Spanish white wine at a glance Style: from light and fresh to full and creamyGrapes: Macabeo (Viura), Garnacha Blanca, Treixadura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon BlancRegions: Galicia, Rioja, Aragón, Valencia, Almería, Castilla-La Mancha, Sierra de SalamancaServing: 8 to 12 degrees CelsiusPairs with: fish, shellfish, tapas and riceKeeping: usually 1 to 3 yearsWhat makes Spanish white wine special? Spain has the largest vineyard area in the world, and you can taste that in its white wines. The country has plenty of sun, but also plenty of altitude: some of our white wines come from vineyards at 850 to 1,200 metres. Cool nights keep the grapes fresh, while the days are warm enough for ripe fruit. That is why Spanish white wine is often lively and fruity.
Is Spanish white wine dry or sweet? Most Spanish white wine is dry. Macabeo, Sauvignon Blanc and Treixadura are fresh and dry, with citrus, fruit and lively acidity. Garnacha Blanca and Chardonnay are often fuller, especially when aged in wood, but they are not sweet either. Want something with a little sweetness? The Espejo Líquido Moscatel Espumoso is sparkling with a subtle sweetness. We do not have true dessert wines in this category.
Which types of Spanish white wine are there? Spanish white wine differs mainly by grape and region. These are the main types in our range, from light to full.
Macabeo: light and fresh Macabeo , also known as Viura, is the classic Spanish white grape. The Requiebro Macabeo comes from vineyards at 850 metres and has white flowers, white fruit and a fresh finish. The Sierra Almagrera Macabeo Blanco grows at 1,200 metres and shows tropical fruit, fennel and mineral tension.
Garnacha Blanca: soft and round Garnacha Blanca makes a softer wine with ripe fruit. The Entre Dos Aguas Blanco from Aragón is dry, supple and fresh, with white fruit. The Barrique version ages for six months in French oak and is fuller. The 'Maxim' Blanco from Valencia comes from a young vineyard and combines ripe fruit with lively acidity.
Treixadura and Godello: mineral wines from Galicia In Ribeiro , in north-west Spain, winemakers make white wine from Treixadura, sometimes together with Godello. The Napedra Treixadura ages in granite eggs and is pure and mineral. The Finca Vasqueira Castes Brancas is 70% Treixadura and 30% Godello, and is fresh and complex.
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay International grapes do well in Spain too. The Blanc de Canet is a fresh Sauvignon Blanc from Valencia with citrus and herbal notes. From Bodega Amadís de Gaula come the Requiebro Sauvignon Blanc and two Chardonnays: the Joven without oak, fruity and mineral, and the Edición Limitada in French oak barrels, fuller and creamier. You can read more about these grapes on our pages on Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay .
White Rioja: Viura and Garnacha Blanca Rioja is best known for red wine, but the region also makes lovely white wine. At Bodegas Heras Cordón you can choose from three white Rioja wines. The Marqués del Hueco Viura is fresh and approachable, 100% Viura with apricot, flowers and a soft, lightly creamy texture. The 'El Prodigio' Viura comes from old vines, ages for seven months in French oak and shows grapefruit, jasmine and an elegant, mineral finish. The 'Adventicia' Blanco is a rare wine made from 98% Garnacha Blanca and 2% Calagraño, round and creamy with passion fruit and melon. Prefer red? Then have a look at our red Rioja .
Local grapes from the Sierra de Salamanca In the Sierra de Salamanca , Bodega La Zorra makes white wine from local grapes. The 8 Vírgenes Blanco is a full, aromatic blend of Palomino, Viura, Moscatel and Rufete Blanco. The La Novena Virgen is a rare wine made only from Rufete Blanco, a local variety that was officially recognised as a wine grape only in 2020.
Orange wine, Blanc de Noirs and sparkling Want something different? The Sauvignon Blanc Orange Wine is a white wine made with the skins, which gives it more colour and structure. The Los Caprichos de Paco Blanc de Noir is a white wine made from blue grapes, Pinot Noir and Merlot, with the freshness of a white and more depth. Our Spanish sparkling wine consists of two Brut Nature wines made by the traditional method and a Moscatel Espumoso.
Which one suits you? You like it light and fresh. Choose Macabeo or Sauvignon Blanc.
You want something mineral. Choose Treixadura from Ribeiro.
You want something round and soft. Choose Garnacha Blanca, Viura from Rioja or Chardonnay.
You want something special. Choose Rufete Blanco, orange wine or Blanc de Noirs.
Which other Spanish white grapes are there? Spain has more white grapes than those above. Albariño comes from Rías Baixas in Galicia and is fresh, with citrus, peach and a salty note. Verdejo from Rueda is herbal, with lime and a slightly bitter almond finish. Godello is mineral and has more texture. Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada are the grapes of cava, from Penedès. Palomino is best known from sherry, but is also made as a still white wine. Albariño, Verdejo and cava are not in our range yet, but you can already read about them on our pages on Albariño , Verdejo and Cava .
Where does Spanish white wine come from? The taste depends strongly on the region. These are the regions where our winemakers work.
Ribeiro, Galicia. Granite-rich soils and a cool Atlantic climate in the Avia valley. This is where DVagar Adegas makes its Treixadura.
Almería. In south-east Spain, with vineyards up to 1,200 metres in the Alpujarra. This is where Bodega Sierra Almagrera works. See all wines from Almería .
Castilla-La Mancha. Bodega Amadís de Gaula makes its wine at sites between 650 and 1,050 metres. See all wines from Castilla-La Mancha .
Sierra de Salamanca. Bodega La Zorra works in the Sierra de Francia, around the village of Mogarraz, partly on slate soil.
Valencia. Bodegas La Canetana is in Canet Lo Roig on the Costa de Azahar, between mountains and sea.
Aragón .Bodega Taberner Amado is in Nonaspe, between the rivers Matarraña and Algars.
Rioja. Bodegas Heras Cordón makes its white wine from Viura and Garnacha Blanca, including from vineyards near Lapuebla de Labarca and Alesón. See all wines from Rioja .
What food goes with Spanish white wine? Light, fresh wines such as Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc go well with tapas, rice dishes, pasta and fish. Mineral Treixadura suits delicate fish and shellfish. An oak-aged Chardonnay suits oily fish, poultry and creamy risotto. A Blanc de Noirs or a glass of sparkling wine also makes a lovely aperitif.
Buy Spanish white wine at ONWINE At ONWINE you buy wine directly from the winemaker, and on our winemakers page you can read who is behind the wine. Shipping is free from 12 bottles from the same winemaker. Not sure which wine suits you? Start with the Spain White Tasting Case , which has two styles of Garnacha Blanca. Prefer red? See our Spanish red wine .
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Frequently asked questions about Spanish white wine Is Macabeo the same as Viura? Yes, it is the same grape. In Catalonia, where it is also used in cava, it is called Macabeo. In Rioja it is called Viura, and there Bodegas Heras Cordón makes a fresh white wine from it: the Marqués del Hueco Viura.
What do blanco, joven and barrique mean on the label? Blanco means white. Joven is a young wine meant to be drunk soon, often without oak ageing. Barrique is an oak barrel in which the wine ages. For sparkling wine, Brut Nature is the driest style, with no added sugar.
Which Spanish white wine is similar to Sauvignon Blanc? Verdejo from Rueda comes closest: also fresh and herbal. Verdejo is not in our range yet, but you can already read about it on our Verdejo page . Want something similar right now? Try a Spanish Sauvignon Blanc, such as the Blanc de Canet .
Can you cook with Spanish white wine? Yes. Choose a dry, fresh wine without oak ageing, such as Macabeo or Sauvignon Blanc. Oak-aged wine often gives a dish a heavier taste.
