Viura / Macabeo

Macabeo carries the VIVC prime name Viura, variety number 13127. VIVC records Spain as its country or region of origin, a single-source record, so Spain is its likely homeland. Its parents are Heben and Brustiano Faux, a pedigree confirmed by markers in that same single-source record. In WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data, Xarel-lo shares both parents with Macabeo as a full sibling, and Airén, Boal, Monica, Parellada and Pedro Ximénez are listed as half-siblings.

• VIVC prime name: Viura; VIVC variety number 13127; berry skin colour white (blanc)
• Country of origin: Spain (likely; single source)
• Parents: Heben and Brustiano Faux (pedigree confirmed by markers; single source)
• Full sibling: Xarel-lo
• Half-siblings: Airén, Boal, Monica, Parellada and Pedro Ximénez

Macabeo is a very common grape in northern Spain, and it also grows in the Languedoc and Roussillon, where it is known as Maccabéo or Maccabeu.

• Very common in northern Spain
• Grown in the Languedoc and Roussillon as Maccabéo or Maccabeu
• Macabeu is listed among its synonyms

Viura is more productive than Rioja's red varieties and adapts to all types of soils and climatic conditions. It is often picked early to retain acidity.

• More productive than Rioja's red varieties
• Adapts to all types of soils and climatic conditions
• Often picked early to retain acidity

In the Cava DOP, Macabeo gives light, fresh base wines with aromas of white fruits and flowers. Its faint floral character develops at full ripeness, but it is often picked earlier to retain acidity. In Rioja, Viura makes both young and aged white wines, and ageing in wood is a traditional way of making white Rioja.

• Light, fresh Cava base wines with aromas of white fruits and flowers
• Floral character develops at full ripeness
• Young and aged white wines in Rioja
• Wood ageing is a traditional method for white Rioja

Cava is a quality sparkling wine made by a second fermentation in bottle under the traditional method, and Macabeo, listed in its rules as Macabeo (Viura), is one of its authorized white varieties. Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada are the most planted varieties in the Cava DOP, accounting for about 85% of the grapes used to make Cava. Macabeo goes into most Cava base wines.

• Authorized white variety for Cava, listed as Macabeo (Viura)
• One of the three most planted varieties in the Cava DOP, with Xarello and Parellada
• Part of most Cava base wines

In Rioja, Viura is the most widely grown white variety and is used for both young and aged whites. Under the Macabeo name it is one of the three most planted grapes of Cava. It also grows in the Languedoc and Roussillon, as Maccabéo or Maccabeu.

• Rioja: the most widely grown white variety, for young and aged whites
• Cava DOP: one of the three most planted varieties
• Languedoc and Roussillon: grown as Maccabéo or Maccabeu

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=13127 ; https://riojawine.com/en-gb/the-designation/grape-varieties/viura/ ; https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/calidad-diferenciada/20211104pliegodecondicionesmodifap8betiquetadoparaweb_tcm30-564756.pdf ; https://www.oiv.int/public/medias/5888/en-distribution-of-the-worlds-grapevine-varieties.pdf ; https://www.wsetglobal.com/media/11731/wset_l3wines_specification_en_highres_may2022_issue2.pdf Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/macabeo Last verified 2026-10-17