Wines from Spain

In Spain, viticulture was introduced by the Phoenicians, developed by the Greeks, and structured by the Romans. Despite the barbarian invasions that damaged it, Spanish viticulture was preserved, even under Moorish occupation. Of course, the Reconquista and the opportunities offered by the new colonies facilitated the resumption of the expansion of viticulture. Undoubtedly, phylloxera in the 19th century and the civil war in the 20th century dealt the hardest blows to Spanish viticulture. Finally, it is only in the last fifty years that the Spanish wine industry has reorganized itself, thanks in particular to the return to democracy andSpain's entry into the European Union.

Spanish vineyards now cover an area of nearly 1,100,000 hectares, spread across all regions of the country. This makes it the largest vineyard in the world in terms of surface area, even though it has shrunk considerably in recent years. Most of the crops benefit from a Mediterranean climate, with a small portion of the planted land subject to a more oceanic climate, such as in the west of the country in Galicia or southwest of Seville. The best vineyards are located on plateaus between 500 and 800 meters above sea level, where the sun is less intense and the nights are cooler.

Spanish wine is protected by around 60 designations of origin (Denominacíon de Origen and Denominacíon de Origen Calificada), which are grouped into 12 production regions whose winegrowers can claim the origin, in the absence of a controlled designation of origin, similar to the wines of France. The most renowned appellations of origin are undoubtedly Rioja, Ribera del Duero and, of course, Jerez (Sherry). The grape varieties have retained their identity and consist mainly of Grenache, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Carignan, and Merlot for red wines, and Macabeo, Grenache Blanc, Malvasia, Palomino, and Parellada for white wines.

Discover the estates of Spain: Luis Canas, Vega Sicilia, Enate, Exopto, Borsao, Aalto

Discover Spain's appellations: Tierra de Castilla, Cava, Campo de Borja, Jumilla, Carinena, Navarre, Baixas, Somontano.