Spain is has more land under grape cultivation than any other. It is also home to numerous world-class grape varieties.

Some principal ones are:

Reds

Tempranillo – aka Tinto Fino, Tinta del Pais, Cencibel. Tempranillo can range from fine like Burgundy Pinot Noir (a possible relative) to fuller Bordeaux style. In the right conditions, tempranillo wines have capacity for long ageing.

Tinto de Toro – a clone of Tempranillo from D.O. Toro.  It produces very dark, inky wines generally.

Garnacha – aka Grenache in other countries, it is native to Northern Spain. Characteristically fruitier, in regions like Priorat, it can be very dense and able to age. Often, it is blended or drunk young.

Monastrell – aka Mourvedre in France, this variety is Native to the Central East on the Mediterranean coast. It thrives in the arrid environment and produces spicy young wines on its own. Monastrell resists oxidation so it is often used in blends as well.

Mencía - native of NW Spain, in the cooler climate, it is similar to Cabernet Franc. Wines of all Mencia have recently risen to critical acclaim.

 

Whites

Albariño - from NW Spain, lemony, fruity, mostly unoaked.

Verdejo – from Rueda, crisp, tart with exotic fruit, somewhat similar to Sauvignon Blanc.

Viura, aka Macabeo - alone or in blends, unoaked or oaked.  Apple notes, similar in some respects to young Chardonnay. Used in Cava blends, as well, found in numerous regions.

Xarel.lo – fuller white, similar to Viura and Chardonnay, mostly used to blend for Cava.  Compelling monovarietal still bottles starting to appear.

Garnacha Blanca – white Grenache, primarily found in N. Spain. Oxidizes easily, so mostly used in unoaked young wines. Some oak aged examples exist, showing an older, traditional Spanish style that has some oxidized qualities.

Txakolina – crips white, slight bubbles, citrus notes, from the Basque regions and Pyrennees.

 

Here is the full list of native grape varieties:

Reds

Bobal

Brancello

Caíño

Callet

Cariñena (aka Mazuelo)

Garnacha

Garnacha Tintorera

Graciano

Hondarribi Beltza

Juan García

Listán Negra

Manto Negro

Marselan

Mencía

Monastrell

Moristel

Negramoll

Parraleta

Prieto Picudo

Rufete

Sumoll

Tempranillo (aka Tinto Fino, Tinto del País, Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto de Madrid)

Tinto de Toro

Trepat

 

Whites

Airén

Albariño

Albillo

Cayetana Blanca

Dona Blanca

Forstera Gomera

Garnacha Blanca

Godello

Hondarrabi Zuri

Lado

Listán Blanca

Loureiro

Macabeo (aka Viura)

Malvar

Malvasía

Merseguera

Moscatel (Muscat)

Palomino

Pardina

Parellada

Pedro Ximénez

Picapoll

Torrontés

Treixadura

Verdejo

Xarel.lo

Zalema