A major source of world-class wines, Spain ranks third in overall production behind France and Italy, but quality, value and diversity are maintained as significant aspects of its wine industry. The country has recently seen an influx of capital and expertise, an increase in the use of state-of-the-art equipment, and a new generation of talented, highly educated winemakers who have artfully succeeded in balancing innovation with tradition. They continue to give preference to indigenous grape varieties and clones, each producing vintages of a unique, authentic character that at the same time is so undeniably Spanish.
Spain shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal and is separated from France by the Pyrenees to the north, and to the south is separated from Africa by the Straits of Gibraltar. Much of Spain is comprised of elevated plateaus that are criss-crossed by mountain ranges and majestic, long-winding rivers. Spain in fact is home to Europe’s highest capital: Madrid at 2,119 feet. Because of this elevation, and despite its southerly, much warmer climate, many of the vineyards are planted at an elevation which helps to slow down the ripening process and create refreshing and flavorful wines - red or white.
The varieties found in Spain are too numerous to relay in full, but a few key ones include:
- Tempranillo: A red grape known for making quality wines of intense red fruit aromas, with zesty acidity.
- Garnacha: A red grape known for producing wines higher in glycerol, oxidizes easily; Typically marked by fruit-forward aromas. Found mainly in northern and central/coastal Spain.
- Verdejo: A quality white grape, known for producing fresh and fruity wines, best when young. Grown principally in the Rueda region.
- Albariño: Intensely aromatic and high quality white grape, which is often likened to Riesling in its zesty, focused fruitiness. A low-yield grape of exceptional quality, native to northwestern Spain.
- Malvasia: A white grape responsible for light-bodied fruity wines.
Spanish wine regions are first organized by autonomous regions (as Tuscany or Veneto are considered in Italy), and then by appellations - places of controlled origin which are known as Denominacions de Origens (DOs). Spain has twenty different autonomías, each with its own cultural flair and personality. Some of the more famous autonomías include: Galicia ("Green Spain"), La Rioja, Valencia (famous for oranges), and Andalucia (the colorful region where Sherry is made).
