Spanish Wine

Spanish Wines from Great Wines Direct

Wines produced in Spain have long been known around the world, although not all have enjoyed a good reputation in recent years. Spain has more than 1.17 million hectares of vineyards, and this has earned it the honour of being the nation with the most widely planted wine producing areas, however, in terms of production, it only ranks 3rd in the world, following France and Italy. The main reason for this is that the old vines are widely spaced and only produce low yields due to the infertile and dry soil that is found in so many of Spain's wine producing regions.

Spain has many native varieties of grape, and there are more than 400 different grape varieties planted across the country. Despite this, 80% of the wine produced here comes from just 20 different types of grape, including the well-known red Garnacha, Monastrell, and Tempranillo varieties, and the white Albarino, Palomino, Macabeo, and Airen varieties. There are also three types of grapes used to make cava: Parellada, Macabeo, and Xarel-lo.

The best known Spanish regions for wine production include Ribera del Duero and Rioja, both of which are famous for Tempranillo varieties. Rias Baixas, to the north-west of Galicia, is also known for producing fine white wine from the Albarino grape.

The most prevalent grape variety in Spain is the airen, which is known for its resistance to drop and its hardiness. The wines made using this grape are very high in alcohol and are also prone to oxidation. The next most frequently seen grape is the Tempranillo, which comes under a number of local names.

Today’s Spanish wine industry is becoming more modern, and this has led to more international varieties of grape being introduced to blends, including the ever-popular Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay grapes.

Read our blog - Why Spanish Wines are Among the Best in the World!

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White 12.5

Bodegas Bhilar, Rioja Alavesa, Bhilar Blanco 2024 75cl £20.57

Zesty aromas of citrus peel lead to a palate with lovely weight and a delicately creamy texture, offering harmonious balance to the cool-climate mineral tones

Red 13.5

Bodegas Bhilar, Rioja Alavesa, Bhilar Tinto 2024 75cl £21.26

Rich, beautifully balanced and fruit-driven, ripe hedgerow berry flavours are layered with aromatic herbal notes, chalky fine-grained tannins and a delicate spicy twist

White 12

Bodegas Paniza, El Campeon, Carinena, Viura 2025 75cl £10.54

A crisp and zesty Viura, with an attractive bouquet of juicy pineapple complemented by subtle floral notes

Red 13.5

Bodegas Paniza, El Campeon, Carinena, Syrah 2025 75cl £11.29

A silky smooth Syrah with juicy plum and blackberry flavours, fresh and easy in style

Red 13.5

Bodegas Paniza, Dama D Roca Garnacha, Carinena 2024 75cl £11.47

With vibrant aromas of ripe brambly fruits, this wine is juicy on the palate with hints of spice and vanilla

White 13

Bodegas Ondarre, Valdebaron Blanco, Rioja 2025 75cl £15.78

A creamy and savoury Tempranillo Blanco, with delicate aromas of white flowers layered with ripe melon interlaced with ginger through to a deliciously refreshing finish

Red 13.5

Hugonell, Crianza, Rioja 2023 75cl £14.60

A traditional and savoury Rioja blend of ripe strawberry fruit with beautifully integrated vanilla, leather and coconut flavours

White 13

Bodegas Vina Cartin, Ruta 49 Albarino 2025 75cl £17.63

A fresh and zesty Albarino, showing bright citrus and peachy fruit aromas, layered with herbaceous notes and a touch of spice Lightly textured and beautifully balanced with a lively, moreish finish

White 13.5

Bodegas Vinatigo, Islas Canarias, Tenerife, Maipe de Taganana 2024 75cl £40.28

This Listan Blanco reveals intriguing notes of spice, orange peel, honey and herbal tones, through to a broad and rich palate, defined by a distinct saline character

Red 14

Bodega Bideona, Laderas, Rioja Alavesa 2023 75cl £17.56

A pure and precise wine with aromas of cherries and red berries layered with thyme through to a fresh palate with lovely fruit flavours

Red 14.5

Quinta de Quercus, Ucles 2022 75cl £20.06

A concentrated yet vibrant wine with berried fruits complemented by subtle spice, silky with a beautifully velvety texture

Rose 12

Mesta Rose, Ucles, Tempranillo 2025 75cl £11.22

An attractively styled rose with lovely candied strawberry aromas and delicious crunchy fresh fruit on the palate

White 12.5

Bodegas Martin Codax Godello 'Mara Martin,' Terras do Cigarron 2025 75cl £13.43

Fantastically pure and precise, with delicate peach, greengage and pink grapefruit aromas, which are reflected on the superbly-refreshing palate The balance is impeccable, with the ripe fruit offset by a hint (but not too much) of sophisticated, citrus pith bitterness and tangy (but not sharp) acidity Very fine

Red 15

Pago de Carraovejas El Anejon 2021 75cl £88.78

This has really fine, delicate, spiced aromas, with beautifully-integrated oak notes adorning a wealth of intense yet subtle fruit character It's incredibly supple and silky, with mouthfilling, super-soft tannins Utterly wonderful, with truffley, foresty complex nuances emerging with time in the glass Rare in Ribera del Duero, El Anejon is a steeply-sloping site - so much so that it had to be terraced in order to be planted with vines, which are around 80% Tinto Fino with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon It is one of the region's higher sites, at 870m elevation

White 12

O Gran Mein Blanco Mag 23 Alma Carraovejas 150cl £82.68

White 13

Ossian Vides y Vinos Ossian Organic Verdejo 2023 75cl £38.30

An extraordinary wine from a unique place on earth, Ossian is the fruit of vines almost 200 years old - survivors of the Phylloxera pandemic that scourged the world's vineyards in the late 19th Century It has a lovely rich, lush juicy-ripe pear fruitiness; strongly reminiscent of young white Burgundy This is followed by a green fennel herbal character that sets it apart as something distinct and utterly unique Also akin to Burgundy is the finely-applied veneer of top-quality oak, which enhances but does not obscure the wine's singular personality Underneath all this is a tight, grippy 'mineral' character, suggesting that, while enjoyable now, this should also develop beautifully over a few years The ancient vines have never been grafted, and have developed their own extensive root system deep into the sand and slate terroir that has protected them for centuries, and which contributes greatly to the notable balance and expressiveness in the wine