SPANISH WINE

Wine in Spain has a long history: it dates back to the Grecian times during the VIII century, although it was the Romans who really developed the wine industry in the region. The extension of vineyards is particularly vast in Spain, but the cultivation density is the lowest in Europe.  Spanish Wines are far from being commercial!

Wines from Spain are characterised by a large number of grape varieties. As regards red wines, the most common grape is Garnacha (Grenache), while Tempranillo is considered the noblest. Verdejo and Albariño are instead the most common grape varieties for Spanish white wines.

Sparkling wines from Spain are also great: above all, the Cava from the Catalonia region. Produced in the traditional method, it is an excellent alternative to Champagne for all big occasions: toast like a real Spaniard!

Spain has diversity to offer. Spanish wines are very diverse thanks to the many different microclimates in the country, catering to all tastes. The spirited landscape with influences from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coupled with intense sunshine hours as well as numerous types of soils and more than 250 grape varieties, it is no wonder that there is such variety. Formerly an exporter of cheap everyday wines, Spanish wine is now turning to gastronomic high quality wines. Tempranillo, Cava and other specialties are also becoming increasingly popular with drinkers. Spanish red wine in particular is a real hit.

Spain is divided into several wine regions. Andalusia, for example, is known for its sherries. The Spanish Cava finds its home in Penedes, although it is now also grown elsewhere in Catalonia, Navarra, Rioja and Valencia. The wine-growing region of Rioja is also famous in Spain. The medium-bodied wines made of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha impress even outside their homeland. Priorat and Toro provide us with impressively rich wines from Spain, and Valencia, known to many as a city break destination has a delicious repertoire of red and white wines. In addition to the well-known wine-growing regions, there are also some little-known treasures among Spain's wines. Murcia is one of the warmest and driest wine-growing regions in Spain and is not yet very well known in this country. The predominantly cultivated Monastrell (Mourvèdre) vine could be a discovery for lovers of powerful and tannic wines. The wines of the Spanish Bierzo are also still mainly produced for distribution within the country. While many tourists spend their party holidays in Ibiza, excellent wines thrive on this Balearic island.

Spanish red wine dominates production in sunny Spain, but Spanish white and rose wines are also real palate pleasers, especially on warm days. Spanish red wines are mainly produced in Priorat, Rioja and Ribera del Duero. You can find everything from great everyday wines with a good price-performance ratio to very high-quality top wines. Among the Spanish red wines, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Menacia and Garnacha dominate. Here is a small overview:

Tempranillo - Probably the best-known and most widely cultivated Spanish red wine variety - and THE Rioja grape. Ylirum from Vega Demara is made from 100% Tempranillo and is one of our Vinatis' customers' favourites.

Monastrell - A grape variety with a late ripening period and rich yields. It is suitable for cultivation both inland and on the coast. A real all-rounder.

Mencia - At home in the northwest of Spain, this grape variety is becoming increasingly popular.

Garnacha - This grape variety is often found in the wines of the Denominacion de Origen, DO for short. The excellent quality of the grapes finds its way into the glass.

The light rose and white wines go perfectly with the light Mediterranean dishes of Spain. Rose wine is produced almost all over Spain and makes a nice change from the usually stronger red wines. Spanish white wine, on the other hand, has a reputation that precedes it. Rueda, Catalonia and Galicia produce very pleasant white wines. Here are the most common grape varieties at a glance:

Airén - Arguably Spain's most planted white grape variety. Airén accounts for a large part of the cultivation in the central parts of Spain.

Macabeo - It is impossible to imagine Spain without this grape variety, as it is important in the production of Spain's world-famous Cava. 

Pedro Ximenez - Those who like sweet wines can try Pedro Ximenez. This grape variety is excellent for liqueur-like dessert wines. Malaga wine is also made from this grape.

To help you choose Spanish wines, it's time for a little vocabulary training. In Spain there were six different quality levels, which were reduced to three categories in 2009 by an EU regulation. The former Vino de Mesa, which we call table wine, is now simply called Vino. IGP - Indicacion Geografica Protegida replaces the designation Vino de la Tierra, which corresponds to a local wine. DOP - Domaine de Origen Protegida comprises the former quality levels DO and DOCa and is the highest classification for Spanish wines. Do wines are made up of prestigious grape varieties from a single region. DOCa wines are those that have carried the DO certification for ten years to guarantee consistent quality. Spanish wine is not only classified according to its origin, but also according to the way it has been stored and matured. If a wine bears the designation Joven, meaning young, this means that it has not undergone any ageing in barrels, but comes onto the market quickly and should ideally be drunk within a year. This is followed by Crianza and Reserva, each of which requires a longer period of maturation. A Spanish red wine denoted Gran Reserva has matured at least two years in the barrel and three in the bottle. Last but not least, there is Vino de Pago. This is a designation for prestigious single vineyards.

The famous Spanish traditional method sparkling wine, Cava, comes mainly from Catalonia. Other notable areas of production include Navarra, Rioja and Valencia. The main grape varieties used are Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, but also Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can be used.