MundoVino Portfolio Book

Spanish Grape Varieties

White Grape Varieties

Albariño | Al-Bar-Een-Yo | — This thick-skinned grape is Spain’s most popular white grape, grown in the region of Galicia, with evidence of it being planted near the town of Cambados as far back as the twelfth century. The Albariño grape produces wines that are light and high in acid, with alcohol levels between 11 percent and 13 percent. It boasts a signature aroma of apricot and peach. Garnacha Blanca | Gar-Nah-Cha Blan-Kah | — This wine is characterized by high alcohol and low acidity, with citrus and/or herbaceous notes. The wines can be textured and weighty. The grape is fairly flexible in winemaking and can be exposed to malolactic fermentation, extended skin maceration, lees stirring as well as oak aging. Godello | Go-Day-Yo | — High-quality, very aromatic, and native to Galicia, this wine’s cultivation has been considerably encouraged in the last few years, especially in the DO Valdeorras. Macabeo/Viura | Mach-Ah-Bey-Oh / Vee-Ou-Rah | — This grape produces mildly acidic wines with a signature white flower aroma that are made to be consumed young. Under the name “Viura,” it is used to make white Rioja. As “Macabeo,” it is the main grape used in the sparkling wine Cava. Malvasia /Mal-vase-eeah/ — A Greek and likely pan-Mediterranean variety with vibrant aromatic qualities, whether vinified as a dry wine or as a sweet and exotic wine. Formerly more widely planted and used in Rioja, it has been eclipsed by Viura there, though it continues its work in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. Moscatel | Mos-Cah-Tell | — Also known as Muscat of Alexandria, Spanish Moscatel is a white grape with a pronounced sweet, floral aroma. It is often used in blends across Spain, especially Navarra and Catalonia. Palomino | Pal-Oh-Me-No | — This grape is mostly found in the region of Andalucía and is vinified varietally or blended with Moscatel to make dry Sherry. It can also be blended with juice from dried Pedro Ximénez grapes to make the sweet Cream Sherry. Parellada | Par-Ay-Yah-Da | — Very productive and high-quality, it is one of the basic grapes used when making Cava. It thrives in Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre, Penedés, and Tarragona.

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WINES OF SPAIN