Tempranillo becomes Spain's most planted grape variety

Tempranillo becomes Spain's most planted grape variety
For years the question, what is Spain's most planted grape variety, would flummox many. The answer was Airén - a workhorse grape that most people would never have heard of but now, with Tempranillo finally taken the lead, the answer is more obvious.

Airén is a white grape and while it can be made into wine, it is more often used as a base for Spanish brandy. Planted over 200,084 ha or 21% of all vineyard plantings, Airén is still Spain's main white grape.

Tempranillo, which is known throughout Spain under various names such as Cencibel, Tinto Fino, Tinta del Pais, Tinta de Toro, Ull de Llebre now has 202,917 ha, just edging out Airén but still 21% of the vineyard area when rounded.

Plantings of Airén have fallen 40 % since 2000 while Tempranillo has grown by 70% in the same time period.