Spanish Grape Varieties

Spanish Red Grapes

Tempranillo: Spain´s most famous and noble grape. Also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino. Grown in many regions including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha and Penedes

Garnacha: known as Grenache in France & America, this is the most prominent grape in Priorat

Mencia: Spain´s hot and upcoming cult grape used in Bierzo, and also in Valdeorras

Graciano: Also known as Morrastel, Courouillade in France and Xres in California

Mazuelo: Also known as Mazuelo Tinto, Cariñena, and Carignan in France

Manto Negro: the main grape in Mallorca, used to make some very interesting wines

Listan Negro: most common red grape in the Canary Island, particularly Tenerife. Main grape in top wine “Crater”

Negramoll: another red varietal from the Canary Islands, often mixed with Listan Negro

Bobal: used in the Levante to make mainly rosé wines

Cariñena: main red grape in Calatayud and Aragon in general. Carignan in France.

Monastrell: interesting red used mainly in Jumilla (Murcia) and Catalonia, makes juicy wines, Known as Mourvèdre in France.

Moristel: unusual grape found in Somontano and Aragon, makes young fruity wine

Spanish White Grapes

Verdejo: the “it grape” of the moment, grown in Rueda and used for grassy young whites

Albariño: considered by many to be strain of Riesling, this grape is grown in Rias Baixas and makes Spain´s most elegant white wines.

Viura/Macabeo: Also known as Maccabeu in France. Main white grape in Rioja and in Penedes.

Pedro Ximenez: the best grape used in quality Sherry and Montilla production, aged and used to produce ultra-unctuous sweet wines

Malvasia: This grape originated in Greece. Also known as Subirat-Parent, Blanca-Roja and Malvasia Fina in Italy and Portugal, this is a blender grape

Xarel.lo: Also known as Pansa Blanca in Alella. One of the Cava grapes, also seen more and more in single varietal wines

Parellada: Also known as Montonec, native to Catalonia, key component of Cava

Treixadura: a varietal found in Rias Baixas (Galicia), used on its own and for blending

Moscatel: a delicious “grapey” grape, found prominently in Alicante and more and more in Navarra

Merseguera: a common white grape used for everyday wines in Valencia

Airén: most abundant white grape in Spain, is slowly being eradicated in favor of other varietals that offer more voluptuous whites.

Godello: main white grape found in the beautiful Ribeiro wine region of Galicia

Hondarrabi Zuri: the near impossible to pronounce grape used to make Basque Country´s zippy Txakoli wines

Palomino: main grape used in the production of finos in Jerez

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