Airén

Tier: Global Headliner
Color: White
Origin: Spain
Lineage: Autochthonous
Areas of Prominence: Airén’s dominance is almost entirely contained within Spain, most notably in the vast central plateau regions of La Mancha and Valdepeñas, where it blankets the landscape in a way that few grapes can rival. It is also notably associated with the Vinos de Madrid appellation, where producers are crafting increasingly serious wines from this underestimated grape.
Iconic Wines: Airén rarely produces wines that achieve global iconic status, which is part of what makes it such an interesting subject. Among the most notable examples are Félix Solís Viña Albali Airén, a reliable and widely available expression from La Mancha, and wines from Bodegas Centro Españolas, which demonstrate what the grape can achieve in skilled hands. For those seeking Airén in its most celebrated form, look to the Vinos de Madrid DO, where a handful of producers are crafting surprisingly complex and age-worthy expressions.

Airen Attributes

Airen Profile

Airén? What is Airén, and why is it on this list of top white grapes? When was the last time that you bought a bottle of Airén? Despite everyone in unison responding “never,” there are more acres of Airén on this planet than Chardonnay by a safe distance. Just three decades ago, Airén was the most planted grape in the world and remains in the top five. For this reason, I have included Airén in the Top Ten White Grape section.

Airén is native to Spain, where it is, by some measure, the most planted wine grape in the nation. Airén is abundant in the regions of Valdepeñas and La Mancha by volume, while perhaps being most associated (for wine) with Vinos de Madrid.

Airén is a big-producing variety, making it ideal for inexpensive, bulk blends and, for Brandy, lots of Brandy. A great deal of Airén is used in Brandy. As a solo wine performer, Airén is quite fruity, with generous tropical flavors and low acidity that often makes it necessary to blend with higher-acid grapes to achieve balance.

Aromatics and Flavors: Red Grapefruit, Apple, Pineapple, Spring Flowers, and Tropical Fruit
Wine Types: White, Fortified, and Sweet

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