Best Spanish White Wine Types
Rías Baixas is a Spanish appellation located along the Atlantic coast in Galicia. The entire region is divided into five subregions: Salnes Valley, O Rosal, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla, and Condado do Tea. There are several permitted grape varieties, but Albariño prospers and dominates in the entire region.
Other permitted grapes that are sometimes used include Treixadura, Loureiro, Caiño Blanco, Torrontes, and Godello. The styles slightly differ depending on the subregion and the production, but most of the wines hail from the region are pale golden, fresh, and aromatic.
Albariño is a white grape variety grown in northwest Spain (Galicia) and northwest Portugal (Monção and Melgaço) where it is used to make varietal white wines. Albariño wines are very light, fresh, crisp, with high acids and of a rich, floral, and aromatic character.
Its specific aromas often include white peach, apricot, melon, pineapple, mango, and honeysuckle with an underlying minerality. Albariño wines are very versatile when it comes to food pairing, with seafood being the most obvious choice, along with a variety of dishes from Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisine.
THE BEST Albariño Wine Varieties
Txakoli is a light and fresh, clean-tasting, slightly sparkling, and usually white Spanish wine that is mainly produced in the Basque Country, more precisely in the wine regions Getariako, Bizkaiko, and Alava. The wines are typically made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes, and although regional expressions may slightly differ, Txakoli wines are low in alcohol and high in acidity, while they usually display crisp fruity notes reminiscent of apples and citrus.
The wines are best enjoyed chilled, and they are traditionally poured from a height, either from the bottle or the pitcher known as porrón, to leave the tiny bubbles intact. Because they are a perfect match to cured meat, seafood, olives, and local cheese, Txakoli wines are a staple at pintxos (tapas) bars throughout Basque.
VARIATIONS OF Txakoli
THE BEST Txakoli Wine Appellations
Getariako Txakolina is a Spanish appellation from Basque Country (Gipuzkoa) that produces white Txakoli wines—crisp white wines that the entire Basque region is famous for. The wines are low in alcohol and typically lightly bubbly.
Most are made from the native Hondarrabi Zuri grapes. Getariako Txakolina is one of the three Txakoli appellations. The examples coming from this region usually have brighter acidity. They will also mostly have a mineral, saline note, because of the vicinity to the Cantabrian sea (Bay of Biscay).
These wines have low alcohol content, around 10%.
This white grape variety probably originated in North Africa from where it was imported to the Iberian Peninsula, and today it is mainly known as the principal grape used in Rueda (DO), both in blends and as a varietal wine. The wines produced from Verdejo are typically light-bodied, fruit-forward, fresh, and lively, with well-balanced acidity that is accompanied by bright and herbaceous flavors of citrus, fruit, and fennel.
With age, some varieties may develop nutty almond flavors. Because of its character, Verdejo is great enjoyed on its own, but it is also a food-friendly wine, and while young Verdejo is an excellent accompaniment to grilled and fried seafood, vegetables, salads, and fresh cheese, aged varieties may match paella and heartier fish or meat dishes.
Godello is a Spanish grape variety that has recently risen in popularity after it had nearly gone extinct after the 1970s. The grape shows the best results in Valdeorras in Galicia, though it is planted in other Spanish regions, as well as Portugal.
The wines made from Godello are usually full-bodied and dense but remain bright and mineral. Their character may vary, and while those aged in steel tanks tend to be lighter and fruiter, oak-aged styles are more creamy and rich. Godello wines will typically include notes of citrus and white fruit, with accompanying nuances of honeysuckle and chamomile.
Xarel·lo is a Spanish grape variety best known for its use in sparkling Cava, where it is used along with Macabeo and Parellada. It is a high-quality grape that provides power, body, and structure in Cava wines. It is the most planted variety in DO Penedès.
Apart from sparkling wines, the grape is used for dry white wines, both varietals and blends. Wines made from Xarel·lo are medium-bodied and aromatic, with good acidity and alcohol content. The aromas are reminiscent of citrus and stone fruit, and the wines will typically have herbal and mineral character.
Palomino Fino is a Spanish grape variety that is mostly used in the production of sherry. Known as a high-yielding grape that produces mainly bland white wines that are low in acidity and sugar, the must from Palomino can oxidize quickly, which makes it ideal for the production of sherry—fortified and oxidized wines that hail from Jerez.
The grape is used in the production of various sherry styles, and it accounts for approximately 90% of sherry production. The first must is mostly used in the production of dry white wines such as Fino and Manzanilla, while the second pressing is usually made into darker and richer Oloroso.
THE BEST Palomino Fino Wine Varieties

Airén is the most widely planted grape variety in Spain. This white-skinned grape is better known for its sturdiness, and though it was mainly used as a blending grape or in production of brandy and table wines, some winemakers have seen its potential in the production of crisp, good-quality varietals.
Wines made from Airén grapes are light and typically low in acidity, with fruity aromas reminiscent of green apples, pineapple, and citrus fruit, while the best examples will usually also display rose nuances. These easy-drinking wines usually have moderate acidity and perfectly pair with white fish and seafood.
Vijariego is a white grape variety now mostly found on the Canary Islands. It is also found but rarely cultivated around Granada in Andalusia, where it most likely originated before it was brought to the Canary Islands in the 15th century.
The grape is mainly associated with El Hierro and Tenerife. Vijariego is a productive, high-yield grape that retains high sugars and acidity, which is suitable for dry and sparkling wines. The wines are aromatic, with green apple, pear, citrus, and fennel notes.
Best Spanish White Wine Producers
Familia Torres is a prominent Spanish winery founded in 1870 by the Torres family in the Penedès region of Catalonia. Renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation, the winery produces a wide range of wines, including red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, primarily using native grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Parellada.
The Torres family emphasizes sustainable vineyard practices and has been a pioneer in organic and biodynamic farming. Their vineyards are located in various regions of Spain, including Penedès, Priorat, and Ribera del Duero, allowing them to craft wines that reflect the distinct terroir of each area.
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2022, 2021, 2019, 2017

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2021, 2020, 2019, 2016

International Wine Challenge - International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy
2017
BEST Familia Torres Wines
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019

The World Whiskey Masters - Gold
2023
BEST González Byass Spirits
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024, 2023, 2021

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

International Wine Challenge - IWC Great Value Champion Fortified 2022
2022
BEST Emilio Lustau Spirits
AWARDS

USA Wine Ratings - Gold
2021, 2020

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2023
BEST Bodegas Murviedro Wines
AWARDS

Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2017

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024, 2019

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2021
BEST Valduero Wines
AWARDS

Falstaff - 100

Vivino - 4.7
BEST Marqués de Murrieta Wines
Bodegas Franco-Españolas, located on the banks of the Ebro River in Logroño, Spain, is a historic winery founded in 1890 as a collaboration between French and Spanish winemakers during the phylloxera crisis in France. Its iconic wines, such as Diamante and Bordón (originally Estilo Burgundy), have been key representatives of the Rioja wine tradition.
Over the years, the winery has hosted notable figures like King Alfonso XIII and Ernest Hemingway.
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2023, 2020

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2016
BEST Bodegas Franco Españolas Wines
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2024, 2023

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2019

Asia Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2019, 2018
BEST J. García Carrión Wines
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2023, 2019

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2023
BEST Ramón do Casar Wines
Altos de Tamarón is a leading brand of the Pagos del Rey winery, established in 2002 in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. This winery combines traditional winemaking techniques with state-of-the-art technology, allowing oenologists to carefully oversee every step of the production process.
Altos de Tamarón wines are made from the Tempranillo grape variety, locally known as Tinta del País, and include various styles, ranging from young and fruity wines to more complex ones aged in barrels. These wines have achieved significant success in international competitions and tastings, thanks to a dedicated team striving for the highest quality from vineyard to glass.
AWARDS

Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2024

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2021

International Wine Challenge - IWC Great Value Champion White 2020
2020
BEST Pagos del Rey Wines
Best Spanish White Wines
This is a triumph. An amazing white showing roasted pineapple, dried apple, flowers and hints of lemon curd on the nose. Hints of almonds, too. Full-body, closed and tight with amazing depth and beauty. Waxy, salty, and creamy. Goes on for minutes. 21 years in wood, seven in concrete and then about three years in bottle.
First year since 1978. Viura with a hint of malvasia. I have the same mind-tingling sensation tasting this as tasting the 1963 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco.
AWARDS

Falstaff - 100

Vivino - 4.7
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2022, 2021
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2016
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2018
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2018
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2018
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2019
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2019
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2021
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2022


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