Spanish Wine Guide: Rioja, Tempranillo & Cava

Spain has more land under vine than any country on earth, roughly 1.2 million hectares, and over 400 grape varieties growing on it. It sits third in the world for volume behind Italy and France, largely because the old bush vines on Spain's dry soils are planted wide and yield very little.

That combination of scale and low yields is why Spanish wine punches so far above its price. Here's how to navigate it.

Spanish red wine: Rioja and Tempranillo

Tempranillo is Spain's signature red grape and the backbone of both Rioja and Ribera del Duero. It gives you red fruit, leather and a savoury edge, and it takes to oak better than almost anything.

Rioja is the benchmark, and Spain's most prestigious region. It's DOCa classified, the highest tier in Spanish wine law, and Tempranillo is usually blended with Garnacha for warmth and body. The ageing terms on the label tell you what you're getting: Crianza is the sweet spot for value, with enough oak to add character without the price of a Reserva.

Garnacha, known as Grenache in France, is the other Spanish red worth knowing. Lighter, juicier, more about ripe fruit than structure.

Spanish reds to try

Conscious Tempranillo - 72 kcal, 10.5% ABV. The lowest calorie Spanish wine we stock and currently the best value in the range.
El Ninot de Paper Grenache Shiraz - 76 kcal, 11% ABV. From Valencia, named after the Las Fallas festival figures. Juicy plum with a black pepper finish, and a bestseller.
Viña Mariposa Tinto - 76 kcal, 11% ABV. Garnacha and Tempranillo blended. Ripe red cherry and blackberry, smooth and easy.
Escena Rioja - 94 kcal, 13.5% ABV. Proper Rioja from the DOCa, with the vanilla and dark berry you'd expect. A customer favourite.

Browse all Tempranillo or all red wine

Spanish white wine

Spain is a red wine country first, but the whites are quietly excellent. Albariño from Rías Baixas in the cool, wet north west is the export star, all citrus and stone fruit. Verdejo from Rueda is the crisp everyday option.

White Rioja is the one most people overlook. Made mainly from Viura, it's fuller and more textured than a typical Spanish white, and it ages far better than its price suggests.

Spanish whites to try

Artesa White Rioja - 87 kcal, 12.5% ABV. Viura from Rioja, with more body and texture than a standard crisp white.

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Cava: Spanish sparkling wine

Cava is made by the traditional method, the same process as Champagne, with a second fermentation in the bottle. The grapes are different though: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo rather than Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which gives Cava its distinctive slightly savoury, appley character.

The term to look for is Brut Nature, meaning zero dosage. No sugar is added after disgorgement, so it's the driest style available and the lowest in calories. Reserva on the label means at least 18 months ageing on the lees, which is where the toasty, bready depth comes from.

Cava to try

Mas Macia Cava Brut Nature Reserva - 83 kcal, 12% ABV. From Penedès, zero dosage, 18 months minimum on the lees. Wood smoke, toast and baked apple, then stone fruit and fine bubbles. Sommelier Wine Awards silver.

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Spanish rosé: rosado

Spanish rosado is traditionally deeper in colour and fruitier than pale Provence pink, usually made from Garnacha or Tempranillo. The modern styles are paler and drier, which suits the way most people drink rosé now.

Rosado to try

Conscious Rosé - 72 kcal, 10.5% ABV. One of the lightest wines in the range at 72 calories, with zero sugar.

Browse all rosé wine

Shop Spanish wine at DrinkWell

Spanish wine collection - reds, whites, rosado and Cava, all zero sugar
Tempranillo - Spain's signature red grape
Mixed wine cases - free delivery over £99

Every bottle is full strength with 0g sugar per 125ml, and full calorie and ABV data sits on each product page.