Airén (Spain)
Airén is the most planted grape variety in Spain.
It is Primarily used for Brandy, but this card describes the White Wine.
Typical Flavors
 Apple |
 Grapefruit |
 Pineapple |
 Roses |
Citrus, Apple, and Pineapple typical Airén flavors, with hints of Valencia Roses.
Profile
Airén is dry, with medium body and acidity:
| SUGAR | Dry | ||
| BODY | Medium - Light | ||
| FRUIT | Medium - Light | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - Light | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Salads |
 Vinegar |
 Garlic |
 Salmon |
 Seafood |
 Lobster |
 Fish |
 Chicken |
Airén is an easy-drinking wine with moderate acidity.
It pairs best with rich white fish and seafood, especially with lemon-heavy flavors.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Salads with Lemon Vinaigrette.
Garlic Prawns. Soups.
Rich Seafood.
Crab. Lobster.
White Fish. Lemon Butter Sauce.
Ginger Roasted Salmon.
Claypot Rice with Fish.
(
Grilled Chicken Breasts.
Cheese:
Manchego. Asiago. Beaufort. Cantal. Cheddar. Comté.
Spanish Specialities:
Seafood Paella.
Grilled Sardines in Green Pepper.
If You Like Airén
You May Also Like:
The Ideal Glass
A Tulip Shaped glass is the best choice for a dry white wine.
It guides the wine to the center of your mouth, avoiding the sides, where acidity is less pleasant.
A smaller bowl also helps to serve smaller quantities, and keep the wine cold.
Remember to hold the glass by the stem!
Spanish Grapes
Airén
Airén is a white wine grape. It is native to Spain where it represents about 30% of the total wine production.
In 2017, Airén was estimated to be the 4th most grown grape variety in the world.
But, Airén plantations are declining and being replaced in Spanish vineyards with more popular red varieties like Tempranillo.
Because of a too bold style, high sugar level and low acidity, Airén is most often blended with other grapes to make a more balanced wine, or fermented and distilled for Brandy or fortifying wines such as Sherry.
In the Canary Islands, Airén is called Burra Blanca ("White Donkey").
Airén DOPs
DOP = Denominación de Origen Protegida.
Because of low fruit and low acidity, Airén is often blended and balanced with other Spanish grapes like Verdejo.
Airén is allowed in the following Spanis DOPs :
- Alicante DOP
- Bullas DOP
- Jumilla DOP
- La Mancha DOP
- Valdepeñas DOP
- Vinos de Madrid DOP
- Montilla-Moriles DOP
Best areas: La Mancha. Vinos de Madrid.