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Spanish Wine Information - Grape Varieties in Spain
There are about one hundred and fifty acknowledged grape varieties in Spain. The most common red grape is the Garnacha and the most common white grape is the Airen.
Spanish Red Grapes
The Garnacha grape grows well in hot, dry conditions, and it is usually used to make blended wines. Wines made with this grape are often sweet and fruity. Another popular Spanish grape is Tempranillo and this one is harvested during late September. Tempranillo grapes thrive in a limestone and calcium-rich soil and wine from this grape is usually blended with other wines to make up for its lack of longevity and acidity.
A further Spanish red grape is the Mazuelo. This one is originally from Aragon in Spain, and it is widely planted around the globe. It produces high yields and is high in acidity and tannins.
Spanish White Grapes
Viura grapes normally produce light, dry, aromatic wines. This grape is used to make Cava (Spanish Champagne) in the Penedes region of Spain. Another white grape is Malvasia and this one is believed to have originated in Asia Minor. This grape is found in various Mediterranean countries. Malvasia grapes produce a full-bodied, aromatic wine which is worth aging, although they are prone to rot and oxidation.
The Xarello grape is only used in Catalonia to make Cava. The Parellada grape is also native to Catalonia; it is highly acidic and fruity. Airen is a drought-resistant grape and it is planted all over the center of Spain. It used to be used in brandy-making but today it is used to make refreshing, simple, dry white wines. Palomino is used to make sherry and Pedro Ximenex is used to produce simple table wines or sherries.
Interesting Spanish Wine Facts
If you are interested in Spanish wine information, perhaps you would like to know a few tasty facts. Did you know that grapes are the third largest crop in Spain? The first two are cereals and olives.
More than fifteen percent of the world's vineyards are located in Spain; no other country devotes so much of its total land area to vineyards. Most of the vineyards in Spain grow white grapes, although more than sixty percent of Spanish wine is red. This is because the white grapes are used to make sherry and brandy.
A third of Spanish wine is exported, although this figure is increasing. Top importers of Spanish wine are the USA, the UK, and Germany. After Italy, Australia, France, and Chile, Spain is the fifth biggest wine exporter to the United States.
Wine consumption in Spain is decreasing, although the wine quality overall is increasing. The most dominant varieties are Rioja, which has a heady variety of styles, and Ribera, which is a great wine but is not cheap.
Rioja wine is made in La Rioja, a province in Spain (rather like how Champagne comes from Champagne, in France). Rioja wine is aged in oak, to give it a special oak flavor. Many people interested in Spanish wine information have already sampled Rioja, and this type of Spanish wine is wonderful with typical Spanish tapas like vintage cheese, chorizo, or Spanish olives.
