(White)  Albariño is grown almost exclusively in Galicia.  It is the principal grape of the D.O. Rias Baixas, where it thrives in the shallow, sandy soils and marine climate.  It is known for producing remarkably fragrant, high quality wines and is rapidly gaining in popularity.  There are now a few experimental plantings in other parts of the world, including California and Oregon.

(Red) Cabernet Sauvignon, originally from the Medoc region in Bordeaux, France, is now widely planted throughout the world.  In Spain it is especially common in Catalunya, Navarra, and Ribera del Duero.  It is often blended with other varieties, most notably Tempranillo, to add more backbone to the wine.

(Red) Also known as Mazuela in Rioja and Carignan in France.  It is widely grown in Northeastern Spain and generally used for blending due to its intense color and high tannins and acidity.

(White) Chardonnay has spread far from its origins in Burgundy, France, and is now planted in nearly every wine-growing region of the world.  It is easy to propagate, and versatile, readily adapting to a wide range of soils and climates. It is grown throughout much of Spain and is an accepted variety in many D.O.s, especially in Northern Spain, such as Navarre, Somontano, and Catalunya.

(Red) Garnacha, known as Grenache in France, originated in Spain and is now the second most widely planted grape in the world.  Traditionally it was used to make rosados and fruity reds or to blend with Tempranillo to add body.  Recently however winemakers have been using it to make oak-aged wines with the fruit from old vines, and achieving wines of intense color and body, as is the case in the D.O. Priorat where Garnacha is the main grape.

(White) A native variety grown mostly in the interior of Galicia in northwest Spain, it is only just starting to gain recognition outside of the region. It is capable of making a high quality, aromatic wine with good body and weight.

(Red) Graciano is a native Spanish grape, grown mostly in Rioja and Navarra.  It is difficult to grow and produces low yields of small berries, so it is not widely planted, however, because of its high tannins and spicy flavors, it is prized as a key ingredient in traditional Rioja blends, adding backbone and longevity to the Tempranillo.

(White)  Macabeo is native to Spain and one of the principal white varieties grown throughout the northern regions of the country.  It is one of the main grapes, along with Parellada and Xarel-lo used to make cava.  It is a late budding, prolific variety that also produces light, fresh still white wines.  In Rioja it is called Viura, and is the main white variety of the region.

(Red) Mencía is a native variety from northwest Spain, grown in the D.O. Bierzo and throughout Galicia.  Once thought to be related to Cabernet Franc, no evidence has been found to support this theory. It produces an appealing wine with distinct aromas, soft fruit and earthy undertones. It is now rapidly gaining in popularity, and even seems to be reaching 'cult' status.

(Red)  Merlot, originally made famous in Bordeaux where it is a principal grape, is gaining in popularity in Spain. It seems to do especially well in the Mediterranean climate of Catalunya, and although it is mostly used for blending, some winemakers are now producing it as a single variety.

(Red)  Monastrell is an indigenous Spanish variety, however it is known in the rest of the world by its French name Mourvèdre.  It thrives in the hot, arid conditions in southeast Spain, especially in the D.O.s Jumilla and Yecla.  Recently some excellent single variety wines produced in these regions have brought attention to the unexploited potential of this grape.  It is likely to play an increasingly important role in the world of Spanish wine.

(White)  Parellada, which is native to Catalunya,  is one of the three grapes traditionally used to make cava.  It is considered the most refined and delicate of the three varieties, and is also capable of producing light, aromatic still wines.

(White) Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most prominent white varieties in the world.  It probably originated in Bordeaux, but is now grown in many different places, including New Zealand, California, Chile, and more recently Spain, where it has been especially successful in the D.O. Penedès and the D.O. Rueda.

(Red)  Syrah, known in South Africa and Australia as Shiraz, has only recently been introduced in Spain, but has already proved to be successful.  It thrives in the regions of Spain with warm, continental climates.  Winemakers are using it to make single variety wines and also to blend with other grapes, especially Monastrell and Garnacha, which are complemented by its robustness, spiciness, and quality tannins, which add longevity.

(Red)  Tempranillo is the reigning red variety of Spain.  Its name comes from the word temprano which means early, since it ripens early. However it has many different synonyms for its clones which are grown in various regions around Spain, and which show distinctive and varying characteristics.  In Rioja, where it is known as Tempranillo, the tannins tend to be fairly soft and the flavors of red fruits, cherries and raspberries are dominant.  In Ribera del Duero, where it is known as Tinta del País, the tannins are higher and the flavors of darker fruits more apparent.  And in Toro, where it is called Tinto de Toro, its skins are thicker resulting in an even darker wine with bold tannins. In general it thrives at higher altitudes where the days are warm and the nights cool.

The traditional name for Tempranillo in the region of Toro. See under Tempranillo for more detail.

(White)  Treixadura is native to Portugal where it is called Trajadura and is one of the grapes used in Vinho Verde. In Spain it is grown in the cool, rainy region of Galicia and is mostly used in blends with Albariño, Loreira, or Godello.  It produces light, delicate wines with prominent citrus flavors.

(Red)  Trepat is a little-known grape native to Catalunya where it is traditionally used to make rosados.  It produces wines with moderate alcohol and good acidity with flavors of strawberries and raspberries.

(White)  Verdejo is indigenous to north-central Spain and grown almost exclusively in The D.O. Rueda.   It produces a high quality aromatic wine with good body and texture and flavors of citrus, pears, and melon. It has only just recently started to gain recognition internationally.

Called Macabeo in other parts of Spain, Viura is the principal grape in the white wines of Rioja and is used as a blending grape in Rueda. 

(White)  Xarel-lo, also known as Pansa Blanca, is native to the Catalunya region and is one of the principal grapes in cava along with Macabeo and Parellada.  It is also used to make interesting and very appealing still wines with good structure and creamy peach and pear flavors.