The 10 most important red grape varieties in Spain

Red grapes are undoubtedly one of the most elegant and best tasting fruit species that exist for the production of beverages such as wine. We cannot imagine a world without them, let alone without wine

who doesn’t like a good glass every now and then? We know that almost all of us like it, but this delight would not be possible without a good red grape. For this reason, we want you to know which are the 10 most important red grape varieties in Spain. You will be impressed with them!

Are all grapes useful for making wine?

Before knowing which are the most important red grape varieties in Spain, it is necessary to know why they are so special. It is estimated that, at present, there are around 10,000 varieties of grape all over the world. But not all of them are useful for winemaking.

why does this happen? Simple. Not all of them have the necessary characteristics to support the winemaking process, as they must withstand the ripening times required to obtain an elegant and delicious wine.

This is why the options for winemaking are considerably reduced. Surely for this reason, the varieties on the list have earned the respect of the best wine makers in the world.

Get to know the 10 most outstanding red grape varieties in Spain!

Below, we will tell you which are the best red grape varieties produced in Spain, as well as their characteristics and the types of wines that can be made from them. Let’s get to it!

Pinot Noir

A grape from the French Burgundy region. It is highly sensitive to high temperatures, so it is mostly produced in the coldest areas of the country.

It is known for having a really thin skin and quite low levels of polyphenols. This is perfect for creating wines with a tannic tendency and a light tone.

It should be noted that it is a red grape that allows for an excellent barrel maturation process. However, this does not prevent the wine from having fresh and fruity flavours, with a slight aroma of red fruits.

Merlot

Known for its French and Italian origins, this is one of the most cultivated varieties worldwide, and Spain is no exception. All thanks to its climatic conditions and fertile soil.

Wines made from this red grape are usually quite intense in colour with reddish tones. In addition, their aroma tends to be floral, with a very velvety taste.

Cabernet Sauvignon

It also has its origins in the French region, but this is a variety that develops better in regions with temperate or warm climates, and it can be cultivated all over Spain.

The tones of its wines are usually cool, with a blue or purple appearance. These grapes have a wide variety of tannins and are usually very full-bodied. It is characterised by its fruity flavours, although somewhat acidic and with a fairly high alcohol level.

Cabernet Franc

Many say that it belongs to the same family as the aforementioned variety and that it also adapts perfectly to warm climates. Its wines are often confused with those made from Mencía grapes, but they are usually very delicious and aromatic.

Trepat

Originally from Spain, specifically from the province of Tarragona. It is an ideal grape for creating wines with light, fruity, fresh tones and an excellent aroma. Among which we can mention the cava type or the classic rosé wines.

On the other hand, it can also be used to make elegant red wines with a characteristic ruby colour. These wines are always flavoured with different essences such as liquorice, laurel and even fruit flavours.

As they have a low amount of tannins, the wines are usually quite smooth, with little acidity and pleasant aromas.

Hondarrabi Beltza

Originally from the Basque Country. They are a type of red grape with a quite accentuated presence and their wines usually have a high alcohol content. Something to highlight is that the wines made with this type of grape are quite acidic.

It provides an ideal ageing or maturation process in barrels and its colours have purplish tones with marked fruity aromas.

Sumoll

Although they were in danger of extinction, nowadays many professional growers, oenologists and wineries have been progressively increasing its cultivation

A red grape that produces quite soft, light wines, low in acidity and with an excellent tannic load. And not only that! Thanks to its versatility, it can be used to make red, rosé and even sparkling wines.

Vijariego Black

They need moderate temperatures and a certain relative humidity to develop correctly. They are a type of red grape that provides very aromatic wines similar to some spices and black fruits, with a structured consistency and good power on the palate.

Carrasquín

A variety from the region of Asturias, it is ideal for producing wines with marked flavours and a large repertoire of aromas to perceive. And, although they have a fairly high alcohol content, they are known for their moderate acidity.

Rufete

We close this top with a red grape native to the mountains of Salamanca, which produces well thanks to its characteristic Mediterranean climate.

It is perfect for providing bright red wines, with a marked and delicious aromatic essence. It is usually sweet, but acidic at the same time, with a fairly moderate alcohol percentage.

Why are the red grapes produced in Spain ideal for winemaking?

The most relevant factor for harvesting grapes of remarkable quality will always be the climatic conditions. It is necessary to have cool environments for their production, but not in excess. In addition, fertile soil is required and the environment should not be too humid.

Fortunately for Spain, its average climate has all these characteristics. Therefore, it is an ideal territory to produce some of the best red grapes in the world.

How do you determine a good quality red grape for winemaking?

One thing must be clear, and that is that it will never be possible to obtain a good wine if you do not have a good grape for its production. It is for this reason that the grapes go through a selection and verification process, in which it is determined whether the harvest has everything necessary to make wine.

Some aspects that are taken into consideration are the following:

  1. They analyse their state or maturity.
  2. They verify that it contains high quality compounds.
  3. They examine how healthy the harvest is.

With these three simple steps, the experts can know if the harvest will be suitable for making a good wine or not. The truth is that there are many red grapes that can be produced in our beautiful Spain, which, thanks to its excellent climatic conditions for growing them, can produce wines of high renown and exquisite to the palate.

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