Life Style / Wine Grapes / Airén: Has synonym names Aid?n, Lair?n, Manchega and Valdepe?era. Semi-classic white-wine producer variety with the unique distinction of being the most widely planted vine variety in Spain. Highly resistant to drought, it is grown at an extraordinary low vine density per acre as low bushes. Its wines are used for distilling into brandy and also blending with deep-red grape wines to create lighter colored versions. As a varietal it only succeeds by using very old vines as a source for juice subsequently manipulated by special fermentation techniques. A reported inability to meld well with oak limits wine ageing capability. As a result this variety is usually made into a dry, crisp white-wine made to be drunk as fresh as possible.
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