Grape VarietiesSpain has hundred of grape varieties but under 50 types are used in wine making today but this shows there is plenty of scope to produce other great wines once experienced wine makers start to explore different grape varieties.
Spain has a very long history of wine growing and even before the Romans arrived there was plenty of land under vine. Each invasion brought different techniques which slowly improved the production and storage of the wine.
Spain currently has the most land under vine than any other country in the world. Not all of this land is worked on for wine making, some has been left dormant for many years and it is just waiting for the right person or company to come along and invest in getting quality wine from the vine that has been left to cope on its own. Obviously time and effort will be needed but like all natural products once cared for, it will begin to produce great wines once more.
Below you will see the Main grape varieties grown in Spain today:
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Tempranillo
Tempranillo: This is the main grape used in red wine making throughout Spain today and it is found all over Spain.
It has thin, rich plum like skin and can produce wonderful red fruit flavoursome wines that can age well and some of the most famous Spanish red wines are made entirely from this grape variety.
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AlbariñoAlbariño: This grape variety is found mainly in Galicia northwest Spain in the D.O. region of Rias Baixas. This is a green lush region of Spain where the mist rolls over the many valleys in the area. The wine Albariño, which goes by the same name as the grape is among the best of the best of Spanish white wines today and typically is drunk with the local seafood which Galicia is famous for. |
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MenciaMencia: is a grape variety growing in popularity in Spain and comes from the Bierzo region of Galicia and Castilla Leon in the northwest of Spain. The grape is dark in colour and in the hands of an experienced wine maker can make wonderful reds with a distinct aroma. |
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MerlotA very productive, early ripening, dark blue grape variety. The juice is voluptuous, fruity and can be almost sensual. In the merlot you will taste and smell cherries, berries and prunes. It is also possible to detect the smell of roses or pencil. The grape has a rather thin skin, and contains relatively much sugar and has the potention of a high yield. The merlot has an early blossoming and can therefore be threatened by frost. If the production is too high the grapes become thin and light. Until today, merlot grows best in the Bordeaux area. The grape is often used in a blend to soften the severe cabernet sauvignon. However, the merlot driven great wines of St.-Emilion and Pomerol prove that merlot can also be the primary variety on the basis of a great wine. |
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Cabernet SauvignonA small matt dark-blue grape variety with a thick skin. The juice is very aromatic. In a typical cabernet sauvignon you will smell and taste black currants, pure chocolate and mint. In the aroma you will specifically find violets, cedar and pencil. The relation of pips and flesh of the grape is extremely high: 1 to 12. Next to the skin, the pips are the most important source of tannin of the wine. The tannin makes this grape very suitable for ripening on oak barrels. This makes the bitter tannin souple and soft. When grown in a too cool climate, this variety tends to give wines that are not ripe and somewhat thin. A too hot climate, on the other hand, makes the wine a little flat and gives the smell and taste of cooked fruit. |
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SyrahA very strong grape variety for red wine. Important in the Rhône valley and in Australia where they call this variety shiraz. The wines from syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell off dark blue fruit like black-berries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. The grape variety is famous for its great wines of the northern Rhône, e.g. Hermitage and Côte Rotie. The Shiraz produces some of the best wines from Australia. |
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