Spectacular Spanish Red Wines to Try Now

Brilliantly bold, wildly expressive and offering great value for money, Spanish red wine is sure to impress. Grapes have been cultivated in Spain for thousands of years, and winemaking is deeply ingrained in the country’s culture and traditions.

There are Spanish red wine styles to fit every budget and occasion—whether you’re looking to add to your wine collection or searching for an easy-drinking vino tinto to go with a home-cooked meal. This guide brings you some of the most spectacular Spanish red wines to try.

Notable Spanish Wine Regions

Spain has many popular wine regions, and odds are you’re familiar with at least a few, including:

Rioja

Tucked away in northern Spain, near the French border, you’ll find one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most esteemed wine regions: Rioja. This is Tempranillo country—although producers often blend the grape with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, all of which perform beautifully in the region’s moderate maritime climate.

Rioja is one of only two winemaking regions in Spain that have been granted the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) classification—denoting the production of consistently high-quality wines.

Riojas are aged in oak for varying periods, reflected in the classification system used in the appellation. From youngest to oldest, they are Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Bodegas in Rioja traditionally use American oak for aging, which imparts a sweeter oak flavor and classic notes like dill, vanilla and coconut.

Priorat

Love Garnacha or richly complex, old-vine wines? Allow us to introduce Priorat, Spain’s second DOCa region. It’s a relatively small area with around 100 bodegas in Catalonia in northeastern Spain, just south of the Pyrenees mountain range.

Priorat wines are instantly recognizable for their fresh, vibrant character, velvet-smooth texture and capacity to improve with age. Cariñena ranks second in the region, and some producers blend the two grapes to make dark, intense, utterly unforgettable wines. Priorat wines can be expensive, but are worth splurging on when the occasion calls for something unique.

Ribera del Duero

You’ll find Ribera del Duero west of Rioja in Castilla y León. This region is home to Tempranillo-based dry red wines, known locally as Tinto Fino. Many winemakers blend Tinto Fino with a dash of French grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, which adds extra depth and complexity. Besides the grapes used in blends, the main difference between Ribera del Duero and Rioja is that wines are aged in French oak rather than American oak. The tiered aging system is the same here as in Rioja.

Toro

If you like big, bold red wines, Toro has you covered. As in Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo ranks numero uno in Toro, although it’s dubbed ‘Tinta de Toro’ here. Thanks to the hot continental summers, which help the grapes ripen fully, these wines have a gorgeous, opulent texture and a higher alcohol content.

Spanish Red Wines to Enjoy

Ready to discover the best Spanish red wines? These are the top native Spanish red wine grapes to learn and love.

Tempranillo

The star grape of such storied regions as Rioja, Ribero del Duero and Toro, Tempranillo boasts ample ripe red cherry, strawberry and red plum notes—with matured versions taking on stunning leather, tobacco, spice and cedar box aromas and flavors. It’s the variety responsible for some of Spain’s most age-worthy red wines, with the best capable of maturing for decades.

Tempranillo is super versatile with food—a natural partner with tapas, jamon and chorizo. Sip it with grilled or smoked beef or lamb, roast eggplant, tomato-based pasta sauces and generously spiced recipes like beef, veggie chilis and tagine. Tucking into Tex-Mex? Reach for Tempranillo.

Garnacha

Garnacha, known as ‘Grenache’ in French, is believed by experts to have originated in Spain. It produces captivating, wonderfully approachable wines in its native land, with Garnacha from Priorat standing out for its exceptional quality and distinctive characteristics. Garnacha is all about juicy raspberry, candied strawberry and dark cherry notes layered over baking spice. Within the Priorat region, Garnacha adopts intriguing licorice notes and sometimes a mineral-driven character from the region’s llicorella soils.

Garnacha blends

Spain is also famous for its stunning Garnacha-based blends. Some producers blend the grape with Cariñena, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which add lush black fruit and tannins to Garnacha, helping improve the wines’ age-worthiness.

Cariñena

Also known internationally as ‘Carignan’ (and as ‘Mazuelo’ in Rioja), Cariñena takes its name from the town in Aragon where it originates. Its sky-high acidity and tannins make it a popular grape for blending, with Garnacha being a favorite among many wine producers. Although it’s rare to see Cariñena bottled on its own, a few compelling examples are produced around the country. Expect lots of red berries, spice and gamey notes in the glass.

Mencía

If you head to northwestern Spain, you’ll encounter Mencía, a fragrant native Spanish grape found in Bierzo, Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra. Often associated with old vine plantings, some of the Mencía vines in Spain date back a century or more.

Known for its medium-bodied red wines, Mencía exhibits vibrant acidity and red fruit flavors like pomegranate, currant and tart cherry, with elegant floral notes, a touch of black licorice, pepper and stony minerality. Pour a glass of Mencía the next time you enjoy cured meats, barbecue or savory meat pies and empanadas.

Bobal

Native to Utiel-Requena in eastern Spain, Bobal is Spain’s second most-planted red grape after Tempranillo. Fruity with supple tannins, it’s a fantastic summer wine packed with plush dark fruits, fig and cocoa powder flavors. It pairs perfectly with chorizo and chicken paella and is even lovelier with duck dishes thanks to its bright, refreshing acidity. Delicious and affordable, the best versions of Bobal can mature for years.

Monastrell

Also known as ‘Mourvèdre’ or ‘Mataro,’ Monastrell will be familiar to fans of GSM blends in France and Australia, but in Spain, winemakers allow this grape to shine solo. It’s a mainstay of regions like Jumilla, Valencia and Alicante, but it makes appearances in other appellations around the country. Like Garnacha, experts believe Monastrell to be a native Spanish grape, and it makes fabulously bold, tannic wines with plenty of plum, blackberry, game, pepper and spice notes. Drink Monastrell with roast pork, your favorite barbecue meats or smoked cheeses.

Rodrigo, Personal Wine Advisor

First-generation New Yorker, Mexican at heart, Catalan by association. Wine aficionado, foodie and travel junkie.

WSET – Level 2 Wines Certified

Natural Wine • Mexican Wine • Catalonian Wine • Off-the-Beaten-Path Regions & Grapes

rodrigo@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2163

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