Viura is a white grape variety also known as Macabeo. In Rioja, the name Viura is used. While Spain is the original origin of Viura and is used in Riojas, Malvasia, Garancha Blanca, and Parellada, the grape can also be found throughout Southern France as well, where it is known as Maccabeu. Viura is mostly used in sparkling wines, with dry and sweet characteristics. Viura allows for fragrant floral notes and  quite crisp (grapefruit) on the palate when picked early. If harvested later, the Viura juice is fuller bodied with notes of honey and nut. Viura is extremely popular in Catalonia’s Cava sparkling wines and is the main grape type in Rioja’s white wines. In France, Viura is used in white wines and sparklings of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, such as Corbieres, Minervois, Banyuls, and Maury. Viura is used mainly as a blending agent there. Viura is highly impervious to oxidation due to the high content of Resveratrol. This factor, combined with Rioja’s tradition of blending a certain amount of white grapes to their red wines, makes Viura an ideal component.