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Vineyards in Spain
The wine producing sector is one of the most important ones in Spain, not only because its contribution to the economy but also because of the role it plays in environmental conservation. In view of the Spanish climate and the typical low rainfall in many agricultural areas, vineyards can be managed as a non-irrigated crop and supported by other irrigation systems in scarce rainfall summer periods. Vineyards also prevent erosion as they help to determine the soil surface structure. Furthermore, vineyard cultivation is historically and socially rooted in many autonomous communities and helps to retain the working population in rural areas. Wine, a product of the vine, has positive nutritional connotations, it is perfectly integrated both in the food pyramid due to its health benefits and in the Mediterranean diet. Wine has also a high added value, especially the quality wines produced in a specific region area or VCPRD (Estate Wines, Qualified Designation of Origin wines, Designation of Origin wines, Quality Wines with a Geographical Description, and wine of the land from a single geographical area) and plays an increasingly major role in the Spanish agricultural and food producing exports. Spain is the country with the greatest surface area of vineyards in the world (1,153,366 hectares in 2005), with 77% of non-irrigated land (889,596 hectares) and the remaining proportion of irrigable land. Localized irrigation is the most common irrigation system in the Spanish vineyard area (217,164 hectares) followed by spray irrigation and drip irrigation. The native vine varieties are by far the most predominant accounting for 88,45% of total cultivation and rapidly making acreage. The most common white variety is the Airén accounting for more than 305,000 hectares. Among the red varieties, Tempranillo stands out with a cultivated surface area covering over some 190,000 hectares.
Red grapes varieties - Temperanillo
Tempranillo is the most abundant indigenous grape variety in Spain. It is present in 69 Spanish VCPRD and in 32 of the 40 wine producing
areas of Spain. It is also grown in countries such as Portugal, France, Argentina and the United States. "Tempranillo" means early, which is why the grape was given that name, because it ripens earlier than most red varietals. The vine is hearty and upright forming white pale colour vine shoots. It has dark green, orbicular, thick-skinned, mate leaves. Bunches are cylindrical in shape and compact. Berries are spherical with a black-purple resistant skin, and a consistent and colourless flesh. The very aromatic Tempranillo produces wine
with great finesse. In the mouth is reminiscent of red fruits (redcurrant, cherries, mulberries, blackberries...) with a slight bouquet of liquorice.
Excellent structure of fruity tannins. In the winery, the Tempranillo responds well to vinification and rounding, its good and persistent
acidity make it highly capable of long aging and of oak-aging.
It is called Ull de Llebre in Catalonia, Cencibel in Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid, and Tinto Fino and Tinta del País en Castilla y León. It flourishes in Burgos, La Rioja, Álava, Cuenca and Ciudad Real. It is considered a main variety in 26 Designation of Origin (DO) wines.
Garnacha tinta
Although native from Aragón, the Garnacha Tinta is widely planted in any winegrowing area of the world. It is a very productive variety whose
natural habitat is markedly thermal, of Mediterranean type. A robust, upright vine able to thrive in arid climate and strong winds. The fruit or berry is spherical, medium sized, and has a thin, black coloured skin, a juicy flesh, and a colourless juice. Garnacha buds break one week earlier and ripens some days later than Tempranillo. The quality of Garnacha wines is highly dependant on the environmental and viticulture conditions. In warm areas, the wine produced is alcoholic,
little acid and full bodied, whereas in colder areas the wine produced is interesting and balanced. Garnacha has had a significant presence in the Rioja wines for the greatest part of the 20th Century, but the Priorato (Tarragona) wines have returned its well-deserved reputation.
It is most widely grown in the following autonomous communities: La Rioja, Madrid, Navarra, Cataluña, Aragón and Castilla-La Mancha.
Mazuela
The indigenous Mazuela produces robust, balanced wines. An extremely productive grape variety for red wine (could reach 150 hectoliters per hectare) that buds late and therefore rarely suffers frost damage, that has been accepted with enthusiasm by wine growers. Grown on the flats, it produces mediocre quality wines that improve significantly when blocks are planted on high altitude areas and grown under control. It is widely planted in Aragón and Cataluña, although it is significantly present in La Rioja. It is also considered a main variety in some DOs such as Calatayud and Cataluña. Likewise, the most characteristic Mazuela wines in Spain are found in the Priorato (Tarragona), in coupage with Garnacha. It is precisely in this district where due to the specificities of the slate soils vines build up a highly distinctive character and personality.
Graciano
A low-yield species, but producing highly prestigious wines. It is quite scarce in Spain due to its low cost effectiveness and its extreme sensibility to damp conditions. The species is vigorous, low-yield and it buds late. It resists well to pests and diseases. Its large clusters have two short cylindrical shoulders less pronounced than those of the
Tempranillo. The rather small waxlike and deep dark berry is thin-skinned, with a hard and colourless flesh, and thick berries. Although
red, these grapes upon full ripening have an intense powder appearance highly noticeable to the touch. Its reds are very aromatic and lasting. Smooth, of deep red colour, acid and with plenty of tannins. Highly thought of in La Rioja where it is blended in small quantities with the Tempranillo wines to give them breed and grip. Young Graciano wines are very tannic, rough and tart. For this reason, these grapes are found in the Gran Reservas of La Rioja and Navarra as a complement to Tempranillo y Mazuela.
Bobal
Found mainly in the Valencia area of Utiel-Requena, native Bobal rapes occupy 80% of the acreage under vine. Little common in other areas of Spain and of the world, although some vineyards can be found in the south of France and in some areas of Cerdeña, Italy.
Bobal makes a good use of planting on high grounds where summers are short and dry. The vine is of medium-high robustness and semiupright forming long vine shoots. It can be regarded as rustic vine of mediumhigh yield. This red grape makes abundant, well balanced musts that in mild years become acid musts with little sugar. Likewise, it has recently become the star variety of the Utiel-
Requena DO and it is also present in other DOs such as Alicante, Almansa, Manchuela, Ribera del Guadiana, Ribera del Júcar and Valencia.
Mencía
It would seem to come from the Cabernet Franc brought for replanting from France following destruction of the Spanish vineyards by phylloxera. Another theory traces its origin back to an early native variety associated with the St. James pilgrimage (Camino de Santiago). Wines are high quality, smooth, of velvety texture,
with a balanced acidity and a medium deep colour. It is considered a main variety in Leon region of El Bierzo. It is common in Galicia
(Lugo and Ourense), Asturias and Cantabria. It is considered a main variety in the DOs Bierzo, Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras.
Monastrell
The Monastrell is a Spanish native variety, widely spread in France and also known as Mourvèdre. It needs a Mediterranean climate to
mature properly, with long, luminous summers. This variety has compact clusters of very dark, waxlike, spherical berries with a meaty flesh. This is a tough, resistant species which can survive both extreme drought of frosts. In the last years, obtained a newly found recognition in the international wine scene. It is mainly grown in the provinces of Murcia, Alicante, Albacete and Valencia. It is considered a main variety in DOs such as Bullas, Cataluña, Jumilla, Valencia and Yecla.
White grapes - airén
A white grape that is Spain's most widely planted grape variety. It is predominant in La Mancha and Valdepeñas. Only in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha it covers some 300,000 hectares,
accounting for 3,5% of the world's and 5% of the European area under vine. It used to be considered a neutral grape without any great odour or flavoury attributes. Now, thanks to the introduction of modern
wine production methods, its qualities are being better exploited and it is producing some honest wines which are somewhat lacking in
acidity. Young wines with pleasant aftertaste, delicate, light with well defined organoleptic characteristics translated into an intense fresh fruit nose with a green accent of grass or flowers and a pleasant
acid zest. This variety is mainly to be found in Ciudad Real, Toledo, Cuenca, Albacete, Murcia and Madrid, amongst many other Spanish wine producing areas.
Albariño
Viticulture has a 2000 year old tradition in Galicia. Wine growing is closely linked to the pilgrimages to the James' Way. The star wine is made with the Albariño grape. Some believe that Albariño grape is indigenous to the area, whereas others believe that Albariño is actually a variety closer to Riesling grape that was brought and planted by the Cluny monks in the 12th and 13th century and that adapted to the area. Traditionally trained on pergolas and in small holdings, 5,000 growers share the some 2,400 hectares under vine cultivation. Its special attributes endow its wines with an elegant build, balanced and with a complex nose, full of nuances. It is the basic grape of Rías Baixas and Ribeira Sacra DOs, and it is also present in Ribeiro DO. In Portugal it is known as Alvarinho.
Verdejo
This is, undoubtedly, one of the great Spanish white species. Its dominions are in the Valladolid area of Rueda accounting for over half of the area under vine. It provides white wines with undoubted character and personality. This rustic, vigorous and traditional variety is grown along the left bank of the DueroRiver. It performs excellent in wines with some 13º alcohol content. Stocks are horizontal, sturdy and with a early or medium flowering. The bunch is small, with a visible stalk, a smallmedium grape in a short elliptical shape, greenyellow thick skin and greenish-toned flesh. Verdejo wine is green yellow in colour with citric, white flower and freshly cut grass aromas.
Its tendency to be short on the nose has been countered by introducing new winemaking techniques. It is plentiful in Valladolid, Segovia and Ávila.It is considered a main variety of Rueda DO and
it is important in others DO.
Other white varieties
The production of the unique in Spain and in the world Jerez wines is mainly based on the Palomino Fino variety. It is the base for wines
in Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Condado de Huelva, Bierzo, Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro, Rueda and Valdeorras DOs. Pedro Ximénez is the authorized variety in a large number of Spanish DOs and is considered a main variety in the following DOs: Montilla-Moriles, Ribera del Gudiana and Valencia. Godello has been overshadowed by the Albariño grape in Galicia, but its pronounced aroma and personal palate has given it its due credit amongst the quality Galician grapes. It is considered a main variety in Bierzo, Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras DOs. Perellada is very productive, of high quality, and a base grape used in making cavas. It contributes elegance and harmony when combined with other base Macabeo and Xarello grapes of Cava. It is considered a main variety in Cataluña, Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre and Cava Dos. Macabeo, also known as Viura, is a grape which gives a high aromatic value and a wellknit palate with slight astringent notes. Depending on the area, the aromas range from fruity (citric) to mineral or underwood. It is a main variety in the following DOs: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Cataluña, Conca de Barberá, Ribera del Guadiana, Valencia, Costers
del Segre, Navarra, and Rioja and Cava DOCs. Finally, Xarello is the third of the cava grapes, used to give them body and build. It gives a
good yield and is resistant. It produces highly aromatic wines. It is the predominant variety in the Alella and Cataluña, Costers del Segre DOs, and in the Cava Denomination.
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