Spain is a beautiful country located in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. The kingdom is known for its people’s relaxed lifestyle, amazing cuisine, beautiful cultural cities, world famous festivals and the extravagant nightlife. With amazing coastline on the mainland as well as on the archipelagos of Balearics and Gran Canaria, Spain is a special beach holiday destination.
When you think about wines in Europe, you probably are already thinking about France or Italy. Spanish wines have always been playing second fiddle to its two European neighbours in the mainstream, but Spain is the third largest wine producing country in the world. There are a lot of Spanish wines beloved not just in the country but all over the world.
The production of wine in Spain has been rooted in history of the country and can be traced as far back as 3000 years. Throughout the centuries, a lot of factors have played an important part in the development of the wine making and drinking culture in Spain. From the settlements of early Phoenicians and Romans bringing their methods of winemaking to ban on alcohol during the rule of Spain by Arabs, from 19th century destruction of vines by Phylloxera to steady development of wine industry since the 1950s, the wine scene in Spain has seen a lot of ups and downs.
Grapes are the main agricultural production in Spain and they are also the country with more land dedicated to vineyards in terms of area that any other country in the world. Grapes are grown all over Spain but Castilla-La Mancha is the largest region in terms of vineyard area. Check out more information about Castilla-La Mancha here.
Grapes are grown in all the regions of Spain. Some other important Spanish regions are Castile and Leon, Rioja, Murcia, Catalunya and Valencia.
Rioja – the Wine Capital of Spain
Rioja is probably the most famous wine region of Spain. The Spanish winemakers have always prioritized the native grapes that have been grown for centuries and in Rioja, the same is true. The main grape variety grown here is Tempranillo, a native black grape used to make red wines. Other important grape varieties grown in the region are Garnacha tint a, Graciano, Viura and Malvasia which are used to make some of the best Spanish wines. If you are a wine lover, you should visit the region of Rioja on your next visit to Spain.
Discover amazing wine experiences in Rioja.
Catalunya – Beaches, Architecture, Food and Wine
Catalunya is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain with amazing beaches like Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, the unique architecture in major cities like Barcelona and Tarragona and the amazing gastronomical experiences all throughout the region. I can write a whole article on Catalunya and there still wouldn’t be enough words to do the beauty of this region justice.
But here, we are going to discuss about the wines in Catalunya, which normally doesn’t its proper due. Cava, the white or rose sparkling wine is known far and wide, but this region is also home to some amazing DO wines like Priorat, Tarragona, Penedès and Alella to name a few.
Find some Catalan wineries you should visit here.
Canary Islands – the Sun Trap of Europe
The furthest territory of Spain is also home to some of the unique wines. The grapes and wines of the Canary Islands will get your head twisted with both their tastes and aromas. Vineyards are located in a volcanic region and are an amazing sight in the beautiful island of Tenerife. It is equally surprising to know that how ashy soil can give rise to luscious wines and fragrant vines. Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera are other islands in the Archipelago where grapes are cultivated.
Learn more about the Canary Islands.
These are just a few wine regions in Spain we went through in brief.
Whether you are in the mainland or on the beautiful archipelagos, the Spanish wine culture is wide-spread and diverse. The science and tradition of winemaking has made a harmonious and cozy home in this kingdom and be sure to visit some amazing Spanish wineries while you are there.
