In general, young wines made from Tempranillo grapes have a refreshing fruity aroma with notes of red fruit and licorice. Due to the high acidity, the tannins are ripe and the taste is balanced. This, combined with the fact that Tempranilli is not prone to oxidation, means that these wines are ideal for long periods of aging in oak barrels, giving them more complexity in terms of aroma and taste.
Bobal
Beaubar is the third most cultivated red grape variety in Spain. It is widely cultivated in eastern Spain, more specifically in the interior of Valencia, in the Utier-Regna appellation, where the best plantations still retain its old vines.
Traditionally, the Beaubar grape was used to make rosé or young red wines. Today, thanks to the efforts of the winemakers, Bobal produces red wines suitable for aging. These wines have aromas of red fruits such as ocean currents and raspberries, as well as crisp acidity and soft velvety tannins.
Garnacha
Grenache has the second largest area of cultivation in Spain and is widely cultivated in other wine regions. Originating from the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain, this highly resistant variety can withstand extremely harsh climatic conditions, such as hillside vineyards, which are usually located between 600 and 1,000 meters above sea level. This is the case with the vineyards of the Sierra de Grado in the heart of the peninsula. The vines here grow in granite-rich soils and are more than 50 years old. These old vines are also typical of the Catalan Priolato, where vineyards are planted in the rugged slate soil of the hillsides.
Under these conditions, the Grenache grapes produce wines with pronounced acidity and mineral aromas, reflecting the different terroirs and bringing the unique character of the diverse appellations.
Monasdell
Another of the most important native Spanish red grape varieties is Monas del Mönas del. This grape is widely cultivated throughout the Mediterranean basin of origin. In the Humia region, due to the rather sandy soil composition, this terroir produces wines that are rich in color and aroma, with notes of cherries, plums, figs and raisins. After aging in oak barrels, the wine is filled with aromas of black fruits and has a velvety texture.
Mencía
In Bierzo, the red grape Mencia is the protagonist here. Due to the influence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates, as well as the predominantly mineral soil composition, the wines here have their own distinctive characteristics. The wines here are strong and balanced, featuring aromas of wild fruits and aromas of blackberry and fruit preserves. The taste is soft like velvet, with refreshing acidity and a pronounced mineral taste.
Listán Negro
No one would be complete without mentioning the existing red grape varieties in the Canary Islands. These red grapes come from centuries-old vines planted on ungrafted rootstocks. The main variety in this area is the black snow, which is mainly cultivated in Tenerife. It adapts well not only to different altitudes and climates, but also to the volcanic soils of the island. These wines are very special, with aromas of wild fruits, rock roses and white flowers, as well as mineral and rich spice notes.
Lover (Airén)
Lover is the most widely grown white wine grape variety in Spain. This grape is highly resistant to drought and disaster. It is native to central Spain and has traditionally been mixed with other varieties due to its neutral aroma. Thanks to new fermentation techniques, it is currently being used to produce more delicious young wines. These wines have fruity aromas of apples and bananas, and are soft and light on the palate with little acidity.
Viura
The second largest white grape variety in Spain by area is Viula, a multi-faceted variety that can also be used to make distilled and sparkling wines. The former is a pale yellow color, with a floral aroma and a refreshing and balanced taste. This variety is not easily oxidized and is suitable for fermentation and aging in oak.
In Catalonia, Viula is known as Macabeo, which, along with Charello and Parealda, is one of the three most important varieties in the region. These three varieties are considered the basis of the most important sparkling wine in Spain, cava, which is brewed using traditional methods and protected by the official appellation of cava.
Verdejo
Wildergay is the latest native Spanish grape variety to become popular on the international market. Originating in Castile-León, Wildche is particularly in the Lueda appellation and is ideally suited to the gravel soils and rocky, brownish-grey terrain endemic to the region.
Traditionally, it has been used to make "old-taste" wines (wines aged by oxidation), but in young white wines it reaches its greatest potential. This fruity wine has herbaceous notes, outstanding acidity and a bitter aftertaste, which characterize this grape. This variety has an excellent structure and personality, which makes its wines ideal for barrel aging, giving them aromas of vanilla and roasted wood.
Albariño
Galicia is located in northwestern Spain and has a wide variety of local grapes, the most important of which is Albarino, the main variety in the Lower Bay region.
Albarino's wines are among the most aromatic in the world. The floral notes in the wine are complex and varied, with stone fruit and floral notes, reminiscent of jasmine and freshly cut grass. This wine has a well-structured structure, a mellow taste, and a balance of acidity and alcohol. These wines age perfectly and can be stored and drunk for years.
Godello
Galicia has another important grape variety, called Gedeyou, which is the main grape in the Valdeoras appellation.
Wines made in Gedejo are suitable for short periods of aging in oak barrels, which makes them complex wines with a rich palate while retaining the fruity aromas characteristic of this grape.
Listan Blanco
The grape varieties of the Canary Islands are known for their uniqueness, and as the most cultivated variety on the island, it produces wines with peculiar flavors of ripe grapes and yams. The grapes infuse these wines with a deep minty flavor, especially when they are grown on dry terrain.
Palomino Fino
Panomino was one of the first Spanish white grape varieties to gain acclaim abroad, thanks to the historical prestige of sherry, and allowed its large-scale cultivation to expand to other regions.
This variety is native to Andalusia and is cultivated in the "white earth" (chalk, limestone, clay and sand) of the Jerez region. This variety is the key to the Andalusian wines that strengthen the appellation.
Pedro Ximénez
It is the most prolific grape variety in the Montea-Moliles appellation. It is also the name of one of the most important natural sweet wines in the world. The grapes are dried in the sun, naturally concentrating the sugar content. Wines made from these raisins are usually aged using the traditional aging system culture layer (criaderas) and cultivation layer (soleras). This gives the wine a deep mahogany color with intense aromas of raisins, figs and caramel. The taste is rich, smooth, full-bodied and sweet.