<strong>Major Spanish grape varieties<br /></strong><div><strong><br /><strong>White varieties<br /></strong><div><strong><br /><u>Air&eacute;n<br /></u><div><br />This is the most common grape in Spain and possibly in the world.&nbsp; Air&eacute;n had a terrible reputation until modern winemaking techniques showed it could make appealing, fresh wines.&nbsp; However, it will never make great wines and it being replaced in many vineyards.<br /><div><br /><u>Albari&ntilde;o<br /></u><div><br />An important grape in Galicia, it has become increasingly popular in recent years.&nbsp; There are numerous Albari&ntilde;os ranging from a more peachy, fruity style to a lean, steely profile.&nbsp; Though generally made to be consumed young, some winemakers are bottle aging them for longer periods before release, feeling the wines benefit.&nbsp; Another, as yet unproven trend, is barrel fermentation and/or aging.<br /><div><br /><u>Godello<br /></u><div><br />A high quality, aromatic grape that is native to Galicia.&nbsp; It has good acidity and often shows mineral notes.&nbsp; It is the backbone of the Valdeorras and Bierzo DOs and has been quickly gaining popularity.&nbsp; Experiments with aging and oak are underway and are showing real potential<br /><div><br /><u>Macabeo<br /></u><div><br />Also known as Viura.&nbsp; Macabeo is cultivated all over northern Spaina and increasingly in other parts.&nbsp; In the DO Cava regions it is combined with Xarel-lo and Parrelada to make a high quality sparling wine.&nbsp; It is the dominant white grape in Rioja and Navarra, and can appear in these regions in an oak-aged style.&nbsp; It has been criticized for its neutral characteristics, but with care it can make attractive herbal wines.<br /><div><br /><u>Moscatel<br /></u><div><br />This grape is the Muscat d&Aacute;lexandrie of the Muscat family and is used in the Levant and Andalucia to make sweet dessert wines.&nbsp; These are generally excellent value wines.<br /><div><br /><u>Palomino<br /></u><div><br />This is the main sherry grape. It does extremely well on the chalky soils near Jerez, but planted elsewhere produces largely unremarkable wines.<br /><div><br /><u>Parellada<br /></u><div><br />One of the primary Cava grapes.&nbsp; Also used in Catalu&ntilde;a for soft everyday drinking whites. <br /><div><br /><u>Pedro Ximenez<br /></u><div><br />This is the grape that makes the great sweet wines of Andalucia.&nbsp; <br /><div><br /><u>Verdejo<br /></u><div><br />This is the principle variety of Rueda and with modern wine-making techniques makes a top quality crisp and citric flavoured wine.&nbsp; These wines are among some of the best in Spain and also the least expensive.&nbsp; Experiments are underway with barrel fermentation and aging.<br /><div><br /><u>Xarel-lo<br /></u><div><br />The third of the primary Cava varieties, known adding weight and alcohol to the blend.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><strong>Red grape varieties</strong><br /><div><br /><u>Bobal<br /></u><div><br />A highly colored grape found in the Levant that gives hearty rosados and reds.&nbsp; Though known previously for being coarse, with careful modern techniques, some interesting wines are being made.<br /><div><br /><u>Cari&ntilde;ena<br /></u><div><br />Also called Mazuelo in Rioja.&nbsp; A robust grape that is an important part of the Rioja blend, giving color and body.&nbsp; Also used in Catalu&ntilde;a, where it is also used as a natural part to Grenache.<br /><div><br /><u>Garnacha<br /></u><div><br />Likely the most widely planted red grape in Spain.&nbsp; High yielding variety that makes a great blending grape, but at low yields and older vines, it can produce stellar wines<br /><div><br /><u>Graciano<br /></u>A low-yielding grape that is a high quality part of the Rioja blend, it is seeing a resurgence.&nbsp; It had thick skins that give wines with a lot of tannins.&nbsp; They can be tough early on but they age extremely well.<br /><div><br /><u>Menc&iacute;a<br /></u><div><br />A potentially high quality grape that is seeing a surge in popularity.&nbsp; Many high quality examples are being produced, especially in the Bierzo DO and the Valdeorras DO.&nbsp; It gives fresh, tannic wines with an elegant profile.<br /><div><br /><u>Monastrell<br /></u><div><br />A high yielding variety that produces highly colored, alcoholic wines.&nbsp; In the right hands it can produce excellent wines.&nbsp;&nbsp; Its new reputation for quality wines is being led in Murcia.&nbsp; It is also used to make some interesting sweet wines.<br /><div><br /><u>Tempranillo<br /></u><div><br />Spain top native red grape.&nbsp; It is cultivated throughout Spain and has many names depending on the region:&nbsp; Cencibel in southern Spain, Tinto Fino, Tinto del Pais and Tinta de Toro in Castile Leon, and Ull de Llebre in Catalu&ntilde;a.&nbsp; It gives high quality wines at all levels, with great strawberry fruit.&nbsp; Because of its mainly diverse styles throughout Spain, it is sometimes criticized for lacking a dominant varietal character.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></strong></div></strong></div>